Book Synopsis: Big Trouble

Title: Big Trouble
Author: Dave Barry
Publication Date: 1999
Page Count: 317
Type: Fiction
Started On: 10/29
Finished On: 11/7

My Grade: B


1. Why did I decide to read this book?

Some time at the end of the summer, my brother gave me a bunch of books because he had no where to store all of them. A lot of the books were John Grisham novels and a few other miscellaneous ones. One of these novels was Big Trouble. My brother told me that it was a comedy and that he really enjoyed it. After reading two Grisham novels, I wanted to take a break from the more serious novels to read Big Trouble.

2. Plot summary:

Big Trouble was a fast-paced comedy with many story lines that lead to one final event. The catastrophic events that lead up to the finale all started at the Herk household. Two New Jersey hit men are assigned to take out Arthur Herk, the man of the household. Their initial plans are foiled by a pair of awkward high school boys trying to play a game that requires one of them to squirt Arthur's daughter Jenny with a squirt gun(they refer to it as killing her); this requires one witness, hence the two high school boys. The two boys and the hit men just happen to arrive at the Herk house the same night, both pairs desiring to "kill" someone in the house. The boys' plans are also ruined for they did not know that Jenny and her mother are karate specialists. A bullet goes through the TV a split second after it would have hit Arthur Herk in the head. Arthur, therefore, has discovered men are after him, due to a series of bullet holes in the walls, so he seeks help from two arms-dealing Russians that run a bar (The Jolly Jackal). He acquires a bomb from them; unfortunately, a pair of two-bit losers steal the bomb and take it to Arthur's house, where the two then take Jenny and Puggy, a drifter and man assigned to carry the heavy bomb, hostage and head for the airport. The two thieves believe that the explosive is a device involved with drug dealing, so they unknowingly flip some switches that set the bomb. Someone must stop these criminals before the bomb goes off in a plane headed for the Bahamas!


3. What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?


The setting of this novel is Miami, Florida. It probably takes place during the summertime; however, the season is never clearly stated. To get the real feel of Miami, it is important that it be summer. One of the main sayings in this novel is, "Only in Miami." This is because a lot of strange occurrence supposedly often happen in the city of Miami.


4. Who are the main characters and what roles do they play in the novel?


There are many important characters involved with the plot of Big Trouble. The most important characters are Elliot Arnold (father of Matt Arnold), Anna Herk (mother of Jenny Herk), Puggy (a drifter), and Nina, maid of the Herk household whom Puggy falls madly in love with. Puggy is beat up by Snake and Eddie, who are two-bit losers that become very important to the plot. Matt comes in contact with Jenny because he is assigned to "kill" her (squirt her with a squirt gun). Therefore, Matt and his friend Andrew, the required witness for the killing, go to the Herk household to carry out the task at hand. Little does anyone know that two hit men, Henry and Leonard, are assigned to take out Arthur Herk, the father of the Herk household, and they arrive at their home the same night as Matt and Andrew. Matt eventually decides to charge in; however, he is mugged to a bloody mess by Anna and Jenny Herk, so Andrew flees the seen. Arthur Herk, as drunk as can be, falls off the couch, out of the path of a bullet going straight for his head (shot by one of the hit men). Eventually, two Miami police officers show up, Monica Ramirez and Walter Kramitz, and inspect the seen. Herny and Leonard flee and run into Nina and Puggy. Elliot Arnold also shows up and falls in love with Anna as soon as he sees her. Matt is also attracted to Jenny Herk. This event changes the lives of these characters forever.

What is/are the main conflict(s) in the novel?

There are many conflicts that lead to one main conflict in Big Trouble. Arthur Herk is in trouble with a company that has sent two hit men after him. Arthur makes an attempt to strike first by purchasing a bomb from two arms-dealing Russians that own a bar. While leaving with the bomb, Snake and Eddie pull out a gun, steal the bomb, and take it to Arthur's house. While at the house, the pair take Jenny and Puggy hostage and leave for the airport. They are desiring to go to the Bahamas. Thinking that the bomb is a device used for drug making, the losers accidentally flip a few switches on the bomb. The bomb is now set and Snake and Eddie are in the airport. They must be stopped before the bomb goes off.

6. Describe the climax of the novel?

The climax occurs just after Arthur Herk purchases his bomb. Snake and Eddie draw out a gun and take the bomb from Arthur. Snake and Eddie then take Arthur to his house where Jenny and Anna are. Snake takes Jenny hostage along with Puggy, who carries the bomb. Now the thieves and their hostages are headed for the airport to exit the country to the Bahamas. All of the characters that were introduced throughout the duration of the novel are involved with catching the criminals and stopping them.

7. What is the significance of the books title? Is the title appropriate, or would I change it to something else?

The title of this novel is Big Trouble. This title is significant because it represents that Arthur Herk is in big trouble with the company out to kill him. He has done wrong with Penultimate, Inc. and is now being stalked by two clumsy hit men. Elliot Arnold is in trouble because he is love with a woman that is the ex-wife of Arthur Herk, an unstable, drunk husband. I would change the title somewhat; I'm not sure what to. The title doesn't catch my attention enough.

8. What is my opinion about this book? Why (give specifics)?

I thought that Big Trouble was very humorous and I would suggest it for an easy read. The plot and characters all fall in line, and they work well with the story in general. Dave Barry is a genius at putting the story together at the end and provided that well-liked happy ending. The title is one main factor that I didn't find adequate enough. However, I give this novel a B because it is a delight to read.