Big Trouble

I was looking for something fun when I picked up this book by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Dave Barry, and boy did I find it! Farcical, satirical, and silly, yet surprisingly good, with a complete, well thought plot, developed characters and witty dialogue. There’s something almost Vonnegut in Barry’s style, but make no mistakes, Barry’s humor is based in reality. When different aspects of the setting, Miami, are described for the reader, part of the reason it’s so funny is because it’s true.


This hard-boiled mystery almost feels cozy because reading it was so light-hearted and fun, but it’s not. Nor is it a book you’d want a kid reading. If you’re looking for something fun, a mystery you can read while wearing a show more smile instead of a grimace, this is for you. If you prefer mysteries that keep you up at night with the lights on, trying something else (Mo Hayder, perhaps). Five stars and a giggle (or two). show less

I believe this is Dave Barry's first novel, and what a beginning! Barry has been described as a mutated combination of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard. His writing is hysterical and this book will have you falling out of your chair or wetting your pants. The plot is simple: what do a hallucinogenic toad, two hit men, an embezzler, two teenagers who want to play a game called Killer that uses squirt guns, two FBI agents, Special Executive Order 768 dash 4, a very strong homeless man named Puggy and a Spanish-speaking maid named Nina, two lowlifes named Snake and Eddie, two Russian Mafia types who who a bar that makes no money, a herd of goats, a boa constrictor loose at the Delta Airlines counter, and a suitcase nuclear bomb have in show more common? Every page almost has a good belly laugh as Barry skewers Miami's finest corrupt institutions. The rollicking story gets right off to a good start as almost all the parties meet at Arthur Herk's house for a variety of reasons. The Herk family has a family dog, the product of generations of unplanned dog sex. Roger, the pet, had "the low-slung body of a Beagle, the pointy ears of a German Shepherd, the enthusiasm of a Labrador Retriever, the stubby tail of a Boxer, and the intelligence of celery." Eliot Arnold, who's son has the hots for Herk's step-daughter and wants to "kill" her, has been fired from his job as features writer at the newspaper after putting his left foot through his managing editor's computer monitor. He had been asked to contribute the ethnic viewpoint on the paper's most recent "megaturd" article; you know, the one's that always begin, "Crisis in . . ..." This article in question concerned day-care," pointed out the editor, "Everyone is interested in day-care." To which Eliot replied that everyone had an a..hole too, but one didn't often see articles entitled, “Crisis in Rectum." You get the idea. show less

According to Stephen King, "While reading Dave Barry's Big Trouble, I laughed so hard I fell out of a chair." Apparently he and I have opposite ideas of what is funny. I shouldn't be surprised. I love to read the Bible. He writes books where countless people are dismembered, or chased by a possessed Plymouth Fury. I made it through the entire book and never even snickered, although once my stomach grumbled from hunger. The story is actually pretty good, with many plot twists and interesting characters. But it's not funny, and it uses too much needless profanity.

This is the hilarious story of a group of South Florida "wierdos," who are (most of them accidentally) embroiled in a rather life-threatening escapade. The writing reminds me a little of Buffy, and the book actually references Buffy a couple of times. I was literally laughing out loud on several occasions. I know there's a movie made from this book, but it probably isn't as funny because the funniest thing about this is the descriptions of the background and the characters' internal motivations.
You should go read this now.

In some ways ludicrous (if airport security was ever this lax, we’re all in trouble), but it’s meant to be. I’ve seen some comments mentioning a lack of character depth, but it’s not that kind of story. I wouldn’t call it as funny as it’s marketed to be, but it made me smile and I might even read this again some day or check out more of this author’s work.

Couldn't stop laughing, despite the incredulous story, Barry's way with words paints the most hilarious tale and character dialogues - one of the funniest novels I have read in years.

2.5 ? rounded up to 3

Two teens playing a water gun game get caught up in some Miami underworld criminals's way, along with a pleasantly drunk vagrant and a lovely teen stepdaughter to a crook, and some silly cops & FBI agents.

My favourite character was most likely Puggy, the beer swilling, dimwitted, extremely strong vagrant who is paid to vote in a number of districts, winds up spending his days in the Russian owned bar that is a front for arms dealing where he drinks free beer and carries the occasional heavy package, and who falls in love with the Herk's maid. I don't generally go for those types, but I have to say I found him the funniest of the lot. I started off enjoying this a fair bit, and did laugh in spots, but some of the show more comedy was too disturbing for me to enjoy reading, but that would be a spoiler, even though it was clear from the outset that the good guys would win.

Dave Barry wrote this novel past the point when he was at his funniest, IMO. He was far funnier when married to his first wife, although I'm not sure if there's a direct tie in to that relationship and how happy/unhappy he was or if he just lost ground. I rated it as high as I did because I did laugh at times, although no rolling on the floor type hysterics. show less