REDNECK RIVIERA

Hooker presents a comic novel about a city slicker embracing the quirks of Southern living.

The unnamed narrator is introduced hungover “in the fog of alcohol and sleep,” in a Japanese hotel room. It’s 2002, and he’s on his final business trip as the vice president of global sales for a Silicon Valley telecommunications company. Business has been booming, but after a recent acquisition, his role is no longer relevant, so he decided to quit before getting fired. His girlfriend, an engineer at the same company, also resigned, and they’ve found a charming town called Treasure Island on the coast of North Carolina, where they hope to settle into a simpler life together. Early scenes depicting the couple’s initial reactions to the island and its locals offer amusing moments of culture shock, as when they encounter a butcher who smokes while slicing meat or chat with another local who tells them that most islanders “don’t know how to deal with strange things….That means you two.” Discussions of local cuisine, fishing culture, and extended definitions of “rednecks” and “good ol’ boys” add some appealing color. The narrator, six months into his stay, reflects, “I never tired of listening to groups of islanders—especially men—talk. I found their curious tribal blend of bravado, spite and good ol’ hardheadedness often interesting, sometimes comical, but always worth a listen.” Readers, however, may feel differently. Despite flashes of humor and insight, the narrative lacks significant conflict or forward momentum for much of its first half. The author also pays little attention to the interiority of either the narrator or his girlfriend. The book includes mentions of feeling adrift and a few observations about being an outsider in a strange new locale, but such mentions are quickly swept aside in favor of more comparisons of California vs. North Carolina lifestyles. The result is a bit of a mixed bag: Although the book has its humorous moments and some insightful commentary on Southern life, its sketchy plot and character development may leave readers wishing for a more cohesive story.

A humorous but unbalanced novel whose focus on cultural commentary comes at the expense of characterization.