“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

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

“Ya Wanna Do It Here Or Down The Station, Punk?” # 2,014: Darren Laws

Yep, it’s rubber-hose time, folks: a rapid-fire Q&A for those shifty-looking usual suspects ...
What crime novel would you most like to have written?
MISS SMILLA’S FEELING FOR SNOW [by Peter Hoeg]. Not a typical crime novel, but like most Scandinavian authors, Hoeg manages to portray a great sense of brooding atmosphere, and develops truly flawed characters with gusto. I love the oddness of this book.
Who do you read for guilty pleasures?
Chuck Palahniuk. I love this guy. Met him in London a few years back and he is one of the funniest and most charming authors I have met.
Most satisfying writing moment?
Typing the words ‘The End’, it is like lighting a cigarette after making love …
The best Irish crime novel is …?
John Connolly, EVERY DEAD THING.
What Irish crime novel would make a great movie?
A novel into movies is always tricky. I think movies are more suited to good short stories.
Worst / best thing about being a writer?
Best: writing. Worst: never having enough time to write.
The pitch for your next novel is …?
Plain mad. 1940’s noir sci-fi thriller set in New York and Mexico, supernatural, human trafficking, biological plague, love story … and I’m not kidding.
Who are you reading right now?
My reading list is depressing because it keeps growing but waiting to be read includes: Richard Dawkins’ THE GOD DELUSION, Chuck Palahniuk’s HAUNTED, Michael Connelly’s THE POET, Steven and Bannon’s BOOK OF POISONS, plus around 20 other novels and books.
The three best words to describe your own writing are …?
Oh my god!

Darren Laws’ TURTLE ISLAND is published in paperback on February 4.
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