Big Trouble [Audio CD]

Dave Barry (Author)

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590865472
• ISBN-13: 978-1590865477
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (327 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great laugh, November 22, 1999

By 

"crystalrose" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Trouble (Hardcover)

Dave Barry certainly knows what buttons to push to get a laugh...from the goats on the highway to Elizabeth Dole trying to steal Arthur's soul, his humor ranges from low to high brow and stays funny all the way through. True, the flavor of some of the humor is unique but that's always been Dave Barry's signature. I enjoyed it, plain and simple. But I will say don't start this book thinking you're going to read a piece of literature to ponder about...read it with a bag of popcorn and a soda (well, scratch the soda - it might end up going through your nose).

34 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good trial run, but Dave's way out of his league, November 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Trouble (Hardcover)

The unimaginatively titled "Big Trouble" is an acceptable "practice run" novel for Dave Barry. He shows potential to be a good humor/suspense novelist: the characters are quirky and believable (in a cartoonish fashion), the pacing was done well, and for the most part, it was a really funny book. Unlike some critics, I didn't find the humor to be interfering with the story -- it seemed to come out of the situations naturally, and, well, it worked.

On the other hand, the "plot" left much to be desired. Sure, we ain't expecting Shakespeare here, but the story reads like fragments of an Elmore Leonard novel assembled at random and with no real logical progression; it's like a plot constructed by a 16 year old Leonard fan who's just messing around. But like I said, it's a practice run; his next one will likely be better.

The only thing I really dislike about the book is the use of profanity and the sexual assault scene. Dave seems to have been infected with a case of Tarantino-itis, believing that no dialogue can be "realistic" unless it contains multiple f-words. Similarly, the scene with the creep ripping open the woman's blouse was gratuitous and inappropriate for this kind of novel. What purpose did it serve? If Barry felt like he had to add a titillating scene, why couldn't he have done it in a comedic manner, instead of a disturbing rape-fantasy? Barry's been a successful writer without this kind of stuff before, so why does he think he needs it now?

Overall: a funny, light read that has its problems but shows potential. Just as long as he doesn't quit writing humor columns! In that area, Dave reigns supreme.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously funny!, December 9, 1999

By 

JA Muny "JAM" (Upstate from NYC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Trouble (Audio Cassette)

Dave Barry writes a very funny, 'tongue in cheek' murder story which had me laughing out loud... Dick Hill should applauded for his reading of the novel. The inflections of the tone of his voice makes you feel that you are listening to several character actors... He deserves an equivalent of an 'Oscar' for this reading! As for the novel itself...it is an uplifting, suprisingly funny piece of literature... It is reminiscent of 'Pulp Fiction' in a less offensive way... It is a great novel... I will be giving it as gifts this year for holiday season... HAT'S OFF MR. BARRY!