Big Trouble

By: Dave Barry

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

In his career, Dave Barry has done just about everything - written best-selling nonfiction, won a Pulitzer Prize, seen his life turned into a television series. And now, at last, he has joined the long list of literary figures, from Jane Austen to Tolstoy, who have made the transition from humor columnist to novelist - and done it with a style and inventiveness that establishes that, yes, he is very good at that, too.

In the city of Coconut Grove, Florida, these things happen: A struggling adman named Eliot Arnold drives home from a meeting with the Client From Hell. His teenage son, Matt, fills his Squirtmaster 9000 for his turn at a high school game called Killer. Matt's intended victim, Jenny Herk, sits down in front of the TV with her mom for what she hopes will be a peaceful evening - for once. Jenny's alcoholic and secretly embezzling stepfather, Arthur, emerges from the maid's room, angry at being rebuffed - again. Henry and Leonard, two hit men from New Jersey, pull up to the Herks' house for a real game of Killer - Arthur's embezzlement apparently not having been quite so secret to his employers after all. And a homeless man named Puggy settles down for the night in a treehouse just inside the Herks' yard.

In a few minutes, a chain of events that will change the lives of each and every one of them will begin, and will leave some of them wiser, some of them deader, and some of them definitely looking for a new line of work.

With a wicked wit, razor-sharp observations, rich characters, and a plot with more twists than the Inland Waterway, Dave Barry makes his debut a complete and utter triumph.

©2000 Dave Barry; 2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

cheesy but fun

It made a very long drive go faster! Some predictable twists, just his descriptions are hilarious even if some of the characters are dorks

very fun and clever plot

Dave Barry is a great author. this is a funny story with a plot of a lot of different characters that end mixing together in a crazy story. if you're looking for a humourous great story, this is it. The narrator does a really good job bringing all the characters to life.

Great Story

Barr at his best! Very funny. Sadly enough though, it’s all too believable! Just enjoy!

Absolutely hilarious

The way a few really dumb people luck out because of other people's incompetence and complacency put together in a story that had me laughing and rolling my eyes. The reader did a great job with the characters. I rarely find books that keep me interested and laughing all the way through, as this one did. 👍👍

Hysterical!

I loved it! I laughed out loud through the whole book; absurd and completely delightful

Crazy

This is a true Miami nut job, whacko story. The crazy part - some of it could be true. A fantastic fun ride

RARE: The movie is better

Would you listen to Big Trouble again? Why?

I would listen to it again because its a great story.

What did you like best about this story?

The randomness and humor.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Here in lies the problem. The movie is better than the book. THAT NEVER HAPPENS! like hardly never. Maybe the devil in a blue dress, but that's all that comes to mind. Seriously watch the movie for this it ties in 3 scenes with the fat man that kind of brings a lot of the story together in a fantastic way. Also the ending is a lot better in the movie!

If you could rename Big Trouble, what would you call it?

Big Trouble (no not in little china)

Any additional comments?

One of the few times the movie (not Big Trouble in Little China with Kurt Russel but Big Trouble with Tim Allen) is better than the book!

entertaining and engaging<br />

If you like Dave Berry's columns and nonfiction, you'll enjoy this convoluted plot with creative characters and plenty of Miami references.

Completely entertaining!

What did you love best about Big Trouble?

It was engrossingly entertaining

What was one of the most memorable moments of Big Trouble?

The banter between Snake and Eddie during their robbery of the Herk's house

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

I knew who the characters were by his inflections and different voices. He clearly seemed to enjoy telling the story. He delivered Dave Barry's anecdotal comedy lines exquisitely.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I could definitely see this book as a film. Tag line (not my thing, but...)
A Comedy of Errors?

Any additional comments?

This book was so entertaining, that I occasionally missed my exits and didn't mind the extra time traveling back to fix my driving mistakes.

Old Favorite Masterfully Done!

Always loved this book! Dick Hill does an outstanding job narrating it! Thanks to all!