Customer Reviews

The Sharks of Lake Nicaragua: True Tales of Adventure, Travel, and Fishing

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once again, Randy Wayne White turns in a virtuoso appearance as the author of this intensely enjoyable collection of stories chronicling his life as a self-described professional adventurer. A former fishing guide turned author, Mr. White's beautifully evocative prose masks a rock-hard sensibility towards the irony, pathos and joy of the human experience. He sees the world with a child's sense of wonder and curiousity, and then brillantly writes about it from the wry and reflective viewpoint of a man who prides himself on living large. A present day Everyman, the author takes us places we weren't sure we wanted to go, until we experience them through his eyes. Whether chasing a runaway pig through a wedding scene in Nicaragua, dodging alligators in a clandestine nighttime raid on a Florida island golf course lake, or being dragged through icy snow on an overturned dog sled in Alaska, Randy White has the enviable ability to cross geographical and psychological boundaries with ease. Frequently (and justifiably) compared to John D McDonald, the author is also Joseph Conrad with a keen sense of humor. He acknowledges the heart of darkness we all share, but finds light, joy and laughter in abundance along the way. The reader is always in good hands with Captain White at the helm!

If you like your writing vivid and flush with the kind of humor that severely tests internal organs, look no further. This collection of pieces written initially for Outside magazine takes the reader off the beaten track to a world of radioactive night crawlers, illegally salvaged golf balls and pigs of prey, among other delights. Randy Wayne White has a wonderful talent for observation which, meshed with a finely honed sense of the absurd, has produced some of the most original travel writing anywhere. Take a trip with him; you won't regret it.

Randy Wayne White is an authentic character. I suspected as much from reading his fiction efforts, usually involving Doc Ford. But in this collection of essays about his travels, you can see that he does not subscribe to Travel & Leisure or Conde Nast Traveler. He picks the damndest places to go, the damndest things to do when he gets there and writes about his experiences in a completely entertaining and very informative fashion. These are not your traditional outings and Mr. White would have it no other way. Hunting crocs with some authentic, although somewhat legal poachers, chasing pigs through cathedrals, exploring the seldom traveled parts of Australia, or fishing for fresh water sharks in Nicaragua (legend has it they exist), he is seldom far from disaster and you perversely kind of wish you were there..but not totally. He shows another side of himself with the gifts he brings to share with unknown Nicaraguan youngsters. I won't spoil the fun of finding out what it is...but it shows a softer side of the author, which is as welcome as his normal personna.

With this wonderful book you can enjoy some wild adventures from the comfort of your own easy chair while the author gets: dirty, sick, scared, fascinated, informed, bored, and made a fool of! (Ok, I know about the preposition). ...but you won't sympathize, you'll empathize and smile alot or even laugh out loud. These are adrenalin drenched, beautifully told tales that will leave you enlightened and uplifted. Please, Mr. White, write us some more!

I've read all 3 of his "Outside" compilations. They all are, in my mind, great. Reading these books allows you to get lost, while you are in your living room. I wish there were more of them. If there is wanderlust in your heart, then you should read these stories. Some are better than others, some are more interesting to me than others, but that's why they make different flavors of ice cream too.

Randy Wayne White, what can I say. I am a true fan of this author. The Sharks of Lake Nicaragua , like Mr. Whites other books, captivates you from the moment you open the front cover until you close the back cover. Another tale knocked out of the ball park for Mr. White. The only thing I can say is I hate to finish his books because I have to immediately go on a search for another one. You can not read his books without being totally transported to the point of action. LOVE IT ... what a wonderful means of escape at the end of a day. Thank you

This book contains some of the best writing on the world outdoors -- and the people and creatures there -- that I have ever encountered. Ranks among Nick Lyons, Edwin Way Teale, John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway.

Some dated material does not detract from the fine writing.

This is an easy read, and more something you would pick up and look at from the library for an hour rather than actually buy. Only one story is about Nicaragua (though it's a good story). The rest are about the many, many other places the author has been. Though the author seems to have had quite an interesting life off the beaten path, a lot of the stories are written with shallow prose and lack depth. Not worth buying.

A very quick read. Somewhat entertaining, but not much substance for prospective travelers to Nicarauga or elsewhere. The cover, or dust cover, of this book I bought via Amazon in May of 2000 looks nothing like the artwork on the Amazon web page I bought it from. Recommend you get this book in the library, read it and put it back on the shelf, as this is easily accomplished in a short library visit.

-John