Laughs, Loves and Thrills Plus helpful ways to cure your ills

STAR ISLAND

By Carl Hiaasen Knopf Publishing, $26.95

Let me clue you in to the “good parts” of this book: start on page 3 and continue to page 337. Do not try to stop; do not try to quit laughing: you can’t. There are laughs on every page thanks to the shenanigans of Hiaasen’s wacky characters; from the sexy Cherry Pye (formerly Cheryl Bunterman) to her body double, the look alike Ann DeLusia, who covers for Cherry when she is “indisposed,” like in rehab, “ya know”, which happens all too often. Then there’s Chemo, her bodyguard with a weed-whacker for a left arm; Bang Abbott, a paparazzo, who holds DeLusia hostage for Cherry in hopes of a private photo session; and the former governor of Florida, still living in the swamps but now called, “Skink.”

I kid you not, but be warned: Hiaasen has no such scruples.

HANGMAN

By Faye Kellerman William Morrow, $25.99

Teresa McLaughlin calls on old friend LAPD Lt. Peter Decker to be a witness when she confronts her sociopathic husband, Chris Donatti. Decker agrees, even though he and Donatti have crossed swords before. Shortly after what appeared to be a friendly meeting between the two, Theresa disappears, leaving her 14-year-old son, Gabe, with no one to turn to except Decker.

Although anxious to find Teresa, Decker’s faced with solving the horrific murder of nurse Adrianna Blanc, found hanging from a rafter in a partially framed house. Her boyfriend, Garth, a philanderer who uses her for love and money, cancels his vacation when he learns she’s leaving him for good, making him suspect number one.

With Gabe now living with him, Decker fears for his family while Donatti is on the loose.

Another winner from Ms. Kellerman.

IN THE SANCTUARY OF OUTCASTS

By Neil White Harper Perennial, $14.99

This self-serving memoir of con man White who, even though he formerly published New Orleans Magazine among others, claimed ignorance of the fact that the Federal prison at Carville, where he was to serve 18 months for fraud was, and is, a hospital for leprosy patients. At that time it also housed non-violent criminals in a low-security building with no doors on rooms (not cells).

White, nonetheless, quickly saw the opportunity to use the stories of prisoners and patients for a book he began writing almost as soon as he arrived. His account of how he lived for visits from his two children and what he learned from an elderly black patient who had lost both legs to Hansen’s disease was, at least, poignant.

White’s a good storyteller and his book is worth reading, even if only for the Carville hospital backdrop.

MY BRIGHT MIDNIGHT

By Josh Russell LSU Press, $18.95

Walter Schmidt, at 18, left his home in Munich and found his way to New Orleans, a place that figures prominently in this story, where he learned about baseball, waded in Lake Pontchartrain, worked at Hubig’s pies and watched Mardi Gras parades.

Then he met Nadine, introduced to him by Sammy, another new friend. They fell in love and married. Then one day he went home early and found Nadine in bed with Sammy. Stunned by this betrayal, he failed to say or do anything, turning Nadine against him, calling him a “Kraut.” Nevertheless, they stayed together and he again befriended Sammy, who gave him $1,000 to assuage his guilt.

Walter, ashamed for taking the money, gave it away; unaware Sammy owed it to bookies, who now threatened his life.

This slim book, only 138 pages, is a captivating tale of three friends during World War II; of love, betrayal and murder. Their story lingers long after the end, and will leave readers wanting more from Josh Russell.

HERE’S “TWO” YOUR HEALTH

By Mayo Clinic Doctors Mayo Clinic Books, $29.95 each

These two Mayo Clinic’s health guides render solid information on common health problems.

“Guide To Managing Arthritis” offers helpful advice on dealing with arthritis, the number-one cause of disability in the U.S. affecting more than 45 million people. The book focuses on osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the two most common forms, and although there are no cures, effective treatments and other strategies explained in the book can help in managing the disease.

“The Essential Diabetes Book” offers advice from Mayo doctors on how to prevent, control and live well with diabetes. In it you’ll find the latest guidelines on diagnosis and management, as well as valuable self-care tips.

If you or a loved one has either of these diseases, these books can prove very helpful.