Book Corner
Even Dave Barry’s Book Signings are Funny

By Patricia Herbello Espinosa

Dave Barry

I took my young co-worker friend, Lidis, to attend humorist and long-time Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry’s presentation of his new book Dave Barry’s Money Secrets, (Random House, 2006) on Friday, January 20, at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. She had never heard of him, but she has a healthy sense of humor, so I knew she was going to enjoy it.

I’ve been reading Barry’s columns for years and I was thrilled to experience him in person. We got to the Biltmore early because I didn’t want to miss a bit. We parked at the parking lot next to the hotel and walked through the halls toward the Alhambra room. There, lying on a long table next to the entrance was the most amazing variety of books, all sizes and thickness, all written by Dave Barry.  Titles like Dave Barry’s Gift Guide to End All Gift Guides, Stay Fit and Healthy Until You’re Dead and Babies and Other Hazards of Sex, set the mood in Lidis’s mind. She was also surprised about how prolific a writer he was.

We had to stand in line to get into the room. While we were there, I told Lidis about some of Barry’s funniest columns. I enjoy his clean, fresh humor and silliness. The lady behind us was commenting precisely about Barry being so silly sometimes. I’m just amazed at how much fun he makes of everything and how often.

	Dave Barry signing his new book at the Biltmore last month

A few minutes before 8 p.m., we entered the room. We were a mostly mature audience, fans of his columns, which unfortunately for us, he has decided not to continue.

We all sat there waiting for him to appear. I had never seen him in person, but just a few days before I caught him on the The Today Show, where Katie Couric interviewed him about his new book. When I saw him, entering the room with his wife and daughter, wearing his signature Florida shirt, I felt I had known him all my life.

After a brief introduction by Mitchell Kaplan, Books and Books founder and organizer of this event, Dave Barry took the stage. From then on, it was like being at a stand up comedy club. Barry displayed his humor in every sentence. He is as funny speaking in front of an audience as he is typing his silly thoughts on his word processor. He talked of his new book on financial advice—something he admits he has no clue about—and read some excerpts, which made people laugh out loud. I could feel it was a happy moment for all of us.  Lidis kept saying, “Oh my God, he’s so funny!”

Dave Barry’s new book, Dave Barry’s Money Secrets

When Barry finished his readings and commentaries about the book, he took a few questions from the audience.  Someone asked him about his new projects and he answered that he was already working on a new book. He gave prompt and original answers. When asked where he got his inspirations, he said, “From Shakespeare and other classics.” At the end someone asked what he thought about our local politicians and he did not hesitate one second to respond, “Hey, they are getting paid more and more. I think I’ll run for mayor myself.” After the meeting, he mingled a little with friends and fans and then he went outside to the beautiful terrace to sign books.