Swine Not?

This is an entertaining and thought provoking read that is a vast departure from his "Where is Joe Merchant" novel. It reads quickly and is very engaging as this family and their pet pig try to find their place in the world and in the hustle and bustle of New York City. The novel is based on the real life story of a family who had a pet pig that lived in a hotel in Manhattan, and in fact the illustrations are by the woman who owned the pig and the story is based on her story. It is a quick read but will leave you both warm hearted and thoughtful about what it means to find a place where you belong and what "home" means.

This was a book on the clearance rack at Borders. I haven't read any others by Jimmy Buffet, though I want to. This one sounded like it would be funny and quirky. I mean, a pig in a upscale NYC hotel?

Well, it didn't really live up to expectations. I'm not quite sure why I didn't like it more - maybe it was too superficial. Maybe it felt a little like "and the kitchen sink" plotting after a while. Maybe I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough (which is a big problem for a book, since I read a lot of science fiction).

Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffett

(★ ★ ★ ½)

Synopsis: When Southern belle Ellie McBride moves her twins from Vertigo, Tennessee, to New York City, they wouldn't dream of leaving behind the family pig Rumpy. But the posh hotel where Ellie has found work (and living space) has "No Pets" writ large on its portal. So hiding Rumpy from the hotel staff--especially the ultra-carnivorous hotel chef, who would like nothing better than to transform their pet into pork roast--becomes imperative.

Can a talented, sensitive pig survive the claustrophobic, neurotic stresses of life in the Big Apple? Can the McBride twins keep their precious pet from becoming the chef's favorite entree? Get ready for a wonderful ride as master storyteller Jimmy Buffett show more takes readers on a brilliantly funny romp through Manhattan and beyond. From spoiled rock stars to highly caffeinated football coaches, Buffett's satirical view of American culture never ceases to bite and delight.

This book is written from the view of the pig, Rumpy, and one of the twins, Barley. It's not a thinker of a book but it was fun, quirky,cute, and an easy read. It was fairly cheesy and it was a book the was rolled up into a happily ever ending but it made no difference to me. It left me giggling and smiling. And a good story on the love a family has for each other, whether human or animal. A fun book when you just want to get away from the hardships of reality. Good job to Buffett who is not only a talented singer but a talented author. show less

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Jimmy Buffett was presented with this idea, complete with photos by Helen Bransford, and he thought about it, and asked himself, "Swine Not?" - and this story was born.

Helen told Jimmy that it was based on something that actually happened...but a pig in a four-star hotel in New York City?

SWINE NOT? is a very entertaining romp told from the alternating points of view of Rumpy, the pig, and Barley, her boy owner. Rumpy is a pot-bellied pig who accompanies her human family to New York when they move there, and she has an agenda of her own. She heard that her brother, Lukie, is in New York City, and she is determined to find him.

They live in a glass box-like unit at the top of a fancy high-rise show more hotel. The hotel chef has a special affinity for pork, and he's sharpening his knives and dusting off his recipes with Rumpy in mind. Keeping Rumpy hidden is a challenging proposition that keeps the whole family on alert.

This story is not quite what I expected from the old pirate, but Jimmy Buffett tells a good tale in this light-hearted adventure that will appeal to all ages. The characters are compelling and the action never stops. It's a quick read that is highly recommended for reluctant readers. show less

An imaginative and humourous story about a single mom family and a pig residing in the penthouse apartment of a New York City hotel.

When the mother accepts the position of pastry chef at a posh hotel it is a move up from their rual live in Tennessee to the big city. Good for them, but there is one catch...her employer doesn't know that the family pet is a pig!

Keeping this secret becomes more of a challenge when the mother's boss gets wind of the pig and wants to add it to his menu. Deceptions and various escapades ensue leading up to a chilling climax during the confrontation that finally happens between crazed chef and family pet.

A fun read for a variety of ages, it has excitement, laughter and family through-out the book.

This book was marked way down so I thought ‘swine not’ and I found it to be enjoyable but more of a YA read. The story unfolds through the voices of a young boy and his family pet pig. This is no ordinary family or pig, it is a highly improbable story despite being inspired by a true story, everything wraps up happily ever after with a bow in an oh so over the top way in the end. But sometimes that is OK.

This is not a typical Jimmy Buffet book. There are no pirates or boats or alcoholic rockstar / cowboys, but it was still a good story and fun to read. This is a book about a pet pig that is moved from his farm in Tennesee to a 5-star hotel in New York City. The family that moves the pig is forced to hide him because no “exotic” pets are allowed in the hotel, and the mom of the family is not willing to give up her pet, but she needs to keep her job as a pastry chef. There are many wacky adventures and some of the narrative is given from the pigs perspective which is very cute and fun. All in all this was a fun book.