Book Description
Phil and Frank are best friends and med students who work part-time at Ron Todd's World of Chickens as a package deal. Phil's out in front doing shifts in the chicken suit, and Frank's in back frying burgers. They are the A Team, and the World is a sanc-tuary from the pressures of home and college, and a place to scheme about meeting women. Someday Frank hopes to be a surgeon, while Phil's secret dream is to be a filmmaker. In the meantime, life at the World gets sticky when Phil falls big time for Ron's daughter, Frank has it bad for Ron's wife, and business is down. Suddenly, Phil becomes a reluctant and altogether unexpected oracle on dental health, strategic plan-ning, and marriage guidance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

FUNNY!
There are a few parts of this book that get weighed down with excess words. But this book will crack you up. It's a series of misunderstandings, crossed signals, oddball characters and general goofiness. Very funny. ... Read more

Book Description
Australian teenager Dan Bancroft had a choice to make: go to Geneva with his parents for a year, or move into a house with his bass-playing aunt Jacq and her friend Naomi.He chose Jacq's place, and his life will never be the same.This action-packed and laugh-out-loud-funny novel navigates Dan's chaotic world of calculus, roommates, birds, and love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

boring
when i picked up this book i thought it was rather interesting from what i read in the synopsis on the back. but when i started reading it, i wanted to hit something with this book, its so incredibly boring, the main character overthinks things and i feel it has no life, but hey, if you want to read it, go ahead, maybe someday ill finish reading this book.

This book is awesome.
I cannot believe that the reviews for this book are not amazing. This book winds together beautifully. It's great for teenagers, managing to be remarkably true to life, as as well as interesting and unique.
I loved it.

Amusing yet Tedious
Dan has to make a choice, and so do you. Dan's choices are to either go to Geneva with his parents, board in Australia or stay in Australia but live with his aunt. Your choice is whether or not to read this amusing yet tedious book.

Dan chooses to live with his aunt, Jacq, and her friend Naomi. Jacq is a 22 year old who plays bass guitar in her band. Naomi is a beautiful university student who has a boyfriend named Jason. Everything goes crazy when Dan realizes that he has fallen in love with Naomi and spends all his time trying to memorize the shades of brown to classify birds scientifically and impress Naomi. As if everything isn't confusing enough for Dan, his best friend, Chris Burns, is obsessed with pornography. Throw in a dog named Boner, Dan's ability to analyze just about anything and a good deal of vomiting and you get 48 Shades of Brown.

The book is written in first person from Dan's perspective. Dan is a curious guy with a comical view on life. You'll find yourself laughing uncontrollably at some of Dan's thoughts and questions. But most of the time you'll feel like skipping a couple pages as Dan analyzes aspects of his life. His ability to examine everything from one sentence that Naomi said to his own habit of wearing socks for up to four pages could get incredibly boring. It even seems like a tedious chore after a while.

The book is written almost completely in stream of consciousness, even more so than Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. If you don't like stream of consciousness you should stay far away from this book.

48 Shades of Brown won the Children's Book of the Year: Older Readers Award from the Children's Book Council of Australia. As suggested by the award the book is targeted at an older audience. The book contains a lot of adult content (mainly sexual references) so people who are young or immature shouldn't read it.

So what will be your choice? Will you read this book and laugh along with (and sometimes at) Dan as he amusingly explores his new life? Or will you stay far far away from this tedious read? The choice is yours.

Nick Earls Is A Genious
I like this book, it is good. I also like butterflies, trees and men. My mum says so. I was able to relate to this book cause it refered to trees and men. My best friend is Kyle.

Interesting Book
48 shades of brown is unlike any book that i've read before. i thought the way the quthor expressed the guys thoughts was differant and funny. i had never read a book before that had a boys life instead of a girl. some of the parts were very funny and i enjoyed reading it. it is a book for people who just want something differant and for the most part easy to read. at parts it got confusing but overall it was a good book. i would say anyone who wants a fun read would like it. ... Read more

Book Description
This summer is different.School is over for Alex Delaney, and he's waiting for his university acceptance, only seventeen days away.The waiting is killing him.He's not expecting much from summer.Bodysurfing, TV, but mainly waiting. So he's not ready for the girl who cuts past him on a wave.Not at all prepared for her perfect balance on the board, the elegant muscles of her shoulders and back.Just a girl.Compelling green eyes, golden skin, something graceful and elusive about her.Summer is about to change. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

After summer
Very well written and entertaining. Good summer reading by the pool or under a parasol by the sea.

a good love story
I think After Summer is a great book. For me I couldn't put this book down because I was always wondering what was going to happen with not only Alex and Fortuna but with his University offer. I love that the adults in this story would always refer back to being "safe".This book is a great example of waiting to be accepted and being accepted by the only person who seems tounderstands you. I like that Fortuna's family was so different then Alex's but not to much that it would mess up their relationship. This book has a great blend of romance and comedy. I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for something new.

A Summer of Waiting
Upon reading the opening sentences of the book After Summer by Nick Earls, a reader is pulled into the world of a typical teenager. The book follows the events of Alex Delaney, during summer he is waiting to see if he was accepted into university or not. Alex is spending yet another summer in his family's beach house on the Australian coast near his hometown of Brisbane. After Summer is an enjoyable book to read not only because of how easy it is to follow, but also because the reader can relate to Alex. No matter what age the reader happens to be, he or she will be able to know how Alex is feeling when he explains his embarrassing moments or how nervous he is around "the girl".
"The girl" is who Alex meets during his summer of waiting and she is the one who makes the waiting bearable. Alex first sees her during his everyday routine of getting up, going to the beach, and buying a newspaper. He happens to catch a glimpse of her further down the beach, and from the first glance, he is interested in her. Luckily for Alex, who usually doesn't have much luck in this area, he is able to strike up a conversation with her which leads to breakfast and eventually, a relationship. Alex is drawn to the ease of her life, and the laid back attitude that goes with her family. Soon, Alex finds himself not being so preoccupied with his university results and has a decision to make concerning "the girl". Nick Earls pulls this plot together neatly with his humorous and unique style of writing.
As one reads the book, it is very easy to hear Alex's voice through Earls' easy-going tone and his use of language. Another reason this book is such an enjoyable and easy read is that there aren't any hidden meanings or themes that the reader has to think about during the reading. It is the simple story of a young boy who is about to start his adult life in university and his discovery of love in relationships. The reader can easily connect with Alex and can feel his emotions jumping off the pages. After Summer is a great choice for teenagers more so than adults due to the humor and experiences. Nick Earls does an excellent job of portraying teenage emotions and experiences through Alex Delaney and his summer of waiting.

The most beautiful book I've read about love.
I loved this book from the moment I picked it up. This is a very genuine book, telling the tale of love through a boy's perspective. It's so descriptive, you feel like you're there with Alex (the main character), through every wave and "being safe" talk. ... Read more

Book Description
Jon Marshall, a thirty-something plastic surgeon, has come a long way. Hes a partner in his own medical practice, owns a house in the suburbs, and cruises around town in a BMW. He also has a six-month-old daughter, Lily, affectionately known as the Bean. But Jons life hasnt taken the path he thought it would in his twenties. Newly single, hes facing the challenges of dating in a post-Duran-Duran world. His computer has been seized by surly software. He accidentally peed on his dates cat. And while the Bean reminds him of lifes possibilities every day, his new running buddy, Ashley, reminds him that relationship rules were made to be broken. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The most fun I've had reading a book, this year
Jon Marshall is a successful laser surgeon with a nice house and a baby named Lily, whom he affectionately refers to as "the Bean".So, what's wrong with Jon's world and why has everything turned out so completely different from what he'd anticipated life would be like in his 30's?Is his new friend Ashley really just a "running buddy" or could there be more to the friendship?Friends George, Oscar and Wendy help Jon face the challenges as he attempts to make sense of a world that has taken a sharp and unexpected turn.
It's too bad I'm such a slow reader because yesterday was totally shot, thanks to this book.The story of Jon Marshall is gripping because Earls blends intelligence, realism and humor with madcap situations, dangling unanswered questions that the protagonist convincingly sidesteps as he tells his story in first person.Where, for example, is the mother of his child Lily? Well, another reviewer has answered that, but try to forget before you read this book.
Apart from a few angst-ridden reflections that dragged on a bit too long, this was one of the best books I've read all year.The dialogue was witty, its hero incredibly easy to love and relate to in spite of (or maybe because of) his many insecurities and imperfections, and every character was well-defined.I particularly loved the fact that Jon's friends were the kind you can call at 3:00 a.m., knowing they'll be there for you in an emergency--but don't let them get wind of the stupid thing you did last night or they'll never let you live it down.In other words, they were true to life.Highly recommended, particularly for those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

Talking is Good
Two of my favourite literary characters are Louis Ironson - from Angels from America - who polemicizes, intellectualizes, pontificates and basically just talks and talks - and Mo, from the very funny comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For" who basically does the same. In the face of fear, pain or jealousy, they talk against the world, and yeah, it's blathering, but I find it charming. Probably because I do the same, which is maybe a reason why I'm a writer.

The main character in Perfect Skin does an awful lot of talking which biases me towards both liking him and liking the book.

Another reason why I like the book: I like books that are about people and relationships, that don't necessarily need big events to drive the story. Perfect Skin is a page-turner because you want to know what happens to the characters. It's about how we live our daily lives, how we relate to each other, and how we reach out to people.

A lot seems to be made about the humour in this book - and it's true, it's very very funny and enjoyable because of it - but perhaps it works all the better because of what lies underneath - weighty gusts of loss and hurt, recovery and survival.

I found it affecting and beautiful: a perfect little gem of a book that let me under the skin of some characters I was glad to meet and get to know.

Refreshing change of pace
I am a self-proclaimed British Chick books lover and when I saw this one in the library, I was intrigued by the cover jacket ~~ it looks like something I would read and the fact that it was written by an Aussie and a male at that, I just had to pick it up. It's wonderful! It's cute and pardon the pun ~~ it's adorable. (I don't think the author would like that term applied to his book!)

Jon, a single dad and doctor, is attempting to go back into the world after his wife's death in childbirth and what ensues is a series of misfortunate and hilarious accidents. (I have to say that Nick Earls sure knows his cats! I am almost tempted to ask him if my cat was the basis of Flag, the cat hero in this book!) Anyhow, one day he was just dad to Lily and a dermatologist in a busy practice then the next day, he's juggling between two women. Katie is the woman trapped in the 80s with the 80s hairdo that Jon and his office mates secretly joke about. Ash is the jogging partner that makes his mind go around in circles. Jon is left juggling his feelings for Ash while trying to let Katie down gently. That is where Flagg comes in. Flagg decides that he likes Jon ~~ and Jon seems to be extremely clumsy where the cat is concerned. (My husband laughed and laughed over choice parts of the book.)

I really can't go into too much details about this book because if I do, I will ruin it for the next person to read this review. All I can say is buy this book and see for yourself. Earls writes with humor and grace about a single dad slowly feeling his way back into the world after his wife's death. He also writes with feeling about Jon's coming to grips with his wife's death and becoming a father. Jon may be bewildered and confused at times, but what father wouldn't be? And it is just one of the best short reads I've read this year.

If Earls has more books out in the States, I'll be sure to pick them up. He is a talent to watch out for.

...

I laughed, I cried
Where else could you find a story about a recently widowed father who pees on his date's cat?

Mildly entertaining
"Perfect Skin" is another addition to the modern breed of popular novel: aimed squarely at the 20- or 30-something yuppie women's demographic, with perhaps a sideline in selling to the SNAG market.Published in a nice large size, with an eye-catching picture and a sleek new millennium font (wouldn't want to risk being confused with the Danielle Steele genre), these novels have become disappointingly homogeneous. Unusually among its shelf companions, however, "Perfect Skin" is written by a man.Nick Earls' no-nonsense prose and willingness to grapple with some deeper life issues makes a refreshing change from the giggly bimbo style of other similar novels.

The topic of this venture into pop publishing is single parenting - more specifically, single fatherhood.Jon seems to have his life all under control: there's him, the Bean (6 months old), his gaggle of similarly single friends and his dermatology practice.As we begin to delve deeper into Jon's life, the strands come apart to reveal some unexpected truths about putting a life back together.Along the way, there's a semi-deranged cat woman with eighties hair, an unfortunate incident in the bathroom involving her cat, several sleep-deprived nights with baby Bean and an interesting new female acquaintance...

"Perfect Skin" kept me entertained for a few hours without really leaving a permanent impression.It stands out somewhat from other novels of the same type for the reasons above, but ultimately doesn't amount to much more than that.The style is easy, the characters are amusing, the plot isn't too saccharine.A good 'girly' book to read in the bath with a block of chocolate and a glass of something nice; or buy it as a present for that friend you always buy the latest yuppie book for.

6 stars out of 10 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Into the Doldrums
I read Zigzag Street during an extended stay in Brisbane and found it packed full of clever observations about everyday life, many of which made me laugh out loud, and a plot that tracks dear Richard/Rick/Ricky through a period of listlessness in life. Having cultivated a serious relationship through his twenties with a well-put-together woman with an anal retentive streak that has clearly led to him betraying his own character, he finds himself out in the cold -- trashed, in Aus -- and despondent yet also acutely sensitive. Who is he? His job, one senses, was taken to create a stable income for the family to be, and now is just a boring farce. His need to move back home , and then to his recently deceased grandmother's house, where he discovers details of her life in her correspondence and doddles over renovations while being henpecked by his mother, throws him into a true bipolarity as he craves teenage babes and a deeper understanding of self simultaneously. His friends have stable relationships, yet he is now single. Irony runs through this tale, something I guess is missed by some of the reviewers here, and the lack of movement of the plot is sort of the point of this study of the doldrums. I loved it.

I am not sure how anyone could trash a book in which the main character is lacerated by an orange cat named Greg, named after his Gran's doctor (who has flaming orange hair) during a flea bath, and then Richard gets Greg (the doctor) at the local clinic. Dr. Greg assumes it was a suicide attempt ... and so it goes with all the awkwardness one might expect in a society where people talk as openly as they do here. I can see how a person could give this book three stars if they lack a single ironic or sardonic bone in their body -- then it might be 'amusing but tedious' -- but only a fan of pulp fiction could deliver less. There is too much craft at work here for this book to be anything below three stars. As a bonus, there are lots of real Brisbane references that help give a feel for the city's western suburbs. A must for transplants.

Ah, Earls.
It appears that readers of this book have fallen into one of two categories, they either gushingly loved it or absolutely despised it. This should not really be a surprise, as Earls dry humor seems to always evoke this sort of response. It is useful to compare Nick Earls' writing to a painting by Picasso--for some it is perfection on a canvas, while for others a picture cannot be discerned from the distortion. The biggest mistake one can make in embarking on Zigzag Street, or indeed any book by Earls, is to expect something in the order of Dickens or Austen...I'm afraid we are working in an entirely different realm of writing.

I found Zigzag Street to be written well, with the distinctive phraseology that is ridiculously contageous, to the point that the reader's thoughts begin to take the shape of the characters. In regard to the plot, the book moves rather slowly. I must make it clear that this is not a criticism. The story is a reflection of realistic human angst, and angst is arguably not an emotion that can be dealt with in a day. The slowness, and in fact insignificance of most events in the story are what makes it humorous and believable. Again, it comes back to the fact that you shouldn't be reading Earls if you need constant action or mystery to keep the pages turning.

The problem I had with this novel was not in it's general form, but rather with the ending. It felt too easy to be credible. After two hundred pages of torment over 'thrashing', all was resolved and a happy ending was reached. For me, Rachel did not live up to expectations. I anticipated a lot more from the woman who actively pursued a man that knocked her unconscious with a shoe in a shopping centre. After idolising her for so long, she became to real and faliable, and undermined the position of the neurotic, now not-so-one-of-a-kind Richard. This, more than anything else disappointed me.

Overall, the book was good. It was a characteristically Earls, but failed to maintain his high standard at the end.

Contemporary Comedy of Manners set in Brisbane
Zigzag Street is a contemporary comedy of manners that is set in Brisbane, Australia.It explores the life of the male protagonist twenty-seven year old Richard Derrington.He has recently been dumped by Anna, his girlfriend from his university days.This throws him into a early mid-life crisis as he tries to reestablish his position in the world without her.

It is written in first person present tense as we experience Derrington's life since Anna's departure.As consistent with the conventions of this genre Zigzag Street takes a light and humourous approach to contemporary themes.Derrington somehow struggles through his work and social life using a mixture of alcohol and timtams (chocolate biscuits).His search for a partner to complete his life is reminiscent of works such as Bridget Jone's Diary.

There are some eccentic minor characters who interact with Derrington such as neighbour Kevin, his friend Jeff and boss Hillary.They help to establish Derrington as a decent person who through alcohol and bad fortune seems to end up in some embarrassing and hilarious situations.

Where Zigzag Street differs from other contemporary of manners is the location.Being set in Brisbane means that references to cricket, Timtams and The Triffids will be lost on many readers.However this is a minor problem.It is an engaging, genuinely funny book that would be a great holiday read, or for anyone that needs a laugh.

Insipid Street
I read Bachelor Kisses in full and was inspired by the favourable reviews of this novel. What a disappointment. I really did try and read the whole thing but found myself speed reading at about page 150 and finally decided to let it go. My main criticism is that nothing happens. Rick does have an affair and does dance naked in the office but the entire novel is deviod of any drama, insight or adventure. Each 'chapter' runs for 2-5 pages with very minor incidents eg: digging up a tree in the next door neighbors yard, getting drunk at a restaurant, playing tennis with his mates - does that sound very interesting? Its not. I really cant believe the acclaim this book has received. Bachelor Kisses was tolerable but I would be filing this for fans only. I have been reading a lot of Nick Hornby and Ben Elton who find a similar style but are a million miles from our Nick. Its a shame, as an australian, I would like to say this is a good book but frankly it is a very boring drive down insipid street.

meh!
this book is really clever. i never thought about brisane this way (the way that it is) and it amazed me that these events are likely and could happen to anyone! i've read the book many times and today i decided to stop reading for a little bit and do something else. i live in red hill, very close to zig zag street and didn't think it was very special. so i'll keep this short and say that i love rick's long, meaningless pursuits... ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Australian Studies, published by University of Queensland Press on March 1, 1999. The length of the article is 3198 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: An interview with Australian short story writer Nick Earls is presented. Topics discussed include the short story genre, Earls' latest collection of short stories, and the author's influences and inspirations.

Citation Details
Title: Interview with Nick Earls.(Interview)
Author: Ingrid Woodrow
Publication: Journal of Australian Studies (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 1999
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Page: 144

Article Type: Interview

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
Word count: 2232. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Australian Studies, published by University of Queensland Press on March 1, 2000. The length of the article is 2890 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Nice word if you can get it(1).
Author: Nick Earls
Publication: Journal of Australian Studies (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 2000
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Page: 106

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

atmosphere plus
i love earls style of writing. i love the way we see the main characters thoughts, feelings and anxieties. instead of everything being a happy ending, stuff actually goes wrong, which i love.
hes funny and creates an atmosphere which runs throughout his novels. rather than a story where soemthing has to happen non stop just to keep u interested, this book has the lulls and highs of life itself. its like seeing someone else's life, and how they deal with it.
admittedly seeing as this is his first book, it does ccentre a bit much upon mood and thoughts than events, but i happen to like this. his later books are even better.
a seriously aussie novel. the humour the people, the pastimes are all familiar to our country. its great.

Shoots for the stars but misses
The Novel After January by nick Earl's is set on Quuensland's sunshine coast and teells of a boy's wait till the end of january for his results of school,in order for him to contimplate his future (After January.The story begins with alex ,a boy spending much of his time body boarding at the local beach with little in his life,with a yearn for feminine interaction Alex then begins his quest to find love and finds in a girl with similar intrests in Fortuna who he falls in love with thus for creating the climax and most intresting part of the novel.This long drawn out climax eventually happens a long time into the book and it seems to take forever to happen.Earl's vast characteristaion eventaully does little to the atmosphere eventaully resulting in a poorly constructed book of which the plot has had not enough developement.Earls attempts to write in the proverbial 'thoughts on paper' genre has liitle impact and the talent is one that takes much more talent to perfect than what is illustrated thoughout the novel.Igive the book two stars only due to the fact that their is a climax even though it only lasts for perhaps two of the books very small chapters.I suggest that if youy can read this you must be very patient and enjoy reading novels of liitle substance or personality.To Nick Earls I suggest he spends more time at the drawing board when writing the next book,to avoid creating a book that is even more dismal that this effort.

Excellent YAF novel, dealing delicately with first love
In this book Nick Earls has done much to combat the notion that young love is immature love, that it is only for the bold or brash at heart, and most of all that it is based almost soley on physical contact. Earls' main character, Alex, is waiting for his High School grades to come out, waiting to see whether he's scored a university position. He's at the beach house trying to distract himself from the anxiety inherent in the wait, by bodysurfing and watching cricket on TV. Then comes F (we aren't told her full name until later in the book), who surfs into Alex's life and upsets all his plans for an uneventful couple of weeks. Not that he's complaining... Earls uses the first-person present tense device very well indeed, and the book left me feeling a little breathless by the end of it, just like when I first fell in love as a youngster. And if a book can rouse old emotions in that way, then the writer must have achieved something great. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inaugural view
A 16-year-old becomes the housemate of Venus, the goddess of love, or so he thinks.I came across this book in an interesting way.I have a book out called "The Wednesday Girl".Earlier this year, I received a random e-mail from a gentleman in Australia.He said he was writing a book of the same title, "The Wednesday Girl".He sent me some of his work and also included in the package a book he liked: "48 Shades of Brown".This is a surprisingly deep book about adolescence from across the big pond.Though I found the use of dialogue without quotation marks tiresome, watching Dan move from obsessive-compulsive fear and alienation to (almost) nonchalance and self-confidence is a pretty sight, much like the birds his love interest watches and wants him to name since he's the only person in the house who knows 48 shades of brown.Coming into one's own is something that happens over and over again in a well-lived life.Anyone who is in an evolutionary phase will find something in common with Dan.Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
294 Pages ... Read more