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Summary: A review of BIG TROUBLE
Review: Dave Barry is know for his comical short stories. Big Trouble is his first novel. This book was a very fun book to read. Dave Barry has given us a humorus and suspensful novel.
The book was like a crime novel gone bad. Including a bum who sleeps in a tree, two arms-dealing Russian hoods, a couple of two bit losers who hustle tourist, a momther and daughter tage team, along with a father and son team, and two New Jersey hit men. Every character gives us something to laugh about. They all end up being involed with eachother in some way or another.
If this is what Dave Barry's short stories are like then everyone should read them.
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Summary: Funny, Quirky, Fluffy
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was nice diversion for a Sunday afternoon. Not deep reading, but funny, with a lot of "Barryism" to it. Lots of little asides and jabs within the story. And the story, while somewhat predictable in the end, was well paced. It tied up everything the way it would be in a perfect world, which is nice to see every once in a while. Twist endings are good in serious crime-fiction, but not necessary in a book like this. I loved the wrap-up stories - in fact, there was one twist there that I didn't see coming (re:Monica). The "normal" (read: non-sociopath) characters were fun and believable, and the psycho ones were a riot.
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Summary: I'm not a Dave Barry fan, but enjoyed this immensely
Review: I'm one of those people who doesn't admire Dave Barry's columns all that much. I smile at a few things, but he often seems too over-the-top for me. Which is what makes my reaction to this book so surprising: I really liked it! Barry shows a subtlety here I didn't know he had in him. The book's plot and the situations his characters get themselves into are utterly absurd, and Barry seems to understand that this in itself is funny. For that reason, I agree with other reviewers who noted that this book reads a lot like Carl Hiassen's stuff.If you are a Dave Barry fan, expect this book to be a little more understated than you're used to. If you're not a Dave Barry fan, give this work of his a try--you might be as surprised as I was.
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Summary: very funny and page-turning read
Review: this is such a funny book. i read a couple pages of this in one of my classes while my teacher was lecturing our class and i bursted with laughter. i highly recommend this book. for the upcoming film of the novel, i can see why, towards the end, they dropped it with the sept. 11th thing. although im pretty sure the film, if and when it is released, is not going to be as funny compared to the novel. so if you've heard of or seen the trailer of the film already, read the book first. i guarentee it will be better.
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Summary: What I expected vs. What I got
Review: I probably never would have read this book if it hadn't been the only available reading material on a 10 hour plane ride. I'm glad it was there though--- First, what I thought I was picking up was sort of an extended version of Dave Barry's column, but in a novel sort-of-compilation. It's hard to explain. But what I got was not at all what I exected. This was a REAL LIVE NOVEL (okay, so it wasn't ALIVE, but it WAS a real novel). This novel had a real story--not in the rambling-from-one-topic-to-the-other kind of way the column runs. You can pick up the premise of the story from the editorial reviews--but know that if you buy this book and already enjoy Dave's writing, you won't regret your purchase. It's a new genre--comedy/mystery. And it works, in a keystone cops sort of way. The characters aren't endearing, but the story is. A terrific first novel (although not his first 'work of fiction.' As Berry pointed out when someone called it his first fiction, that stuff in his column, well "some of that's made up" too).
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Summary: Big Trouble
Review: Big trouble, as it says on the top of the cover, is an Actual Novel by Dave Barry. And for anyone who has ever read any of Dave Barry's columns or books, let me tell you, this lives up to the same standards.
Now, without giving away too much of the plot, the book is about, well, you'll have to read it to yourself, (and on a short note, there is a section in the book that may be hard for some people to deal with since the tragedies of september 11).
Anyone, anyone who wants a REALLY good read should pick up this book. If you are looking for legitimate novel too keep you up late at night thinking deep and profund thoughts, this isn't the book for you: this book will keep you up all night reading it. Also, for only $7.50, this is a great buy (no, I'm not endorsing anyone to buy it, I'm just saying it's hard to find a really good cheap book these days)
Basically, to sum it up, I would have to say if you want a book about ugly fish, good beer, arrogant policemen, teenagers and how to sneak a nuclear weapon onto a plane, than this is the book for you. Even if you aren't into those things, buy it anyway, or at least borrow a copy from a friend or the library. I just hope the upcoming movie can do it justice.....
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Summary: Not funny
Review: I usually enjoy Dave Barry's writing. As I read this book I kept waiting for the humor. I gave up halfway through. Not only is it not funny, it contains descriptions of very disturbing situations guaranteed to depress you. Is there anyone out there who thinks kidnapping and attempted rape is amusing? This one deserves zero stars.
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Summary: DAVE BARRY STRIKES GOLD.
Review: Insanely funny, savagely wacky.With its byzantine plot and weird denizens, this could be the most delightfully inventive and raucous book Dave Barry has ever written.
Rating:
Summary: Dumb but funny
Review: Just what the cover says--an actual novel by Dave Barry. Actually, it's just like his columns, but in narrative form. Barry sort of tries to out-Hiassen his colleague. An hour after you finish this, you won't even remember reading it--but you'll laugh out loud a few times before you finish.
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Summary: Let's make it short!
Review: To tell you the truth, i had no even a slightest idea who Dave Barry is! You see, i am russian, live in Latvia, i don't watch CNN nor NBC - and feel GREAT! The only reason i purchased this book was because of its' provocative appearance on the shelf - it just jumped at me with it's acid green cover with a read creature in the centre (yeah, the one that was stealing all this food from poor dog)- here i am talking about russian edition, hope it was not bootleged:)
I simply enjoyed every page of it!!! My highest recommendations for those who are looking for a fun read, relax a little and just change your mood at least for a while!
But if you do not have enough troubles in your life - do not read it, (...)
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