Carl Hiaasen's Reading List

"“Raylan,” by Elmore Leonard, one of my writing heroes. There is nobody better at lowlife dialogue. And also, by the way, not a cooler guy on the planet."

"I had that reaction to “Swamplandia!,” by Karen Russell. It just blew me away."

"I just reread “The Sporting Club,” by Tom McGuane, and it might be one of the funniest American novels ever."

"“Bonfire of the Vanities,” by Tom Wolfe, is still dazzling."

"I remember being greatly affected by several books — “Catcher in the Rye,”  “Catch-22” and Steinbeck’s “Travels With Charley,” for starters."

"I remember being greatly affected by several books — “Catcher in the Rye,”  “Catch-22” and Steinbeck’s “Travels With Charley,” for starters."

"I remember being greatly affected by several books — “Catcher in the Rye,”  “Catch-22” and Steinbeck’s “Travels With Charley,” for starters."

"“Without Feathers,” a collection of Woody Allen’s early short stories, was a prized possession."

"But long before that, what really made me want to be a writer was the Hardy Boys series, and also daily newspapers."

"“The Monkey Wrench Gang,” by Edward Abbey. It would definitely transport Obama out of the Beltway."

"“Tourist Season” is dear to me because it was my first solo try, and then “Hoot,” because it was my first book for young readers."

"“Tourist Season” is dear to me because it was my first solo try, and then “Hoot,” because it was my first book for young readers."

"My oldest son, Scott, recently sent me a novel about a pair of hired gunslingers called “The Sisters Brothers,” by Patrick deWitt. It was just terrific."

"Last month I sent a wonderful British memoir called “Blood Knots” to Peter Solomon, a friend of mine who loves fishing like I do."