Book Review - Big Trouble by Dave Barry
Category Book Review Dave Barry Big Trouble
As a fan of the South Florida novel genre (think Hiaasen and Dorsey), I couldn't pass on reading Dave Barry's Big Trouble. I can't resist the chance to escape into the world of inept criminals and off-the-wall personalities that seem to make up a significant portion of that population. :) I'm a bit surprised that I somehow let this one get by my radar for so long (originally published over ten years ago), but oh well.
Big Trouble reminds me of a Tim Dorsey novel without all the characters being on speed. In fact, most of the characters could, in a different setting, be semi-normal (funny, obnoxious, conceited, etc.) Most of the craziness revolves around the action. An innocent game of "Killer" (high school kids targeting others with squirt guns) intersects with an attempted hit by two real killers, an attempted "rescue" by a non-sober security guard, two homeless drifters who are attempting to become "kingpins", and a few arms dealers who have one device on hand that even they're scared of. The plot lines move from a loose weave to a tight knit fabric as the action races to a conclusion. Of course, being that all this takes place in Florida, it's pretty difficult to tell how it's all going to work out.
Overall, Big Trouble was a fun read. Imagine yourself poolside or on the beach, with a nice beverage of choice next to you, and you've got the idea. It's not a replacement for the insanity that is Tim Dorsey, but it's in the same ballpark.
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed
As a fan of the South Florida novel genre (think Hiaasen and Dorsey), I couldn't pass on reading Dave Barry's Big Trouble. I can't resist the chance to escape into the world of inept criminals and off-the-wall personalities that seem to make up a significant portion of that population. :) I'm a bit surprised that I somehow let this one get by my radar for so long (originally published over ten years ago), but oh well.
Big Trouble reminds me of a Tim Dorsey novel without all the characters being on speed. In fact, most of the characters could, in a different setting, be semi-normal (funny, obnoxious, conceited, etc.) Most of the craziness revolves around the action. An innocent game of "Killer" (high school kids targeting others with squirt guns) intersects with an attempted hit by two real killers, an attempted "rescue" by a non-sober security guard, two homeless drifters who are attempting to become "kingpins", and a few arms dealers who have one device on hand that even they're scared of. The plot lines move from a loose weave to a tight knit fabric as the action races to a conclusion. Of course, being that all this takes place in Florida, it's pretty difficult to tell how it's all going to work out.
Overall, Big Trouble was a fun read. Imagine yourself poolside or on the beach, with a nice beverage of choice next to you, and you've got the idea. It's not a replacement for the insanity that is Tim Dorsey, but it's in the same ballpark.
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed
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Posted by Bob Balaban At 11:58:15 On 08/08/2010 | - Website - |