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Originally posted by taxwonk
Carl Hiaasen's last book, Skinny Dip, is now out in paperback. I enjoyed it muchly.
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That was pretty entertaining, but Hiaasen's stuff always seems like it was written in 48 hours with little or no editing. It's definitely in the beach novel category.
I know this is probably not what you're looking for, but I finally got around to the second volume of Taylor Branch's history of MLK and the civil rights movement ("Pillar of Fire"). It's quite a bit shorter than Parting the Waters and covers a more limited period - 1963-65, I think. It's also not as mired in the intricacies of southern Baptist political manuevering (which made Parting the Waters a tough slog in places) and covers the rise of Malcom X as a national figure almost as much as King. All in all it is a great piece of history writing and brings the era to life from Lyndon Johnson all the way down to movement volunteers and voter drives in Hattiesburg. I. highly. recommend. it.
