Rating: Summary: Four stars is just right. Review: It is interesting to read through the reviews, from the ones that say they want to give this book 6 stars or more, to those who say 1 star is too much. Yet, the overall average is 4 stars, which in my opinion is the correct rating, so perhaps that proves that the rating system works pretty well, at least when there are a large number of reviews. This is by no means the best book ever written, nor is it laugh-out-loud funny throughout. One reviewer called it "Carl Hiaasen Lite" and I think that is a fair assessment. It is a quick, fun read and quite funny. It does have a plot, and a suspenseful ending. Even though the actual ending was not that surprising, Barry did have me wondering how he was going to get rid of the bad guys and save the good guys. I think that Dave Barry has a future in fiction, but I would agree with those who feel his nonfiction is better. I feel confident that he will continue to write sucessfully in both areas.
Rating: Summary: I read it on the airplane - is Barry older than 15? Review: A good book to break the stress of an airplane ride but most of my chuckles were based in my disbelief that this book was written by a post puberty male. I teach Freshman English at a Community College and this book doesn't even match the creativity that I would expect from my 17 year olds. How often does Barry think we are going to laugh at the dog/food joke? It was insulting that he then does a sexual assault and thinks that the reader will still be in the mood for his adolescent jokes. This book is so bad.
Rating: Summary: Exhilarating and VERY Funny! Review: Dave Barry should continue to write fiction! I'm a very serious Mystery/Thriller fan and I don't normally stray. However, I was in a bookstore and picked up the book and decided to read something a little different! This book was really well written with a good story, good characters and very funny! Excellent book, Mr. Barry; I hope you write another fiction book soon!
Rating: Summary: Big Trouble is a Hoot! Review: This is one funny book! It is loaded with all kinds of character, all of whom are absolutely essential to the plot, and all of whom are masterly presented! I laughed all the way through it, and I don't even live in Miami. Loved Roger and the Enemy Toad. Nicely done, Dave!
Rating: Summary: Fluff Read Review: I once heard that newspapers are written for people with a 4th grade education level. Well, it carries thru to this book. The characters in this book were very one sided with everyone falling into neat little catagories. The author seemed to try a little too hard with the hummor. All in all it isn't too bad of a book but it is a very lightweight read.
Rating: Summary: Dave is a twisted, South Floridian genius. Review: Big Trouble has the convoluted, interwoven plot that can be conceived only in the humidity of Miami. I loved the characters and the plot. Dick Hill does a fabulous job reading the book - I was driving down the road laughing outloud. The ending had my heart pounding as the two teenagers, the divorced dad, the battered wife, the two bums, the two hitmen, the homeless guy and the maid, the two FBI guys, the saavy police woman, the saavy police detective, the smarmy businessman/stepdad/batterer, a truckload of goats, a dog and a toad, and a boa constrictor raced toward a climax that will have you literally on the edge of your seat. Way to go, Dave.
Rating: Summary: Funny, but a bit amatuerish. His editors did him no favors. Review: Hard to believe that this guy is an accomplished author. While the book was easy reading, about 40% of the "hilarious" dialogue would have been edited out by your average High School writing teacher - probably with the comment "Please try to reread these lines as a third person would, you might realize that most of them are not as funny as you think." Its almost like Dave Barry wrote this stuff while in a giggling fit where he kept thinking that each line he spewed out was golden, unfortunately his editors and/or friends who read this manuscript didn't have the fortitude to tell the guy that some it was pure amatuer junk. They did him (or us) no favor!I read the book in a day, I think the embarassment of this amatuerish effort will haunt Dave Barry fans for a much longer time.
Rating: Summary: Hiassen does it even better; but it's good! Review: As a matter of fact, had I been given this book to read with no knowledge of its author, I would have been happy to bet on Hiassen at even odds, but not considered it one of his very best. One thing at the start: I fail to understand the complaints about the "obscene" language in this book. Four-letter words do NOT abound, and their use is not gratuitous. Still, there are other things that do not make this book the unqualified success his friends (King et al.) call it on the cover. The (human) characters are not quite three-dimensional. And: I did not laugh snortingly, as I have often enough done reading David Barry (I AM a fan!); I chuckled every now and then. But if you like him (good for you!), you could certainly do worse than spend a few pleasant hours with "Big Trouble". I hope he will write a second novel, and I am looking forward to it. I also consider three stars a commendation - at least that is what I want to imply. Four would suggest excellence; five greatness: at least that is my way of looking at it. It was fun, and that's worth something!
Rating: Summary: A Riot! Review: Dave Barry's columns are funny, and this book is even better. He does wonders with the Miami setting. It reminds me of Tom Wolfe's Mau Mauing the flack catchers only a whole whole lot funnier.
Rating: Summary: I wish there were a 6 star rating... Review: As a long time reader of Dave Barry's collumn, I would have to say I loved it. The story was quirky and also satirical about southern Florida. It was a riot. You really have to find Barry's humor funny to make this book worthwhile, but I don't see how anyone can dislike good 'ol Dave.
|