Driving Big Davie
 First edition | |
| Author | Colin Bateman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Dan Starkey novels |
| Genre | Crime, Dark comedy |
| Publisher | Headline |
Publication date | 5 April 2004 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 312 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7553-0919-1 |
| OCLC | 55624240 |
| 823.914 | |
| Preceded by | The Horse With My Name (2002) |
| Followed by | Belfast Confidential (2005) |
Driving Big Davie is the sixth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 5 April 2004 through Headline Publishing Group.[1] Bateman started the novel in response to the death of Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash, who he stated was a "huge inspiration on [his] teenage years".[2]
Plot
[edit]Dan Starkey is invited to Florida by his old friend, "Big Davie", who has a spare honeymoon ticket after being dumped by his erstwhile fiancée. Starkey is back with his wife Patricia and feels he's gotten over the murder of his toddler son "Little Stevie" - however his wife disagrees and declares that an American road trip would do him good. When the opportunity to avenge Stevie's death presents itself, Starkey cannot refuse.
Movie
[edit]A movie adaptation of the novel was planned in 2001, with Steve Bendelack attached as director.[3][4]
Reception
[edit]For those of you not in the know, Bateman is the funniest writer Ireland has produced since Roddy Doyle.
The novel received little but positive coverage in the media.
Reviewing for the Irish Post, Martin Doyle stated he found Bateman's novels to be "pitch-black comic thrillers" and called the novel "a helter-skelter of high jinks and low humour"; stating that while the novel is not "a demanding read" he found it to be "a rewarding one".[5] Andrea Henry, in a review for the Daily Mirror stated that, at the prospect of Starkey's vengeance for his murdered son, "fast and furious murder and mayhem ensue", and called the novel "laugh-a-minute lad lit".[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Driving Big Davie (Book, 2004). WorldCat.org. OCLC 55624240. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ Bateman, Colin. "Driving Big Davie". Colin Bateman. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ "Driving-Big-Davie - Trailer". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ "In brief: Eddie Murphy believes in Shrek". The Guardian. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ a b Doyle, Martin. "Irish News UK - News from the Irish Community in Britain". Irishabroad.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ Henry, Andrea (25 March 2004). "Best of the Rest". mirror. Retrieved 17 January 2012.