“Declan Burke is his own genre. The Lammisters dazzles, beguiles and transcends. Virtuoso from start to finish.” – Eoin McNamee “This bourbon-smooth riot of jazz-age excess, high satire and Wodehouse flamboyance is a pitch-perfect bullseye of comic brilliance.” – Irish Independent Books of the Year 2019 “This rapid-fire novel deserves a place on any bookshelf that grants asylum to PG Wodehouse, Flann O’Brien or Kyril Bonfiglioli.” – Eoin Colfer, Guardian Best Books of the Year 2019 “The funniest book of the year.” – Sunday Independent “Declan Burke is one funny bastard. The Lammisters ... conducts a forensic analysis on the anatomy of a story.” – Liz Nugent “Burke’s exuberant prose takes centre stage … He plays with language like a jazz soloist stretching the boundaries of musical theory.” – Totally Dublin “A mega-meta smorgasbord of inventive language ... linguistic verve not just on every page but every line.Irish Times “Above all, The Lammisters gives the impression of a writer enjoying himself. And so, dear reader, should you.” – Sunday Times “A triumph of absurdity, which burlesques the literary canon from Shakespeare, Pope and Austen to Flann O’Brien … The Lammisters is very clever indeed.” – The Guardian

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

God Bless Us, Every One!

Seasons greetings from snowy Enniskerry, folks, the picture right being the view from ye olde writing deske at CAP Towers at approximately 8am on December 22nd, and very peaceful it is too as we wind down for the year.
  It’s been an interesting twelve months here at CAP Towers, a very satisfying one, and as full of the kind of ups and downs that make life worth living as you (or I, to be precise) could wish for. I’ve done plenty of writing, had very little of it published, but that’s all part of the game; and besides, 2010 was the year when I finally, belatedly, remembered the reason I first started writing all those years ago: for the joy of putting words in their best order, a joy that is as simple as it is fiendishly complicated. Long may it continue.
  For what it’s worth, and because this is supposed to be an Irish Crime Fiction-related blog, the Crime Always Pays’ Top 10-ish Irish Crime Novels runs (trumpet parp, please, maestro) as follows:
ORCHID BLUE by Eoin McNamee
PEELER by Kevin McCarthy
THE BURNING by Jane Casey
THE WHISPERERS by John Connolly
COLLUSION by Stuart Neville
CITY OF LOST GIRLS by Declan Hughes
BLOOD MONEY by Arlene Hunt
DR YES by Colin Bateman
THE DOGS OF ROME by Conor Fitzgerald
FAITHFUL PLACE by Tana French
IF I NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN by Niamh O’Connor
THE RISING by Brian McGilloway
THE HOLY THIEF by William Ryan
  All told, it was yet another very fine year for Irish crime fiction, and again, long may it continue.
  Finally, I’m planning to take an extended break from blogging over the coming week or so, the better to plunge into the festivities and try to keep up with the irrepressible Lily, who, at two-and-a-half, has been in the semi-delirious throes of Santa-related anticipation for the best part of the last fortnight. So I’d like to take this opportunity to offer a heartfelt thanks to everyone who stopped by here during the year, and took the time to make my time worthwhile, and particularly those of you - you know who you are - who entered into the spirit of the thing by engaging with the topics, leaving comments, and abusing your not-always-entirely-genial host. I wish you all a very peaceful Christmas, and a happy and prosperous New Year. Or, as the Princess Lilyput very nearly blurts out in the vid below, God bless you, every one.
  Roll it there, Collette …

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the list of yet more books to check out ;-) And a very merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family.
best wishes
Maxine.

Stuart Neville said...

And the best of the season to you and yours, along with my thanks for your continued support this year. :)

seana graham said...

Thanks for the list, and thanks for the video too.

Have a nice rest from this and happy holidays.

Jerry House said...

Have a very happy Christmas with your very precious family.

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

Enjoy the holidays and come back fighting. Best wishes and thanks for all the valuable insight CAP has provided me.

C. N. Nevets said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Enjoy your time.

T.S. O'Rourke said...

Merry Xmas! Hope next year is a smash hit!

Glenna said...

I hope you have a great one, and thanks for the video, it was precious!!

I look forward to checking out some of the books on your list.

Paul D Brazill said...

Have a good Crimbo, mate. You could add 'The Baby Killers' to that list too. It's your best. Still don't like the title, though!

Dorte H said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

I can´t put on the sound as my children are watching TV (they are three against one, after all), but even without it, your daughter´s happiness is gorgeous. Some things re easier when your youngest is 20, but not as funny as when she was 2.

And I promise I´ll read some more Irish writers in 2011. The ones I tried in 2010 were excellent.

Kevin McCarthy said...

thanks for another great year of CAP and have a happy, peaceful holidays. now give them elves their extra christmas ration of wonking juice and kick back!

Unknown said...

Awwww, she's a wee star. All the best to you and the family, Dec.

Peter Rozovsky said...

Merry Christmas to you and that fine family of yours. And, good God, three of your top Irish crime novels were on my year's top four. You introduced me to at least two of the writers, so thanks, squire.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

lil Gluckstern said...

My reading lists are much richer thanks to your recommendations, and interviews." And, as usual, your little girl is absolutely adorable, and irrepressible is a great word for her. Happiest of Christmases to you, and your family.

michael said...

Happy Holidays to you and your family. May next year at this time we will be seeing your name on many Best books lists of 2011. And we get a return performance by Princess Lilyput.

Serf michael

Donna said...

Awwww - what a little darling (Lily, not you, of course). Have a wonderful time and thanks for all the reading fun this year.

Anonymous said...

OHG, she's just so adorable.
Happy Christmas Dec, I hope you and your family have a wonderful few days.
Arlene

Photographe à Dublin said...

Many Happy Returns of the Season.