Rating: 
Summary: So-So
Review: A funny and fast-paced book, marred by paper-thin characters (with one or two exceptions), pontificating by the author (enough about cigars already), and the same Miami jokes repeated ad nauseum. No worse than your average best-seller, though, and funnier than most.
Rating:
Summary: Carl Hiassen-Lite
Review: Dave Barry's "Big Trouble" is a breezy, funny, well-written page-turner. But if you've read any of his Miami Herald co-worker Carl Hiassen's books, you'll see that BT is a pale imitation of Hiassen's unique, bizarre and (to me) engrossing style - "Southern Miami wacko," as Barry puts it.At the center of the story is a quartet of innocents, which is surrounded by rings of mobsters, illegal arms-traders and corrupt contractors. Add the Miami Police, the FBI and a street person in love with an illegal immigrant and you've got a wonderful Chaplinesque comedy, had Chaplin entertained the idea of portable nuclear weaponry. One thing Barry does better than Hiassen is his female characters. Whether out of empathy or better knowledge, his women and their relationshiops with men ring true. Unfortunately, Hiassen has him beaten by a mile in plotting and depth. Wait for the paperback, is my opinion. But if you like either Barry or Hiassen, it's worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: pretty good-but can we relax a bit on the Barry is God thing
Review: This a good little novel. Nothing is funnier than a good Dave Barry column, but that mentality hurts this book a bit. When DB tries to emulate himself it hurts the flow. Also, the pattern of introducing 2 new characters every chapter early on wore a little thin. Those are really minor flaws, though, in a very good - very light novel. (But gosh can we please lighten up on the hero worship of Dave Barry from other writers on the dust jacket. Yeah,sure he's very funny but stop with hyped up 'Barry is God' praise. One wonders what pointed barbs a Barry column might take at such silliness if it were directed at some other source.
Rating: 
Summary: Very superficial shallow and hard to believe.
Review: I bought this book based on the recommendations I read on the jacket. Maybe it was me, but I did not laugh and found the characters poorly developed and hard to believe. Barry should stick to writing jokes or whatever it is he does regularly for a living.
Rating: 
Summary: The other reviewer must be ringers
Review: I'm a big fan of David Barry. I read his columns and have read many of his books. But I have to say after reading "Big Trouble" that he has a lot to learn about writing fiction. The book started out ok. I might have chuckled once or twice to myself reading the first few chapters. However, his writing quickly went downhill. From middle of the book to the end, there were NO LAUGHS! It was just an endless listing of events. This happened...Then this happened...and then this happened...etc.etc.etc.. The characters were all one dimensional. I actually felt embarrassed for David Barry for putting out such a sorry book. If I could give it zero stars, I would have. The only redeeming quality is it is a quick read. If it wasn't I wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
Rating: 
Summary: ha ha! dave's a rave
Review: ha ha ha! Dave's a rave. What a cornball. He sure cracks me up! Why, if I were'nt supposed to be in class right now i would be at Barnes and Nobles reading all the Dave Barry books I could get my hands on. How about the one where he has the whole thing he acts out, with the thingamajig? You know, where the kids get caught holding that whatchamacallit, and almost, you know, whatever? ha ha ha! I almost died. In class, I mean. That's why i left. Way to go, Dave the Rave! I am your biggest college student fan.
Rating:
Summary: Dave Barry humor, but a good story too
Review: Anyone who enjoys Dave Barry's column won't be disappointed when reading his first novel "Big Trouble", which Dave describes as belonging to the "bunch of South Florida Wackos" genre. However, those who read tongue-in-cheek crime fiction will enjoy it also as the characters and story hold up as well. I.e. You're interested in what's going to happen to the characters and how the story is going to unfold. A recommended read.
Rating:
Summary: A Dave Barry Column With A Plot
Review: In his first novel, talented humorist Dave Barry takes the easy way out by tacking his usual column style onto the framework of a farcical plot. As with Barry's columns, his prose flows smoothly and his dialogue is realistic. But don't expect to find here the techniques of a first-class novelist, such as conflicted and multilayered characters and carefully crafted phrases that etch themselves into your memory. Most of the social commentary is obvious and sledgehammerish, though there is a very funny thread involving calllers to a radio talk sports program. If you like Barry's columns, you'll probaby find this a fun read. If you want memorable fiction, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: This book is the funniest! Great mystery, wonderful characters, side-splitting humor. Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down! Dave Barry had better keep writing mysteries, as he has sure figured out the genre!
Rating:
Summary: Mayhem has never been so much fun!
Review: Simply, this is a great book. Poisonous toads, obsessive dogs, illegal maids - it has it all! It makes South Florida sound nearly as weird as it really is.
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