Fringe Florida

October 15, 2013

Travelers familiar with the Florida tourist havens of Miami Beach, Orlando, and Tampa will be amazed by what there is to discover by exploring the less familiar towns and byways. Waddell, a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and other mainstream publications, gathered many of her lively newspaper articles and photos into this entertaining volume. She takes us to the fringes of mainstream Florida society. Mud boggers (those who engage in off-road racing in a pit of mud of a set length), furries (people who dress up as animals and act like humans), and ufologists (believers in people and vehicles from outer space) are among the featured offbeat folk who fascinate her. Lap dancers and nudists get their due, as do fetishists and snake fanciers. Some readers may be put off by some of the freaky characters and their obsessions discussed in the book. VERDICT Only for large travel collections in libraries with a solid book selection policy, since some readers may object to the content.--Olga Wise, formerly with Compaq Computers Inc., Austin, TX

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2013
Florida is universally known as a popular mainstream destination for spring breakers, retirees, and family vacationers. Yet beyond the Magic Kingdom and sandy beaches, peculiar subcultures bloom and flourishsome playfully kooky, others explicitly kinky. Waddell, who spent two years researching the palmy Florida fringe scene, turns a spotlight on some of the eccentric purveyors who thrive in the remarkably tolerant Sunshine State. One of her legendary subjects is headline-grabbing strip-club owner Joe Redner, a Tampa folk hero and so-called father of the nude lap dance. She cites her background as an alternative beat reporter and her stint as a script researcher for the notorious 1995 sleaze-fest, Showgirls, as proof of her investigative chops in covering offbeat scenes. Waddell also assures readers that she's no prude, just a voyeur of the unusual, albeit one who would never participate in the swinging or pony play she scrutinizes. Waddell's reporting is credible, and she possesses a jocose writing style, making Fringe Florida an intriguing guide off the beaten path for those looking to escape life's winter blahs in any season.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)