Insane City

The comic send-up of the wedding industry, the super wealthy, Miami club scene and the consumption of "medical" pot brownies.

Dave, Dave, Dave, I adore your work but you, like most authors, should NOT read your own books, please let the voice actors do the job. It makes for a much better experience for the listener and, in this case, would add much to the comic potential for the book.

Usually I try to buy audio books which last several hours - by several I mean more than 15, and if an audiobook is only 15 hours it better be really good. The first time I ever heard a Dave Barry book (Tricky Business) was almost 10 years ago, back when I still used CDs to listen to them. I was driving from Miami (that's why I bought the Dave Barry audiobook) to Iowa with my teenaged daughter.

I had no problem with staying awake while I was listening to it. There were very few minutes of that book which didn't have us crying with laughter. I never thought that I would find a scene with people throwing up so hysterically funny.

But of course, when you haven't listened to an author for a while, you're not sure if it was really as funny as you remembered. Also, they're REALLY short.

But last week I needed something new to listen to while I exercise. Drawing upon past experience, and having faith in Dave Barry, I bought it and listened to it.

Oh, MAN!

Nobody, nobody writes books which have incredibly complicated and unusual plots and situations as Barry. And he is wise enough to keep most of his characters basically normal. Sometimes I wonder if he writes these books because someone dares him to write a novel including an orangutan, an albino boa constrictor, helicopters and a pirate ship.

If you haven't heard any of Barry's books, mazel tov! Audible has several more.

Oh and speaking of mazel tov, he's included retired Jewish parents with only one son and no other children. If my husband didn't have a brother I'd think he'd met my inlaws (they should rest in peace).

But I don't think they'd eat the brownies.

This book reminded me of the Hangover movies, but with a twist. I laughed out loud multiple times. Really enjoyed it!

Way too much profanity for this ole' girl!!!!

Maybe not, if all of his books are like this one.

Less profanity and inappropriate content. Dirty talk.

The entire groom group.

I have read Dave Berry's work in Readers' Digest. I had no idea he wrote any other way.

Boring, not at all Dave Barry's typical fare. He shouldn't try to write novels.

Dave Barry writes some great stories. They have a good pace, interesting characters and fun reads. But I have to agree with other comments that not having another narrator was a mistake. The reading was dull and monotone. A good narrator makes a good book great and I think this one could have used that push.

I'm surprised at the criticism of Dave Barry as a narrator. I thought he did a great job. Anyway, it's a fun story.

I love the way Dave narrates. It's always done tongue in cheek..

I've listened to all of Daves novels and most of his other books as well. To me, this is clearly the best.

Don't wait so long between books dave!

I won't belabor you with how my life is out of control, but I do have coping skills. One of those skills is listening to books so that I won't dwell on aspects of my life I can't change. I either select something with a deep plot and very complicated to keep me focused or something very funny. Insane City by Dave Berry is a great candidate for the latter.

As usual, his books take a a normal situation (in this case a wedding, great fodder for character interaction) and cause the character to interact with bizarre situations or characters. First one thing happens, then another thing happens that impacts the first thing - you get the picture. Mayhem ensues, but oh, such funny mayhem. The play between the characters also make the story. Each character is someone you recognize from your own life (the normal one's at least). Many times as a reader you cheer because the normal one shed's his boring coat and reaches out to be wild and crazy. Sometimes that backfires, of course, which adds more mayhem.

I am glad too to read Barry's book because there is not some big overall message. His friend, Carl Hiassen, also writes hilarious books but saving the owls or some such cause is always championed. This is just good old fun. Keep them coming Mr. Barry. We all need to laugh to keep from crying.

If you like Dave Barry's style as a columnist or if you have read his earlier novel BIG TROUBLE then this listen should be a good fit. Dave is the narrator and reads it straight, which actually sets up the laughs wonderfully. He doesn't do different voices for the characters but I don't think that in this instance it matters. I don't do voices in my head when I read a book but I still enjoy the story. And while a polished performance by an experienced actor often enhances a listening experience, a straight read by the author usually gets the point he's trying to make, across to the listener/reader. In this case, I laughed - a lot. Dave Barry's style is similar to Carl Hiaasen; although Mr. Barry's tales are not as long or as involved. Maybe it's something in the water in Florida? Anyway, I will listen to this one again and recommend it to anyone that wants an injection of good-natured silliness that results from the all too human foibles of the less than stellar characters in the general vicinity of greater Miami.