Zigzag Street

by Nick Earls

A comic masterpiece -- Who Weekly. The book that began it all for Nick Earls. Here I am, on a work day of some importance, riding out of town in a cab with a babe I've just concussed with footwear. Richard Derrington is twenty-eight and single. More single than he'd like to be. More single than he'd expected to be, and not coping well. Since Anna trashed him six months ago he's been trying to find his way again. He's doing his job badly, he's playing tennis badly, his renovating attempts haven't got past the verandah, and he's wondering when things are going to change. Zigzag Street covers six weeks of Richard's life in Brisbane's Red Hill. Six weeks of rumination, chaos, poor judgement, interpersonal clumsiness...and, eventually, hope.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Australia, Comedy, Contemporary, Novels, Audiobook

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Nick Earls is the author of twelve books, including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses, Perfect Skin and World of Chickens. His work has been published internationally in English and also in translation, and this led to him being a finalist in the Premier of Queensland’s Awards for Export Achievement in 1999.

Zigzag Street won a Betty Trask Award in the UK in 1998, and is currently being developed into a feature film. Bachelor Kisses was one of Who Weekly’s Books of the Year in 1998. Perfect Skin was the only novel nominated for an Australian Comedy Award in 2003, and has recently been filmed in Italy.

He has written five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was awarded Book of the Year (older readers) by the Children’s Book Council in 2000, and in the US it was a Kirkus Reviews selection in its books of the year for 2004. A feature film adapted from the novel was released in Australia by Buena Vista International in August 2006, and has subsequently screened at festivals in North America and Europe. His earlier young-adult novel, After January, was also an award-winner.

After January, 48 Shades of Brown, Zigzag Street and Perfect Skin have all been successfully adapted for theatre by La Boite, and the Zigzag Street play toured nationally in 2005.

Nick Earls was the founding chair of the Australian arm of the international aid agency War Child and is now a War Child ambassador. He is or has also been patron of Kids Who Make a Difference and Hands on Art, and an honorary ambassador for both the Mater Foundation and the Abused Child Trust. On top of that, he was the face of Brisbane Marketing’s ‘Downtown Brisbane’ and ‘Experience Brisbane’ campaigns.

His contribution to writing in Queensland led to him being awarded the Queensland Writers Centre’s inaugural Johnno award in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003. His work as a writer, in writing industry development and in support of humanitarian causes led to him being named University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year in 2006. He was also the Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2006.

He has an honours degree in Medicine from the University of Queensland, and has lived in Brisbane since migrating as an eight-year-old from Northern Ireland in 1972. London’s Mirror newspaper has called him ‘the first Aussie to make me laugh out loud since Jason Donovan’. His latest novel is Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight, co-written with Rebecca Sparrow.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author but I will soon be putting that right. He writes a genuinely funny and engaging book. Okay I occasionally wanted to give the main character a smack and tell him to get his act together but mostly I just laughed at the silly situations he ended up in.

There was some really great dialogue between many of the characters and sometimes no dialogue was required. The scene where his boss comes out of the lift, sees Richard dancing naked in the foyer (you just have to read it) then backs into the lift and closes the doors is just too funny.

I think you can guess that I really enjoyed it. It was a breath of fresh air - most of the time anyway - there were some less than fragrant moments:) The author is not afraid to discuss bodily functions.

Nevertheless I look forward to meeting more of Mr. Earls' characters in his other books!

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Nick Ear's whimsical tale, Zig Zag Street. I found his protagonist, Richard Derrington, funny, sympathetic and utterly hilarious. His struggles to find happiness and reason in his ordinary life kept me entertained and laughing all the way. Toasted mouse leg ... indeed!

[zed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this back in the day. I recall that at the time it was very important but I came out thinking it was just "nice"

[Kevin Ding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe Ari's right about Australian fiction after all

[Liv Zappala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me laughing in very inappropriate situations. Also stupidly sweet.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost slapstick in some places yet very poignant in others, this is a novel I have read and re-read many a time.

Rick is a twenty-something corporate lawyer - and a much more engaging and likable character than that description perhaps implies. Recently dumped by his long term girlfriend Anna, he lurches from one debacle to another as he struggles to come to terms with his singledom.

In between 'renovating' the home that belonged to his recently deceased grandmother, Rick falls for his boss, plays bad tennis with his best mate Jeff, and tries his best to care for Greg, his late grandmother's stubborn ginger cat.

While Rick goes through more in six weeks than many people would in six years, this is a very funny and relatable story that should appeal to anyone who's ever had a time where things got a little out of control.

[Michaela Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great to read a book based in Bris vegas rather than Sydney, Melbourne, the US or the UK. Nick Earls captures the heat, the group dinners with too much alcohol and the ridiculously steep hills around Zig Zag street. I finally read this after resisting for so long. It gave me pangs for my uncomplicated past when being dumped seemed like the end of the world. It lurches from funny to sad to "why the hell are you doing that?" but I have to wonder, do men really talk to each other like that? About their feelings? Or was all this talk of feelings just the author's way of impressing the "babe" he was seeing at the time?

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous novel about six weeks in the life of 28 year old Richard, a lawyer living in his grandmother’s house in Brisbane’s Red Hill. Richard is finding is difficult to get over his partner, Anna, walking out on him.

There are many humorous sentences and a couple of very funny scenarios. For example, Richard goes to his office late at night to do some work. With no air conditioning working, he decides to take off his clothes. Bad luck catches him naked and dancing in front of the lift when a work colleague also decides to return to the office to work.

An entertaining, satisfying reading experience.

This book was first published in 1998.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Derrington is an accidental hero in this book. Not quite over his marriage break-up, at 28 he finds himself on the lookout for love or maybe not love but something. I don’t think he bargained for what made him the hero. This book is funny. Belly-laugh funny. A little predictable but nevertheless a great read for in between heavier reading. Just what I needed.

[Michael Mcclelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very few books that I find worthwhile re-reading. Also one of the very few books that caused me physical pain (in a good way, through laughing so hard). Even now, into what must be double-figure re-reads, there's still hearty chuckles. I've loaned my copy to a dozen or more people with different reading preferences, from different countries, with different first languages even, and all who've taken the time to read it (yes, I'm excluding YOU pair, who found the first 30 pages too depressingly similar to my own lovelorn wailings to stick it out) have absolutely loved it. Very much a "gateway" book to other Nick Earls novels in the same vein: World of Chickens, Bachelor Kisses and Perfect Skin. Strongly recommended.

[Ruth Bonetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surely this is the epitome of author fame, to appropriate a street. How can one drive through Zigzag Street without giggling at memories of often manic situations–which Nick Earls does with deft humour–even though one read the book years ago? He has captured the Brisbane vibe over many enjoyable books.

[Emlikescake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read this for the first time in many years, and loved it even more than I used to. I laughed just as hard, but this came out when I was in Grade 11, so back then I didn't get the loneliness and the heartbreak and the utter shit of being dumped. I love this book. So much. But now I'm a bit homesick. Bummer.

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

life from a whiny/whingers point of view - perfect for Emo's who feel everything in life is stacked up against them and people who are so utterly useless thay fail to seize the day - any day that is ;-)

[Lightblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take it easy
Note negative: la storia è talmente povera che si potrebbe riassumere in due parole.
Note positive: pur non parlando praticamente di nulla, l'autore lo fa in modo ironico e pungente, con un senso dell'umorismo mai banale.
Prestato da mio cognato

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't endorse the review of "laugh out loud funny", but it was amusing and filled a lull between books.

[Emma Oldroyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the worst book I've ever read. Richard Derrignton was a dick (pun not intended).

[Lyn Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy laugh aloud stories, this is the perfect book for you. Zigzag Street by Nick Earls covers six weeks in the life of Richard a 28 year old solicitor, recently separated from Anna his live-in girlfriend. He lives in his Grandmother's old home in Zigzag Street, an actual street in Brisbane's Red Hill.

Set in the 1990s it sees Richard trying to meet the perfect girl while presenting wonderful memories of what Brisbane was like 30+ years ago. I have never laughed as loud and as often as I did, when reading this very funny book. It took me on an hilarious journey into the minds of late twenty to mid-thirty year old males. Hopefully some of the males these days have more luck.

[Katie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a long, laborious read that had nothing to do with the story and everything to do with picking it up right as covid-19 kicked into gear. I love this book so much. First half is heavy, by the end I was literally crying with laughter. I can't condone Rick's terrible pet care, but you can't help but feel for the poor guy dealing with his loneliness and sadness after a relationship breakup. Beautiful imagery of Brisbane and memories of the 90s...just loved it. It would be a single day read if it wasn't for a stupid pandemic meddling with my concentration.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the humour, I loved the writing style!
I thought the main character was very fun to follow, though I’d find him unbearable in real life. You have to distance yourself a little from him in order to enjoy this book, because some of the thoughts that cross his mind and one action in particular were pretty reprehensible imo.
As long as you remember this is all fiction, and that the point is that all of his actions tend to come back to bite him in the ass, you’ll love this book like I did.
There’s one scene with a boss and an elevator that was just *chef’s kiss*.

[Karen Bowness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly I loved that this story was set in Brisbane - it's great to recognize all the places talked about and Zigzag St is a real street in Red Hill! The story itself was quite sweet - the main character Richard is having a hard time coping with reality after the breakdown of a relationship about 6 months ago. He goes on a personal journey throughout this book and is inspired by old friends and new. An enjoyable and easy read. It’s really 3 and a half stars.

[Hnin Kyaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another coming of age story in a 20 something year old man who tackles life after a devastating break up. A surreal yet comedic representation of life that goes on with mediocre work that must be done, and friends that will continue on as usual, food that must be eaten, chores that needs handling... all while he is consumed by the break up.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my January 2024 bookclub book.

And it was ok. There are some funny bits - not laugh out loud by any stretch of the imagination. I know the area where it is set quite well so enjoyed that aspect.

But I got fed up with reading about woe is me.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Post break-up maybe I'm more similar to Richard than I care to admit right now but maybe "you remind me of no-one" is the most romantic line I've read for some time. I want what Richard and Rachel have.

[CKoef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly the funniest book I’ve ever read. Sat on the couch crying tears of laughter and had to stop to catch my breath. Still laugh randomly when the thoughts of the stories cross my mind. Hilariously brilliant writing

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. This book has been passed to all my colleagues.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky and enjoyable!

[Caitilin Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you live in Brisbane- you should read this. If you've even been split up with-you should read this. If you've never read Nick Earles- read this!!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a bit to get into, but overall very funny and enjoyable

[Missyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this novel. Some laugh out loud moments. Captured the 90s perfectly.