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Serge Storms #8
The Big Bamboo
His marriage plans fizzled, so Floridaphile serial killer Serge A. Storms is on a new to convince the West Coast movie industry bigwigs to do their business in his beloved Sunshine State. So it's off to Tinseltown with his substance-sustained sidekick, Coleman—to schmooze with craven cokehead producers and visiting Yakuza, who are wrestling to salvage the most disastrous big-budget stinkeroo in the history of celluloid . . . and to radically reduce the rampaging population of true Hollywood slimeballs.
367 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published April 1, 2007
167 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
Tim Dorsey
36 books1,651 followersTim Dorsey was born in Indiana, moved to Florida at the age of 1, and grew up in a small town about an hour north of Miami called Riviera Beach. He graduated from Auburn University in 1983. While at Auburn, he was editor of the student newspaper, The Plainsman.
From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.
From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
April 19, 2019
Serge A. Storms, the Floridian anti-hero who is certifiably insane, is going to Hollywood in the 8th installment of Tim Dorsey's one of a kind series, where disturbed will meet unblanaced in the land of make believe.
You think Deadpool is funny? Well, I agree...but think just a little more realistic yet zanier...like Jim Carey overdosing on Monster energy drink while doing coke. Got that mental picture? Let the movie play out in your head while fast-forwarding.
Welcome to Serge's world!
This book has to be the natural progression. We all know that the people who live in Hollywood and makes their living off the big screen is not like the rest of us. Some of us might feel like loners or losers, but even we know our small world is nothing like the nuthouse those people live in. Who was it who asked what the difference is between eccentric and insane? The size of your bank account, right?
Some things may seem like it is ridiculous, but the movie business is just about as mad as the descriptions in this book - and Dorsey knows how to make it funny.
I'm a huge Dorsey fan, but I'm sure there will be those who will write his work off as silly. It depends on whether you can allow yourself to go on the journey he takes you.
Right, I also have to admit that my personal feeling is that the world needs more anti-heroes sometimes. Those who are willing to do the things others are not. Think DEXTER.
But, in a perfect world, we all need a superhero...
And this is mine:
I call him BS man (no, not what you are thinking - it stands for Bitch Slap man). I want him to have the power of appearing when you call his name and give people a Bitch Slap!
Which people?
Why, selfish people, of course!
We get to deal with them every single day and there are millions of examples. For me, the times I need BS man the most is the following -
* When two people stop on the stairs of a public place, blocking others from going up or down.
* When someone stops the elevator doors from closing to continue a conversation.
* When someone calls me and doesn't identify themselves, just accepting I will know who they are.
* When someone doesn't communicate something to you, making you waste hours on something that is either wrong or completely unnecessary.
* When someone can't apologize or admit they made a mistake. Or, even worse, won't take responsibility.
* When someone drives badly or fails to use road signals, holding up traffic, especially during rush hour.
* When idiots try to argue their point to those who are not even remotely interested.
* Basically any time any politician says anything.
* When people who are in the wrong takes offense when it is pointed out to them.
I better stop now, before this becomes fun...
You think Deadpool is funny? Well, I agree...but think just a little more realistic yet zanier...like Jim Carey overdosing on Monster energy drink while doing coke. Got that mental picture? Let the movie play out in your head while fast-forwarding.
Welcome to Serge's world!
This book has to be the natural progression. We all know that the people who live in Hollywood and makes their living off the big screen is not like the rest of us. Some of us might feel like loners or losers, but even we know our small world is nothing like the nuthouse those people live in. Who was it who asked what the difference is between eccentric and insane? The size of your bank account, right?
Some things may seem like it is ridiculous, but the movie business is just about as mad as the descriptions in this book - and Dorsey knows how to make it funny.
I'm a huge Dorsey fan, but I'm sure there will be those who will write his work off as silly. It depends on whether you can allow yourself to go on the journey he takes you.
Right, I also have to admit that my personal feeling is that the world needs more anti-heroes sometimes. Those who are willing to do the things others are not. Think DEXTER.
But, in a perfect world, we all need a superhero...
And this is mine:
I call him BS man (no, not what you are thinking - it stands for Bitch Slap man). I want him to have the power of appearing when you call his name and give people a Bitch Slap!
Which people?
Why, selfish people, of course!
We get to deal with them every single day and there are millions of examples. For me, the times I need BS man the most is the following -
* When two people stop on the stairs of a public place, blocking others from going up or down.
* When someone stops the elevator doors from closing to continue a conversation.
* When someone calls me and doesn't identify themselves, just accepting I will know who they are.
* When someone doesn't communicate something to you, making you waste hours on something that is either wrong or completely unnecessary.
* When someone can't apologize or admit they made a mistake. Or, even worse, won't take responsibility.
* When someone drives badly or fails to use road signals, holding up traffic, especially during rush hour.
* When idiots try to argue their point to those who are not even remotely interested.
* Basically any time any politician says anything.
* When people who are in the wrong takes offense when it is pointed out to them.
I better stop now, before this becomes fun...
May 20, 2025
Well, I was wrong, this one didn’t suck and I'm glad I didn't give up on it. It took awhile to get into and I prefer Serge and Coleman in their native Florida setting, but Hollywood is certainly ripe for satire and Dorsey ripped it up. "Bamboo" wasn't as funny as some of the previous books; on the other hand, Serge hardly killed anyone! I started to wonder if all the threads of the plot would come together at the end, but the epilogue to this one - holy cow! Dorsey once again pulls it off - all is revealed, and it's a doozy.
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I don't know...I may have over-Serged lately. Or maybe this one just sucks?
I'm not enjoying it at all, and I haven't laughed once. But I'm reading this series in order, so I guess I'll give it a little more time.
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I don't know...I may have over-Serged lately. Or maybe this one just sucks?
I'm not enjoying it at all, and I haven't laughed once. But I'm reading this series in order, so I guess I'll give it a little more time.
March 5, 2016
Another entertaining and enjoyable book by Tim Dorsey! I am sure that he lives in a rubber room except when he is doing book tours.
May 6, 2011
HYSTERICAL.
October 10, 2020
Time for another Dorsey/Serge read. Plenty of chuckle-worthy bits so far. No belly laughs yet. This will be my second Dorsey book.
I'm having a bit more fun reading this than "Midnight's Children" so I'll stick with it 'til I'm done. So far not as good as Cadillac Beach, my only other Dorsey read. Plus ... this plot is fragmented and confusing. It's taking place in about four different places. No doubt it will all come together at some point. Too bad about Serge's granddad.
- The Glick brothers seem to be based on the Weinsteins ... Harvey and Bob, though Bob is supposed to be a straight-arrow.
- Finally, a laugh-out-loud moment. Not enough of those. So far this book is a bit too disjointed for me. A BIG saving grace is all the trivia, particularly of the Florida-film variety in the first parts of the book. I have a Miami movie in mind that hasn't been mentioned yet, but the action has shifted to L.A. and that's where the trivia is coming from for now. Maybe Serge has mentioned this movie in another book?
Nearing the end as all the insanity and mayhem is converging in/on SoCal. Serge has demonstrated his cavalier attitude toward the sanctity of human life(especially bad-guy life) and various plot threads an characters are headed on a collision course.
- A word about Coleman the sidekick. In THIS book at least I'm not finding him amusing at all. Drunk/stoned ALL THE TIME. NEVER SAYS ANYTHING INTERESTING/FUNNY/PERTIENT to the issue(s) at hand. I get the idea that he's about the only kind of person who can handle being with the crazy Serge all the time, but to me he's just annoying and boring.
All done now ad not so sure I fully understand all the details of what happened. Oh well ... IMHO not as good as Cadillac Beach - 3 stars.
I'm having a bit more fun reading this than "Midnight's Children" so I'll stick with it 'til I'm done. So far not as good as Cadillac Beach, my only other Dorsey read. Plus ... this plot is fragmented and confusing. It's taking place in about four different places. No doubt it will all come together at some point. Too bad about Serge's granddad.
- The Glick brothers seem to be based on the Weinsteins ... Harvey and Bob, though Bob is supposed to be a straight-arrow.
- Finally, a laugh-out-loud moment. Not enough of those. So far this book is a bit too disjointed for me. A BIG saving grace is all the trivia, particularly of the Florida-film variety in the first parts of the book. I have a Miami movie in mind that hasn't been mentioned yet, but the action has shifted to L.A. and that's where the trivia is coming from for now. Maybe Serge has mentioned this movie in another book?
Nearing the end as all the insanity and mayhem is converging in/on SoCal. Serge has demonstrated his cavalier attitude toward the sanctity of human life(especially bad-guy life) and various plot threads an characters are headed on a collision course.
- A word about Coleman the sidekick. In THIS book at least I'm not finding him amusing at all. Drunk/stoned ALL THE TIME. NEVER SAYS ANYTHING INTERESTING/FUNNY/PERTIENT to the issue(s) at hand. I get the idea that he's about the only kind of person who can handle being with the crazy Serge all the time, but to me he's just annoying and boring.
All done now ad not so sure I fully understand all the details of what happened. Oh well ... IMHO not as good as Cadillac Beach - 3 stars.
May 13, 2024
Always fun to hang out with Serge and Coleman. It was pretty amazing how this all came together in the end. I wonder if we will be seeing more of Ford. I feel like I am coming down off some psychedelic drugs after that book. I think I will go take a nap. 😉
December 15, 2010
I listened to this as an audio book, and I really wasn't sure what to expect. I had read some of the reviews, and I didn't think I'd like it. At first, I didn't. It's silly. After a while though, I began to enjoy Tim Dorsey's particular brand of silly. I don't know why I like it, but I really do, and I would be happy to read more Tim Dorsey.
Go in with no expectations, and enjoy!
Go in with no expectations, and enjoy!
February 17, 2017
Serge Storms and his sobriety-challenged companion Coleman travel from Florida to Hollywood in the hopes of convincing the studios to bring their movie-making machine to the Sunshine State. Of course, it's not as easy as that: dead bodies pop up along the way and the attention of various law enforcement agencies and underworld figures follows. Serge is clearly the "MacGyver" of serial killers as he can seemingly concoct a painful demise out of ordinary items with ease. Serge's beloved grandfather Sergio returns, and you might never look at an elderly gentleman on a scooter the same way again. If you're a movie buff, Serge's encyclopedic knowledge will have you racing for your DVD player to see all the details he has catalogued and is all too willing to share with a mostly unappreciative audience.
A quick and easy read with plenty of laughs!
A quick and easy read with plenty of laughs!
January 10, 2011
A commentary on the inner-workings of Hollywood as viewed by a sociopath- fun!
September 7, 2021
"Big Bamboo," the eighth entry in Tim Dorsey's Serge Storm series, reestablishes Serge as America's favorite, certifiably insane serial killer and expert on all things Florida, and to a lesser degree, all things Americana...Dorsey usually skewers some aspect of Florida and its culture, but in this one he spreads his jaundiced eye, to include, the movie industry and the industry of celebrity, two very, very inviting targets...Great fun!!!
September 15, 2013
So kooky, crazy fun. I love Tim Dorsey's books. When I find one I haven't read, it's like someone just delivered ice cream as a great surprise. The Big Bamboo was somewhat different than some of the other books in this series, and I thought it was a nice difference. I did miss some of Serge's crazier moments; usually he kills off more bad guys. Still, it was zany and rich with interesting characters.
December 15, 2008
Serge IS WAY better than Dexter Morgan....Even by Florida's weak standards...
January 15, 2010
If you like fun and crazy adventures especially about Florida, Tim Dorsey is a riot to read.
January 20, 2010
Every time I run into Serge Storms in Tim Dorsey's books, I like him more and more. Just wished he lived in my neighborhood!
Dorsey's books all crackle!
Dorsey's books all crackle!
February 4, 2011
If you like Carl Hiassen you'll like Dorsey. Very funny story, wacky characters.
June 22, 2011
Serge A Storms is one of the great comic creations. Dorsey's books make me laugh in embarrassing ways.
August 3, 2011
Honestly, it's been a while since I've read it, and all of Tim Dorsey's books to me are very good, and I've read every last one, so one general old timey review.....two thumbs up....for all of them.
October 27, 2011
I thought this was a really good read. Fast paced lunacy with some interesting characters. All the Serge books are great fun to read.
June 1, 2012
Picked this book based on its cover - which was the March challenge.
June 22, 2012
In my opinion the book where Dorsey most perfectly blends an exquisite plot with the inspired, if morbidly black comedy of Serge and Coleman.
December 26, 2012
this book is funny crazy! must read more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 8, 2013
Funny, goofy, and totally Dorsey. Loved it.
October 8, 2013
Great humor and lots of twists and turns in the typical Serge manner.
August 19, 2014
Loved the book. Tim Dorsey at his best. Who knew Serge had a few relatives? Nice send up of both Florida and Hollywood...
April 15, 2015
Serge goes to Hollywood. Movie magic happens. OK, not, but lots of explosions, parties and cocaine is a given. With a healthy side of murder.
Loved every word.
Loved every word.
August 17, 2015
Fun read. Great entertainment.
March 25, 2016
Starts slow and weird, stays weird, gets hilarious, stays hilarious and ends weird. A movie buff will get more laughs from this. I really laughed a lot. But it was weird.
November 1, 2023
I love the Serge Storms books! Always a lot of fun!
January 25, 2018
Serge goes to Hollywood! so many gut-bustingly hilarious lines that cry to be read aloud. I especially enjoyed the news articles from the HOLLYWOOD TATTLETALE.
August 22, 2018
Like all the books in this series, it's hysterical, and total mayhem from start to finish. Dorsey sticks to a formula for these novels that is apparently working, since I think he's up to 22 books. Serge A. Storms is slightly homicidal, obsessive-compulsive and mostly unhinged, but his heart is in the right place, and you can't help but cheer for him. Think Hunter S. Thompson meets Carl Hiassen. Equal doses of satire and madcap humor, and so entertaining! In this one, Serge and his wasted sidekick Coleman head to Tinseltown, with predictable consequences. It's life meets art, or art imitates life, or vise-versa, or whatever, but this book, and really the whole series so far is the perfect diversion. If you are a newcomer, I recommend reading in this order: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1705...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews