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Ramonst
Hidden in the Mountains of East Tennessee, eleven-year old Rodney goes about the business of being a boy during the summer of 1970. In the playground of his grandmother's overgrown garden, he bears silent witness to the relentless cruelty of a teenage psychopath. Rodney's narrative of his family, flung between terror and innocence, is set in a small community carved from legacies of poverty, coal mining and religion.
270 pages, Paperback
Published November 9, 2016
6 people are currently reading
1429 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Knott
7 books37 followersA.F. Knott was born in New York City. He has worked as a surveyor in the Offshore Oil Industry, a lunch deliverer, a paper broker, a thoroughbred handicapper, a cyclotron engineer and a physician before starting a publishing company. He is completing an oral history of the New York theater and writing pulp and dystopian novels as J. Jupes. Visit him at www.afknott.com and www.hekatepublishing.com.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 19, 2017
‘Last winter I became fed up with the incarnation of evil showing up in my nightmares and decided to do the opposite of what it expected.’
American author A.F. Knott lives in England and now focuses his elaborately colorful life on writing and collage art. After college his jobs are as varied as a kaleidoscope - he worked in Louisiana's offshore oil industry, a parking lot attendant, lunch deliverer, thoroughbred handicapper, paper broker, cyclotron engineer, PET operator, and family physician! Enough experiences there to supply an entire library of books!
But that is one of the many reasons Knott’s skill in writing is so intoxicating – his rich imagination tinged with sensitivity to social issues, mind alterations, dreams, nightmares, and the raw flavors of Southern Gothic humor and terror. Another attribute is Knott’s unique, flavorful writing technique – he writes in short chapters punctuated with conversations alternating with the main characters thoughts, cleverly placed on the page in italics.
The plot may at first seem like vignettes or disconnected moments, but keep the eye on the page and it all flows together to allow us entry into a susceptible eleven year old lad’s perception of his world – real and imagined.
The author supplies a nod to a synopsis – ‘Hidden in the mountains of East Tennessee, an eleven-year old goes about the business of being a boy during the summer of 1970. Within a balance of terror and innocence, he bears silent witness to ghosts of the dead and the cruelties of a teenage killer while local justice plays out in a community carved from legacies of coal mining and religion.’
A taste: ‘I pulled the shade down and listened to my mother. She was speaking about Uncle Andy. When he was my age, he had a dog that foamed at the mouth. ‘Everywhere that dog went, Andy would follow him.” “Why did he follow him?” “I don’t know why. Every single day after school he followed him, repeating his name. I heard him saying it: Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst. For months this went on.” Ramonst did not sound like a dog’s name to me, so I asked if she was sure about that. “Yes, Ramonst. That’s the name he gave him. Repeated it over and over and over and over and over. One day Andy came home from school and started in on the dog, but Ramonst didn’t move. He sat in the hallway staring at Andy then started foaming at the mouth. Mother had Ramonst shot, and they sent his brain over to the University of Tennessee. After running all the tests they still didn’t know what caused Ramonst’s foaming.” I couldn’t stop thinking about Ramonst after my mother told me that. Even though she said they never found out what caused the foaming, I asked: “What do you think caused Ramonst’s foaming at the mouth?” My mother spoke quickly. “I think Ramonst couldn’t take all that is what I think. Dear Lord, every day I’d hear him saying it: Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst. I would foam too.”
This novel is pure diversion, in the most complimentary sense of that term. AK Knott makes us want to read more.
American author A.F. Knott lives in England and now focuses his elaborately colorful life on writing and collage art. After college his jobs are as varied as a kaleidoscope - he worked in Louisiana's offshore oil industry, a parking lot attendant, lunch deliverer, thoroughbred handicapper, paper broker, cyclotron engineer, PET operator, and family physician! Enough experiences there to supply an entire library of books!
But that is one of the many reasons Knott’s skill in writing is so intoxicating – his rich imagination tinged with sensitivity to social issues, mind alterations, dreams, nightmares, and the raw flavors of Southern Gothic humor and terror. Another attribute is Knott’s unique, flavorful writing technique – he writes in short chapters punctuated with conversations alternating with the main characters thoughts, cleverly placed on the page in italics.
The plot may at first seem like vignettes or disconnected moments, but keep the eye on the page and it all flows together to allow us entry into a susceptible eleven year old lad’s perception of his world – real and imagined.
The author supplies a nod to a synopsis – ‘Hidden in the mountains of East Tennessee, an eleven-year old goes about the business of being a boy during the summer of 1970. Within a balance of terror and innocence, he bears silent witness to ghosts of the dead and the cruelties of a teenage killer while local justice plays out in a community carved from legacies of coal mining and religion.’
A taste: ‘I pulled the shade down and listened to my mother. She was speaking about Uncle Andy. When he was my age, he had a dog that foamed at the mouth. ‘Everywhere that dog went, Andy would follow him.” “Why did he follow him?” “I don’t know why. Every single day after school he followed him, repeating his name. I heard him saying it: Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst. For months this went on.” Ramonst did not sound like a dog’s name to me, so I asked if she was sure about that. “Yes, Ramonst. That’s the name he gave him. Repeated it over and over and over and over and over. One day Andy came home from school and started in on the dog, but Ramonst didn’t move. He sat in the hallway staring at Andy then started foaming at the mouth. Mother had Ramonst shot, and they sent his brain over to the University of Tennessee. After running all the tests they still didn’t know what caused Ramonst’s foaming.” I couldn’t stop thinking about Ramonst after my mother told me that. Even though she said they never found out what caused the foaming, I asked: “What do you think caused Ramonst’s foaming at the mouth?” My mother spoke quickly. “I think Ramonst couldn’t take all that is what I think. Dear Lord, every day I’d hear him saying it: Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst, Ramonst. I would foam too.”
This novel is pure diversion, in the most complimentary sense of that term. AK Knott makes us want to read more.
March 7, 2019
Knott certainly has a talent for writing a dark and unorthodox piece of art. The biggest thing that stood out to me was the characters. Each one, though not entirely unique, had their own orchestrated and tortured story that really made the plot and writing come alive. With that being said, the story’s plot was entirely dependent on the characters. It felt a lot like the characters made the story, rather than the characters being conditioned by circumstance. This isn’t a bad thing, just a very unique way to approach a story in a world where we see characters thrust into extraordinary circumstances to test them, rather than characters driving the circumstances. This works well with this book because it makes the vile bits that much more sensational.
I did really enjoy how sinister and macabre the story was, and how Rodney’s family and life seemed to be filled with nothing but nightmarish circumstance and happenings.
The style and layout of this book made it very appealing, with each chapter tying into a larger tapestry. The writing has a sound style, but there were a few bits that didn’t quite grab my attention the way others did (here’s to you, chapter two). With that being said, the pace was appropriate for a book this size. This is a read you can get through in a couple of nights.
I did really enjoy how sinister and macabre the story was, and how Rodney’s family and life seemed to be filled with nothing but nightmarish circumstance and happenings.
The style and layout of this book made it very appealing, with each chapter tying into a larger tapestry. The writing has a sound style, but there were a few bits that didn’t quite grab my attention the way others did (here’s to you, chapter two). With that being said, the pace was appropriate for a book this size. This is a read you can get through in a couple of nights.
February 4, 2018
Ramonst is a nostalgic and endearing book written in the hand of a 11 year old boy Rodney. Rodney is mature for his age and immensely aware of the adult world. He therefore shares his opinions and thoughts in a childlike yet adult manner that shocks us but also keeps us interested to know what all this little mind had absorbed. The book reminds us that somethings remain unchanged down the ages such as sympathy, love, cruelty, gossip and terror. Although the book is written by an 11 year old boy, Ramonst is definitely not a book for kids for there are much cruelties, terrors and sins stated even in the initial few pages. It seems that Rodney likes to remember the scandalous parts more than the normal parts of his life because the book is more filled up with sensational writing than the everyday life of a child of that age. The book like his memories hold mostly the scandalous revelations about his family such as one of his cousins slitting off cat's head right in front of him and another family member walking with a transistor and who his mother professed was not a legitimate child of her father. The book is short and manages to amuse you even in the midst of all the terror filled happenings.
March 6, 2018
I don’t typically read dark fiction, but this disturbing story was an intriguing read. If you are easily bothered by dark topics, then this is NOT the book for you.
The story is told by an 11-year-old boy who is a unique mix of innocence and perception. Rodney is visiting his Nana in her disturbing, redneck mountain town in Tennessee for the summer. One thing that really intrigued me in this story was all of the ways different symbolic elements were used to represent the greater themes running throughout the story.
Rodney has a keen memory, and much of the story is his retelling of events in the past that he recalls intermingled with the events of the present. In some ways, the story appears to jump around a bit from topic to topic, but that didn’t bother me.
While creepy, the book had a way of pulling you into the story and making you interested in what happened next. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes dark stories with deep imagery.
The story is told by an 11-year-old boy who is a unique mix of innocence and perception. Rodney is visiting his Nana in her disturbing, redneck mountain town in Tennessee for the summer. One thing that really intrigued me in this story was all of the ways different symbolic elements were used to represent the greater themes running throughout the story.
Rodney has a keen memory, and much of the story is his retelling of events in the past that he recalls intermingled with the events of the present. In some ways, the story appears to jump around a bit from topic to topic, but that didn’t bother me.
While creepy, the book had a way of pulling you into the story and making you interested in what happened next. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes dark stories with deep imagery.
January 24, 2019
Ramonst by A F Knott
Starts out with a boy and his mother taking a plane ride discussing the dog that foamed at the mouth and had died and they did not know why after testing at UTN.
Memories of Clyne holding a cat down on the slide and slicing it open...
Talk of incest and raping....summer with the counsins in East TN. Uncle is there with war stories...
Lots of memories of the lazy summer days in 60's that comes along with news reports that I also recall growing up.
Love hearing of the games played with the relatives-we never got to play flashlight tag because there were 5 of us and we didn't have 5 flashlights. Cousins also in the neighborhood also had large families.
Didn't understand the lingo but got it after a while and at times found it revolting as we were not rasied the same way.
At times the book is a very deep dark story and there are many secrets that come to the light.
Not really my genre but glad I read this book til the end. Very detailed and descriptive, sometimes very graphical in nature.
Starts out with a boy and his mother taking a plane ride discussing the dog that foamed at the mouth and had died and they did not know why after testing at UTN.
Memories of Clyne holding a cat down on the slide and slicing it open...
Talk of incest and raping....summer with the counsins in East TN. Uncle is there with war stories...
Lots of memories of the lazy summer days in 60's that comes along with news reports that I also recall growing up.
Love hearing of the games played with the relatives-we never got to play flashlight tag because there were 5 of us and we didn't have 5 flashlights. Cousins also in the neighborhood also had large families.
Didn't understand the lingo but got it after a while and at times found it revolting as we were not rasied the same way.
At times the book is a very deep dark story and there are many secrets that come to the light.
Not really my genre but glad I read this book til the end. Very detailed and descriptive, sometimes very graphical in nature.
January 28, 2019
Ramonst is the story of an eleven-year-old boy who has an above average memory and very keen perception. He and his mother go to visit his grandmother for the summer in a small mountain town in Tennessee. Here strange tales are told, and dark events take place. Author A. F. Knott has done an incredible job of capturing the tone of memory. Both with the voice of Rodney and also with the way he writes down the stories of others. It feels so real to me, retelling the strange and funny stories that families repeat so often that they become part of family history. These somewhat disjointed feeling stories not only come together in the narrative but to me gave life to the family. The book really captures the every day of family and the little things that bring people to life. This book is a strange and dark narrative that looks at memory, perception, and mystery. This dark tale pulls you into the story and refuses to let you go. This is a fantastically well written and unique book that I would highly recommend to those that love dark fiction.
September 18, 2017
Ramonst by A.F. Knott is a cleverly constructed novel written in an almost conversational manner. Before you know it, you are pulled into the story. Eleven year old Rodney is quite the character, full of observations about life in his small town. Taking place in east Tennessee, this story is a mash up of anecdotes, hillbilly knowledge and wit and wisdom of the South. Creepy actions take place, the killing of cats and other atrocities are often fleshed out as normal, but leave a huge impression on the reader. This intertwines with the overall air of desperation about the characters, stuck in their lives, the Bible belt, and the coal mining industry all play a role in setting the tone. Written in a unique, casual style, Knott has crafted a tale that delves into dark corners while making it seem commonplace. This story is an easy yet compelling read that will keep your attention until the end. Highly recommend for a unique reading experience.
October 3, 2017
Thoughtful and thought-provoking in equal measure, this book presents us with both abstract imagination and vivid realism, from a child’s perspective and yet with great lucidity.
There are many parts of the book that felt to me like they came directly from the author’s notebook, that is to say, ideas that could have been fleshed out far more, but weren’t. To me, to a degree this gave the book an unfinished feel, though I daresay many may find value in the “less is more approach”, and certainly there is an element of that.
Love or hate that stylistic tendency throughout, it certainly sets the book apart; nor does it result in the very short tome that one might expect such an approach to yield, as often the same idea is repeated a number of times in a page or so, from a collection of different angles. Again, your mileage may vary in your appreciation of this. For me, it worked well enough.
There are many parts of the book that felt to me like they came directly from the author’s notebook, that is to say, ideas that could have been fleshed out far more, but weren’t. To me, to a degree this gave the book an unfinished feel, though I daresay many may find value in the “less is more approach”, and certainly there is an element of that.
Love or hate that stylistic tendency throughout, it certainly sets the book apart; nor does it result in the very short tome that one might expect such an approach to yield, as often the same idea is repeated a number of times in a page or so, from a collection of different angles. Again, your mileage may vary in your appreciation of this. For me, it worked well enough.
February 16, 2018
A very odd title for a very unusual and riveting book. “Ramonst” has you walking side by side with a mostly terrified, sensitive and retrospective eleven year old boy named Rodney but he is most times called Rodoh. The setting is in the 70s where Rodney lives in New York with parents who are separated and then he spends his summer in Tennessee with his large and lively extended family – grandmother, many cousins, uncles and aunts and a little town that has a whole lot of crazy stuff going on.
Rodney loves to write down the stories of his family as they gather and reminisce. But he is also caught up in the creepy and horrible which gives him nightmares and makes him see ghosts. So the format of the storytelling will put you in the centre of the whirlwind that Rodney experiences and will draw many emotions out of you. Though the story gets dark and gruesome it is balanced by the tricks and jokes of a bunch of eleven year olds enjoying their summer. A very good read.
Rodney loves to write down the stories of his family as they gather and reminisce. But he is also caught up in the creepy and horrible which gives him nightmares and makes him see ghosts. So the format of the storytelling will put you in the centre of the whirlwind that Rodney experiences and will draw many emotions out of you. Though the story gets dark and gruesome it is balanced by the tricks and jokes of a bunch of eleven year olds enjoying their summer. A very good read.
February 18, 2018
What sets this book apart from any other, for me, are not characters, plot, writing style or anything like that. It is the atmosphere.
This is a dark story and don't expect to feel jolly and walking on clouds after reading it. It is about a 11-year-old Rodney and it is told through his eyes. It isn't typical way of telling a story through child's view, Rodney is a little unusual, but it lends to the atmosphere I mentioned.
There are some really heavy themes here, town and setting is creepy, other characters are weird, everything is meant to make you uneasy and it certainly did that to me. I wouldn't say that this is a horror per se, but something about it is uncomfortable. But, that is what is great about it. It draws you in and you can't help but to read further, although you don't like what you are reading. And like it at the same time. I know, I'm not making sense, but give this book a try and see for yourself. It is worth it.
This is a dark story and don't expect to feel jolly and walking on clouds after reading it. It is about a 11-year-old Rodney and it is told through his eyes. It isn't typical way of telling a story through child's view, Rodney is a little unusual, but it lends to the atmosphere I mentioned.
There are some really heavy themes here, town and setting is creepy, other characters are weird, everything is meant to make you uneasy and it certainly did that to me. I wouldn't say that this is a horror per se, but something about it is uncomfortable. But, that is what is great about it. It draws you in and you can't help but to read further, although you don't like what you are reading. And like it at the same time. I know, I'm not making sense, but give this book a try and see for yourself. It is worth it.
February 3, 2019
Ramonst is full of events when a family gets together and visits Nana in East Tennessee. A. F. Knott is a creative author as he writes as a young boy of eleven remember a summer full of interesting events. Rodney’s summer was full of trouble, some he initiated other was brought on by his cousin, Clyde. Clyde was mentally unstable, anything could cause him to come unhinged. Rodney knows that he is coming of age and finds the girl he likes has a crush on him.
I found Ramonst humorous, interesting, and disturbing all at once. A. F. Knott tells his story through a boy remembering a summer at his Nana’s house. I was remembering times I spent at my grandma’s house with cousins, but we never had the turmoil this family did. Though his novel is about an eleven-year-old boy, I would not recommend a young person to read this since there are many adult issues that most kids should not read about.
I found Ramonst humorous, interesting, and disturbing all at once. A. F. Knott tells his story through a boy remembering a summer at his Nana’s house. I was remembering times I spent at my grandma’s house with cousins, but we never had the turmoil this family did. Though his novel is about an eleven-year-old boy, I would not recommend a young person to read this since there are many adult issues that most kids should not read about.
February 11, 2018
A. F. Knott’s, “Ramonst,” is a thrilling but very indicative of the “Sixth Sense” in the way that Rodney, a little eleven year old boy that can perceive otherworldly experiences. However, the novel is legitimately written from his perspective, but do not allow that to stop you from reading this novel. While it is written from Rodney’s perspective, the way he shares his thoughts and experiences is very mature, but also hyper focused on the negative and scandalous moments that he has unfortunately witnessed. I personally think that it is a little bit far fetched for some of the things that Rodney has seen, but because he is a small child, it makes me feel empathetic towards the situation and try to read on and understand more about Rodney. It is well written overall and due to its fictitious nature, it makes me less weary of the storyline and I just look at it for what it is.
February 12, 2018
Vivid and interesting story for adults.
Ramonst follows Rodney who is a precocious 11 year old boy with an incredible memory. He and his mother visit his grandmother in Tennessee and Rodney documents all the disturbing and odd things that happen while they are there. This is definitely not a book for kids it goes into detail of animal cruelty and abuse. Some of the stuff in this book should definitely not have been witnessed by a child, but it was really interesting to see the events described from by an 11 year old.
I’m not sure I love the writing style but it did seem to work for this particular book though. The characters were deep and multidimensional. A.F. Knott is a very descriptive writer who brings the story and characters to life in a way that makes you want to keep reading and see what’s going to happen next in the story. Great way to pass the time.
Ramonst follows Rodney who is a precocious 11 year old boy with an incredible memory. He and his mother visit his grandmother in Tennessee and Rodney documents all the disturbing and odd things that happen while they are there. This is definitely not a book for kids it goes into detail of animal cruelty and abuse. Some of the stuff in this book should definitely not have been witnessed by a child, but it was really interesting to see the events described from by an 11 year old.
I’m not sure I love the writing style but it did seem to work for this particular book though. The characters were deep and multidimensional. A.F. Knott is a very descriptive writer who brings the story and characters to life in a way that makes you want to keep reading and see what’s going to happen next in the story. Great way to pass the time.
January 29, 2019
'Ramonst' by A.F. Knott is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished it. The plot is haunting and the protagonist – 11-year-old Rodney – Is so empathetic, I really felt for him throughout the novel. In 1970, Rodney is trying to enjoy his summer, but he is haunted by the ghosts of the tragedies and terrors she has witnessed in his young life. Not only that, but he finds himself in embroiled in the horrors of a teenage killer, something that is just too much for his young soul to bear.
This isn't a long read, but it is one that will keep you gripped from the first to the last page. The themes in the novel are not for the faint-hearted, but the writing is elegant and there a touches of humour. I loved this book, the story and thoughts of a boy who has to grow up too young.
This isn't a long read, but it is one that will keep you gripped from the first to the last page. The themes in the novel are not for the faint-hearted, but the writing is elegant and there a touches of humour. I loved this book, the story and thoughts of a boy who has to grow up too young.
February 12, 2018
I think the true magic of this story is how the author managed to capture the world of an eleven-year-old boy. At first, I thought there was no way these could be the thoughts of an eleven-year-old, but as you move through the book and learn more about him it is clear how well developed the author has made this child. Of course, when you realize the atrocities he has seen, it is easy to understand his mindset too. Another thing that amazed me was all of the characters in the book. It’s a little overwhelming, but the author manages to set them all apart which takes a lot of skill. My one issue with the book is it gets really dark in points, which forced me to have to put the novel down. It’s a great read apart from that, but I am sure the dark elements would be enjoyed by many readers.
January 18, 2019
“Ramonst” is very odd, and I like it! I often think about things that I experienced, things that people said to me when I was younger, and you know, sometimes it doesn’t all make sense. This story, told from a child’s perspective, fits the nature of my own recollections perfectly, though I never experienced anything like this did.
It’s definitely worth reading if you’re the nostalgic type or like to read about how kids perceive certain events. The first-person perspective will put you into the character’s frame of mind to see and conclude what a real 11-year-old might.
And don’t let the randomness of the stories bother you. Simply take them in, ponder them, and enjoy them one by one. This isn’t a novel to rush through. It’s an experience to savor.
It’s definitely worth reading if you’re the nostalgic type or like to read about how kids perceive certain events. The first-person perspective will put you into the character’s frame of mind to see and conclude what a real 11-year-old might.
And don’t let the randomness of the stories bother you. Simply take them in, ponder them, and enjoy them one by one. This isn’t a novel to rush through. It’s an experience to savor.
September 18, 2017
A dark mystery thriller with epic story.
AF Knott does a great job of putting this story together and presenting it in a way that the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into the journey with every turn of the page. The main character is a kid named Rodney who will struggle with life with his grandmother and mother and the town he lives in. The journey through Rodney's story is filled with twists and action. The characters are well developed and the author is very creative in the presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. An easy read that keeps your attention through the last page. I would recommend this one to everyone. Check it out and you won't be disappointed.
AF Knott does a great job of putting this story together and presenting it in a way that the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into the journey with every turn of the page. The main character is a kid named Rodney who will struggle with life with his grandmother and mother and the town he lives in. The journey through Rodney's story is filled with twists and action. The characters are well developed and the author is very creative in the presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. An easy read that keeps your attention through the last page. I would recommend this one to everyone. Check it out and you won't be disappointed.
November 23, 2017
Disturbing....
What one young boy might have seen on vacation. Written in a disjointed manner as though taken straight from the notes he made while visiting his Nana in the mountains, Rodney aka Rodoh, has a disturbing tale to tell. This was a dark read that left me wondering whether I enjoyed the experience of wasted my time reading it.
What one young boy might have seen on vacation. Written in a disjointed manner as though taken straight from the notes he made while visiting his Nana in the mountains, Rodney aka Rodoh, has a disturbing tale to tell. This was a dark read that left me wondering whether I enjoyed the experience of wasted my time reading it.
September 3, 2020
You'll not read many books like this no matter what categorical box it's placed in. Smooth as silk.
March 9, 2017
Excellent fiction novel but based on a true story. The author has displayed great humor throughout the book and made it as a very clever story to read. Little over 200 pages, so a good read without getting bored. The author has done a great job of quoting informational points as part of the story. Just to mention few, in the first chapter, why an airplane window has two panes and in the second chapter about three monkeys putting their hands over ears, eyes and mouth etc. The author has done a good job keeping up with the flow. Excellent job and glad that I purchased a copy of kindle version. Overall this book "Ramonst” is well written by the author Dr. Anthony Knott.
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