It's 1911 and the secluded southwestern Alabama town of Old Texas has been besieged by a scabrous and malevolent character called E. O. Smonk. Syph...
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Jan 11, 2012
karen
rated it: 
smonk!
excuse me, smonk!!!
smonk smonk smonk smonk smonk
now isn't that fun to say??
one more time: smonk
i would rather just keep saying "smonk" than write this book report, even though i thoroughly enjoyed the book. it is just too tempting to smonk.
now i understand...
okay, but for serious, because goodreads is a place for the serious reviews of books, not just a place for made-up words that shout at you More...
excuse me, smonk!!!
smonk smonk smonk smonk smonk
now isn't that fun to say??
one more time: smonk
i would rather just keep saying "smonk" than write this book report, even though i thoroughly enjoyed the book. it is just too tempting to smonk.
now i understand...
okay, but for serious, because goodreads is a place for the serious reviews of books, not just a place for made-up words that shout at you More...
24 comments
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(37 people liked it)
Jun 29, 2011
Danielle
rated it: 
Unlike any other book I can think of, reading "Smonk" is a lot like climbing a mountain. In the beginning, I found it hard to get into (particularly since i found the lack of quotation marks unbelievably irritating) , but the momentum I gathered from the fact that it is a super quick read propelled me halfway through the book before I even had time to process my misgivings. And I am very glad for that because, much like its rabid characters, once the story gets its claws in you it wo
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Dec 04, 2011
David
rated it:
Revolting, hysterical, revoltingly hysterical, and hysterically revolting.
Take equal parts of the morbidly violent white trash Southern Gothics of early Cormac McCarthy, and hallucinogenic gutter sex satirical perversity of William S. Burroughs, simmer for six weeks, skim off any remaining liquid, and you should be able to scrape this book out of the sludge at the bottom of the pot.
I couldn't decide whether this one deserved five stars or only one, so I compromised at three, More...
Take equal parts of the morbidly violent white trash Southern Gothics of early Cormac McCarthy, and hallucinogenic gutter sex satirical perversity of William S. Burroughs, simmer for six weeks, skim off any remaining liquid, and you should be able to scrape this book out of the sludge at the bottom of the pot.
I couldn't decide whether this one deserved five stars or only one, so I compromised at three, More...
Aug 26, 2009
Dave
rated it:
A low-down raunchy "southern" (as opposed to a western) set in Old Texas, Arkansas. Smonk is a hypercephalic goitered tank of a bastard who could (and does) pop a man's head with one hand. With his sidekick Ike, they discover some nasty secrets around town. There is a parallel story, one of Evavangeline, who is on the lamb from a born-again Christian Deputy Walton, who stumbles Quixote-like into the fracas.
Tom Franklin has balls, for sure... Some parts are hilarious, More...
Tom Franklin has balls, for sure... Some parts are hilarious, More...
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Mar 01, 2009
Bobby
rated it:
Graphic. Gory. Disgusting. Franklin definitely has a way of describing sickening scenes and Smonk is chock-full of them. Sometimes less is more, though, and the absurd level of vileness in this short novel left me rolling my eyes each time he would try to up the ante on gross. Where Cormac McCarthy can paint a grim period piece with a few choice nasty scenes (see Outer Dark) Smonk goes way overboard.
The story is good, however, and the characters are well-crafted. If you can g More...
The story is good, however, and the characters are well-crafted. If you can g More...
Jul 07, 2010
J.J.
rated it:
This novel is an absurdist western adventure. With an intention to offend every possible group with an underlying purpose, Franklin's work reminds me of some of Todd Solondz's films. With intensely honest human moments placed in the context of ridiculous sex, violence, and religious fervor each of the main characters in the novel seem to break away from the absurdity, if only for a moment, to exemplify something honest. Also spliced in are a few meta-fictional moments, which add the final layer
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Apr 10, 2010
DeAnna
rated it:
This is a tough book to describe, but it basically follows two stories, one being that of E.O. Smonk, an outrageous villain who has terrorized the town of Old Texas, Alabama for some time, and that of Evavangeline, a teenage prostitute making her way through the Gulf Coast area. It takes place in 1911, but it reads like a Western set anytime between 1870 and1900. It is dark and licentious, and not for those easily offended, or maybe I should say it’s only for those who are hard to offend. There
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Mar 25, 2011
Johnny
rated it: 
One of the most charmingly raunchy books I have ever read. Violent, foul-mouthed, and downright salty, I absolutely adored SMONK. Has to be read to be believed.
I'm not going to go into details (and I assure you, they would be gory details), but if you like a really well-written, yet violently absurd yarn, this is the book for you. The period style of the writing only illuminates the graphic nature of the scenes.
After reading this, I immediately went out and bought two of T More...
I'm not going to go into details (and I assure you, they would be gory details), but if you like a really well-written, yet violently absurd yarn, this is the book for you. The period style of the writing only illuminates the graphic nature of the scenes.
After reading this, I immediately went out and bought two of T More...
Nov 22, 2011
Heather
rated it:
I learned of this book from author Alden Bell when reading an interview with him for my review of his book The Reapers are the Angels. He listed this as one of his favorite books, and I said at that time that after reading the synopsis for Smonk, I could see where he got his inspiration for his character Temple of The Reapers are the Angels.
This book is a rip-roaring ride! I had mentioned to my friends early on that this book was the most vile and obscene book I’d ever read, and yet th More...
This book is a rip-roaring ride! I had mentioned to my friends early on that this book was the most vile and obscene book I’d ever read, and yet th More...
Oct 18, 2009
I can tell from reading this that the writer is good, but this particular book contains so many disgustingly described sexual exploits that it was just terrible to read. And I am the far from a prude! If a story calls for it, I don't care if something is described explicitly. However, this book hardly leaves a page in between some degenrate sexual description. Most penthouse forum letters are less graphic. And most it isn't needed for the author to further the story. It even lost the shock
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Jul 05, 2009
James
rated it:
E.O. Smonk is a nightmare, a dream and on the verge of death. For years, he has terrified and tormented the town of Old Texas, Arkansas. But the town has dark secrets and Smonk knows them all. He is evil, or is he the hand of God come to punish the townspeople?
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, brutal, violent and gory book. A great mix of Western, adventure, and gothic with characters and scenes that haunt long after the last page. Not for everyone, but the right audience w More...
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, brutal, violent and gory book. A great mix of Western, adventure, and gothic with characters and scenes that haunt long after the last page. Not for everyone, but the right audience w More...
Jun 18, 2011
Cat
rated it:
The characters in this book are rather Carl Hiaasen-esque, namely larger than life and peppered with idiosyncrasies, and quite insane. If this was made into a movie it would make Tarantino's best seem like a sweet fairytale. Set in the wild west around the turn of the century it is a riotous and crazy story, and I loved it.
If you are squeamish or easily upset it's probably not for you! If you are looking for something very different then give it a go.
If you are squeamish or easily upset it's probably not for you! If you are looking for something very different then give it a go.
Oct 28, 2010
Suzanne
rated it: 
This is a rollicking (and I dont think I have ever used that word before) Old West send-up, filled with excessive violence and excessive sex, and usually very funny. This is not Little House on the Prairie. That being said, I enjoyed the first half, but then found I couldnt wait for the end, as there was just more and more of the same. Not in the same caliber as his previous books.
Feb 03, 2011
Jan
rated it:
Holy crap. This one should be kept away from anyone under the age of oh, say, 50. Dark, evil, raunchy, gory, obscene, and yet sometimes funny story set in 1911 in Alabama. Guy named Smonk is to go on trial in a very strange small town, which kicks off a killing, whoring, weirdly fast moving plot that makes the worst R rated movie or HBO series look like a child's story. Of course, I had to finish it to see if anyone lived. LOL
May 13, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
An interesting story with a lot of surprises, as well as characters that were, to say the least, unique, but man, just too, too, too graphic, gross, gory, you name it. Nauseating descriptions of rotting eye sockets and the like made this a difficult book for me to even get through. I am not sure I even liked it, but I admired the skill of it, so I split the difference and went three stars.
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Apr 01, 2010
Adam
rated it:
Franklin pulls out the stops for his second novel. This is an over the top comic nightmare combining Peckinpah and Leone movies (leaning more toward the comic absurdity of Leone with the brutality of bloody Sam intact), Old Testament (esp. Sodom & Gomorrah), David Lynch, horror movies, southern gothic, and Cormac McCarthy with the volume turned up to eleven. Witches, madmen, rabies, machine guns, relentless gore and violence, scatological references, zombies, insane religious cults, crazed anim
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 05, 2009
Rose
rated it:
Je suis une fan de western au cinoche, mais je n'en avais jamais lu. J'ai toujours pensé que c'était un genre qui ne pouvait pas très bien passé sur papier (même si c'est là qu'il est né...)C'était avant de lire "Smonk". Je me suis beaucoup amusée surtout que l'histoire se transforme pour épouser un autre genre que j'aime particulièrement (mais je ne vais pas plus loin, je ne veux pas ruiner des surprises). Certaines images sont un peu faciles, mais le style est parfaitement maîtris
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Apr 25, 2011
This book is repulsive. I read Hell at the Breech by this author and liked it a lot. This book is nothing but guts and gore and totally unbelievable. I threw the book in the garbage after about 40-50 pages.
Jun 06, 2010
Jeffry
rated it:
One of the stranger books I've read. A weird and wild ride. Clearly well written and a fun tale, this book does leave you feeling like you need to shower off some of the smut and gore once you put it down.
Sep 29, 2009
Tara
rated it:
Whereas the violence in Hell at the Breech wasn't gratuitous, Smonk turns that notion on its head. It was so campishly violent and gross that it was almost a turnoff. I stuck with it, though, and was rewarded with both horror and hilarity. Plus, rabies are teh scareee. This book was nowhere near as great as Hell at the Breech, though.
Oct 27, 2010
Nick
rated it:
Good. Funny despite, or is it because of, all the violence and sex. A way-over-the-top send up of the shoot 'em up Western set in Alabama. Not nearly as good as "Poachers" or "Hell at the Breech" but not a serious book.
Sep 05, 2010
David
rated it:
Not really all that disturbing...rather predictable once you caught it's rhythm. But a fun light read. Mild recommendation....beach book for Ted Bundy. :) kkkkk
May 20, 2010
Casey
rated it:
I loved Poachers and Hell at the Breech - two excellent books - but Smonk didn't do it for me. It was funny and violent and gory and irreverent, but it left me a little bored. . .perhaps too much of a good thing.
That said, I can't wait for Franklin's next work, whatever it may be.
That said, I can't wait for Franklin's next work, whatever it may be.
Apr 15, 2008
Rusty
rated it:
I loved Tom Franklin's other books, but this one is a slow starter for me. It's all over the place, in these first few pages. Funny, violent, well-written, yes--but all over the place. More as I finish.
(edit in):
What a really odd book. It's entertaining, sometimes scabrously so, but all in all seems like a script idea instead of something substantial. E..O Smonk and Evavangeline seem straight out of Deadwood. I'm not going to tell you not to read it; it is worth the energ More...
(edit in):
What a really odd book. It's entertaining, sometimes scabrously so, but all in all seems like a script idea instead of something substantial. E..O Smonk and Evavangeline seem straight out of Deadwood. I'm not going to tell you not to read it; it is worth the energ More...
Feb 14, 2009
Fabio
rated it:
I´m enjoying myself very much. Franklin´s use of language is excellent, and I already want to read more of his work.
May 31, 2011
David
rated it:
quentin tarentino meets cormack mccarthy, set in Alabama, late 1800's.
a wild ride, great language and dialogue.
a wild ride, great language and dialogue.
Oct 01, 2010
Tuck
rated it:
gritty and gross along the lines of jim thompson and scott phillips. a great story teller if you can stand the blood.
Aug 05, 2010
Tom Franklin is brilliant. The ending is unexpected, but inevitable. The plot is perversly exquisite!
Dec 27, 2007
Kristin
rated it:
My fellow booksellers said, "It's awesome. You'll never expect what's coming." Well, I kinda did. The plot wasn't so intriguing that you couldn't imagine what was going to happen, nor was it compelling enough to make me think, "I can get something out of this." Mostly though, I didn't love this book because, while it's well written, there's a lot of gore, TMI with scents/bowels, and funky sex stuff. It's just not my thing. But, as I said, if you're into Quentin Tarantino stuf
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Jul 11, 2010
Renee
rated it:
What a dark little tale! I felt a bit like this was a story of human id: everybody is selfish, sexualized, cruel, violent, and quick to kill. So, in some ways that made the book one-dimensional. While clever and unique, it was not a balanced book, which makes it easy to dismiss--which is also a shame because Franklin turns some interesting phrases and wrote such great regional dialogue.
I'd like to read some of Franklin's other work. I'd like to see something where he was trying a bi More...
I'd like to read some of Franklin's other work. I'd like to see something where he was trying a bi More...
