Zig Zag Street

ZigZag Street is a 1996 novel written by Australian writer Nick Earls. It was Earl's second novel and won the Betty Trask Award in 1998, which it shared with Kiran Desai's Hullaballoo in the Guava Orchard. It has been compared with the work of Nick Hornby.^[1]

It was adapted for the stage by Philip Dean in 2004, playing at the La Boite Theatre^[2] before touring other cities.

In Review called it part of "Brisbane’s Holy Trinity of Gen X Lit:... more of a sad-boy novel, eagerly related to by whiney lawyers."^[3]

Plot summary

Richard Derrington is a 28 year old corporate lawyer in Brisbane struggling to cope after his girlfriend, Anna, has left him. He lives on Zig Zag Street in the suburb of Red Hill, Brisbane, Queensland in his grandmother's former home.^[4] The novel follows his life over a six-week period as he continues to "mess things up", before finding new purpose and new love.

The novel features a number of Brisbane landmarks, including Broadway On the Mall, Park Road in Milton as well as the eponymous Zig Zag Street (27°27′18″S 153°00′22″E / 27.4551°S 153.0060°E / -27.4551; 153.0060 (Zig Zag Street, Red Hill)). It references British band The Smiths. Its reference to Tim Tam biscuits and other Queensland icons has made it a cultural favourite.^[5]

References

^ Silkstone, Dan (15 July 2006). "Mature face of Aussie lad lit". The Age. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
^ "Zigzag Street". Stagediary. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
^ Vagg, Stephen (14 February 2024). "Yes, there were screen-lit gems about Brissie before Boy Swallows Universe". In Review. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
^ Chenery, Susan (29 April 2016). "Nick Earls: How I learned to love the place I call home - and write about it". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
^ "From Zigzag Street to mid-life struggle". www.couriermail.com.au. 28 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

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[1] Silkstone, Dan (15 July 2006). "Mature face of Aussie lad lit". The Age. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

[2] "Zigzag Street". Stagediary. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

[3] Vagg, Stephen (14 February 2024). "Yes, there were screen-lit gems about Brissie before Boy Swallows Universe". In Review. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[4] Chenery, Susan (29 April 2016). "Nick Earls: How I learned to love the place I call home - and write about it". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

[5] "From Zigzag Street to mid-life struggle". www.couriermail.com.au. 28 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

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