His face appeared to have been massaged with an industrial cheese grater and then retouched with a glue gun.
In the quote from Carl Hiaasen's "Star Island," the character's face is vividly described as looking extremely damaged and rough, as if it were treated with harsh tools like an industrial cheese grater. This imagery suggests that the person's face is severely weathered or disfigured, emphasizing a rough, unpolished appearance.
Additionally, the description indicates that the face has been altered or enhanced with a glue gun, implying artificial or exaggerated modifications. Overall, the imagery paints a picture of a face that appears battered, heavily worked on, and perhaps grotesque, reflecting a sense of exaggeration or caricature.
