Well, for those of you who may have doubted Dave Barry's ability to write a good novel, you're in for a big surprise, because "Big Trouble" is great.
I know, because I just read it last night. In 2 hours. I simply couldn't put it down. It was 3 a.m. by the time I had read the entire thing (I began at 1 a.m.-- insomnia, don't you know.), but I knew I had to finish it, despite my appointment to have all four of my wisdom teeth taken out the next morning at 9 a.m. Even with these circumstances, I persevered and finished the entire, wonderful novel.
To give a brief summary of the plot: There are a number of important characters, including Puggy, a homeless man who lives in a tree and carries crates for two Russians in a bar for a living; Matt, a teenager who has the assignment of killing (that is, squirting with a squirt gun in front of no more than one witness) another teenager named Jenny; Anna, Jenny's mother, who is married to an abusive jerk who she yearns to divorce, but is afraid to because she would not be able to support her daughter; Eliot, Matt's dad, who is an unfortunate ad-man; Snake and Eddie, two con men trying to make the big score; Arthur, Anna's abusive husband and an embezzling gambler to boot (a tree on whose property Puggy makes his home in); and Henry and Leonard, two hit men hired to "whack" Arthur the embezzling gambler. The plot revolves around them, but to give it away, in additional to the arsenal of interesting and compelling characters, would be folly. In order to understand the nuances of the plot, you simply must read the book. Suffice it to say that it includes several real shootings, several unusual couplings, a nuclear bomb, some very elusive FBI agents, a lovely dog who loves all humans, especially if they have food, one of those toads that people lick to have hallucinations (also the dog's arch-nemesis), and a hijacked airplane. Also, the book is set in Miami-- the perfect setting for such bizarre happenings.
I can think of only one author who can rival Barry's wonderful, bizarre South Florida tale: Carl Hiaasen. And saying that alone will indicate how much more I now respect Barry as an author. If you're a Hiaasen fan, read this book. If not, read it anyway: it's a delightfully funny romp. And if you like this one, you've got some great Hiaasen books to look forward to.
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