The Stench of Honolulu

November 25, 2013
Humorist Handey’s first novel is a caper that follows two men rampaging through Hawaii in a quest to find the Golden Monkey, a mysterious treasure the exact nature of unknown to the adventurers (they know only that it is “goldish and monkey-ish”). As the heroes—a vaguely sociopathic narrator and his buddy Don—traipse across Hawaii to complete their search, they come face-to-face with natives and encounter various obstacles. The book’s tone is similar to the “Deep Thoughts” skits Handey performed on Saturday Night Live. Audiences who love the dry, mannered way Handey presented his one-liners on television are going to appreciate this audio edition. And, like David Sedaris, Handey’s authorial voice is so distinct that you wouldn’t want to hear anyone but the author reading his work. A Grand Central hardcover.

February 1, 2013

Not surprisingly, Emmy Award winner Handey, famed for his New Yorker humor and offbeat philosophizing in his "Deep Thoughts" series, has turned out a first novel that goes for the funny bone. Desperate to escape Honolulu, here reimagined as anything but paradise, the untrustworthy narrator and his sidekick, Don, link up with a travel agent who may also be a witch and soon find themselves on a hunt for the Golden Monkey. You were warned!

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