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Dec 28, 2008

Kirk rated it:

I owe Richard a big apology. I read Six Fang Marks back in September when we traded books and I've been as unprofessional as a comet-tailing hooker by not getting a review posted before now. I can only plead a busy life, which is a bullshit excuse because all I pretty much do is sit on my dimply ass all day reading books (okay, and grading papers, too). The reality is I needed time to digest this rollicking picaresque, which spans two continents, some graphic incontinence, at least two non-linea More...

9 comments like (12 people liked it)

Sep 15, 2008

Valerie rated it:

When I first started reading this book, it reminded me of what it felt like to be ten again, riding my bike over a home-made jump with five friends lying down on the pavement in front of it, hoping I'd make it over.

That's the kind of exuberance and recklessness I found in Rem, one of the two brothers that this novel is about. I rooted for Rem, and loved his fearlessness, purity, and loyalty. To me, he was the epitome of boundless and unstoppable youth. His brother, Ysbrand (more fam More...

4 comments like (8 people liked it)

Aug 21, 2008

J rated it:

The tram hit him full force like a charging rhino. Watching him walk away, blood running down his face, Kim knew she was in love. Of course, he had winked at her first. At least she liked to think he had. She’d already decided he would be her next literary crush and any literary crush worth his weight in words would certainly wink at a pretty girl in a mini skirt. Wouldn’t he? Perhaps not. Perhaps he’s the strong silent type that draws women to him by ignoring them. Perhaps he pushed himself up More...

11 comments like (16 people liked it)

Oct 13, 2008

Michelle rated it:

This book is what I would imagine it would have been like to grow up as a boy with a younger brother rather than as a girl with a younger brother. Well, if both brothers were unnaturally accident-prone and/or possibly a bit insane. Maybe insane is too strong of a word. Was their story a result of some sort of psychological deficiency or just bad luck? In the case of Ace and his younger brother, Rem, I think it was just bad luck. Rotten luck.

When I first started reading, I though More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Dec 29, 2008

Kim rated it:

I'm confused, but in a good way (yes, I believe that confusion can sometimes be beneficial). I think.... I don't know, give me a moment...

Okay----I believe that-----wait, no, that's not right, hold on.

This book... it ... um... hmm... isn't like anything I've ever read before (and don't go looking at my shelves and tsking my tastes)and that's cool, you know? Maybe not.

I have lots of questions but I'm afraid to ask them, sort of equivalent to More...

19 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 11, 2008

Kathe rated it:

Wow - this is a first novel? I loved it - I'll probably give it 5 stars after I re-read the whole thing. I'm a chain reader, and I usually have at least two going at once. Occasionally one captures my imagination and attention to the extent that I can't just finish it and go right on to the next; I need a day or two to ruminate. This was one of those rare books that not only keep my attention after I've closed the covers, but becomes better upon reflection.

I have to admit that som More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 18, 2009

Maire rated it:

Six fang marks and a Tetanus Shot

My son has read it, I’ve read it, and my other son is about to read it.

I wish he’d hurry up, because then we could all have a proper discussion about it. So many things I want to ask them about, to see whether or not they agree with my take on things. Right down to the fact that I’m still wondering whether Rem and dreams and nightmares and a sense of the surreal and Rapid Eye Movement are connected – and whether Ace is the wily one or the More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 25, 2008

Logan rated it:

This is a very interesting read from a first-time author. More of a scrapbook compilation of a story than a standard novel, the author moves through many different voices as he relates the story of Ace and Rem De Heer, two brothers growing up in South Africa.

The brothers De Heer are plagued by accidents that variously incapacitate and harm them, related in short snapshots titled with the cause of the accident and the injuries sustained- from a jousting match with bamboo poles to i More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 13, 2008

Colleen rated it:

Dear Richard
as promised I read your book while on holiday in Anysberg, a cape Nature Reserve, between Laingsburg and Ladismith. I also read Almost Moon by Alice Sebold as well as a number of children's books aloud to my 5 year old daughter.

I was rivetted by your book, and devastated. I think it also had to do with being tired and the empty beauty of the landscape. I am left with questions - who is Deo? He is a tricky character, perhaps I didn't read closely enough, but he puzzl More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 28, 2007

Brian rated it:

This is a strange book...but in a brilliantly pleasant way. The format is great, pulling you all over the place without leaving you feeling totally lost or confused….but teasing you enough to know that there is always something more going on. The reading pace is quick… which is of necessity because you will want to read it again to really grasp the depth of what’s going on. A puzzle that pulls you in and makes you wonder if this is indeed a work of fiction or an autobiographical confession. Gre More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 08, 2010

M rated it:

I remember how I met this incredible book" Six Fang Marks and a Tetanus Shot. "
"A force, a strange feeling emerges from this story "....... was my first impression at the beginning of my reading.
Two brothers, Ace and Rem De Heer. The history tells us their lives, their memories, talks about the events, tragic accidents that they live between "South Africa" and "Amsterdam"
I read a few chapters ... then I closed the book to reflect ... More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 24, 2011

Elsje rated it:

Laat je niet misleiden door de chiclit-achtige titel en dito plaatje op de voorkant! Deze roman van de Zuid-Afrikaanse schrijver Richard de Nooy is alles behalve chiclit.

De banaan slaat namelijk op de ongeluksmagneet Remco de Heer, waarover het boek gaat. Zijn broer, Ysbrand (Ace) beschrijft hoe zijn broer al van jongs af aan allerlei ongelukken en ongelukjes kreeg of zelfs veroorzaakte. Meestal zijn er wat butsen en builen te betreuren, maar een keer loopt het vreselijk uit de hand.
More...

0 comments like

Oct 05, 2008

Melanie rated it:

Een spannende roman opgebouwd uit fragmenten zoals dagboekaantekeningen,citaten,tekeningen en brieven.Daardoor lijkt de grens tussen fictie en realiteit soms te vervagen en maakt de geschiedenis over de twee broers Remco en Ysbrand aangrijpender en zet je aan tot nadenken.
Soms bot en onopgesmukt,soms grappig en vol zwarte humor maar vooral een boek dat me heeft geraakt door de kleine droevige momenten.
Een debuterende auteur waarvan ik zeker meer wil lezen!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 23, 2008

Amanda rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 09, 2009

Marieke rated it:

wow. phew. what a romp! i'm a little out of breath from reading that. also, it's hard to believe it's a first novel. thank you richard for letting yourself out of the closet! hurry up so we can all read another one. probably i should write more about the book...but it's too interesting stylistically and plot-wise...i don't want to risk spoiling anything for anyone...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 21, 2007

Jos rated it:

The story grasped my from page one and left me confused in a pleasant way. Food for thought and a good reason to start reading it again.
It's a swift read at first sight, but the story still makes me wondering what really went down there.
That's my kind of book: one that doesn't give away everything straight-way!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 20, 2011

Becky rated it:

This book is so vicious and tender and, in short, real. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Ace and Rem evolve as the story unfolded. The accident prone quotes gave the book an extra kick and added to the mystique of Rem and seemed hip rather than out of place. The artwork was disturbingly great.

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jun 26, 2008

Ron rated it:

Fabulous, zany book that straddles South Africa and Amsterdam. Whiffs of Dostoevsky and Salinger and Martin Amis. This is an utterly unique book written by one of the freshest, brashest, rawest voices to come out of South Africa.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 29, 2008

Richard rated it:

Bijgaand een aantal recensies uit de Nederlandse pers en een foto van de prachtige etalage bij Athenaeum Boekhandel op het Spui in Amsterdam.

'Niemand ontsnapt aan zijn verantwoordelijkheid, zelfs de lezer niet. Want dankzij De Nooys vernuftige verteltechniek word je zo diep het verhaal in gesleurd dat je af en toe schrikt van iets waarom je eerst hebt gelachen. En dan besef je hoe gemakkelijk je medeplichtig kunt worden.' Trouw
(De volledige recensie. Let wel: Mogelijke spoilers More...

0 comments like

Dec 20, 2009

bup rated it:

What a fantastic read. It's got a bit of the 'what the hell is going on here?' Infinite Jest-ness to it, but only has 200 pages to straighten it out. It's a jigsaw puzzle sort-of whodunnit, but not really, but kind of, and it's compelling.

And disturbing. Very profoundly disturbing. I will not sleep well for a while.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 04, 2008

Richard rated it:

Dear friends/readers,

It gives me great pride and joy to inform you that my novel has won the University of Johannesburg Prize for Best First Book!

Thanks again for your support and friendship!

6 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 19, 2010

Tiah rated it:

Sick & Twisted w/ tight writing - Like it.

6 comments like

Dec 31, 2008

Shelly marked it as to-read

It hath arrived all new and sparkly... okay well maybe not sparkly but certainly new. Thanks, Richard, I'll edit this when I get a chance to chew through the book :D

1 comment like

Mar 30, 2008

Shasta marked it as to-read

From all the reviews I've read about this book, I am getting so antsy for it to arrive in my mail...it sounds absolutely amazing!!! 2 more days!!!

4 comments like

Mar 29, 2011

Aaron marked it as to-read

Boise library doesn't have this book, so I don't think I'll be reading this one.

0 comments like

Jan 26, 2012

Tze-Wen marked it as to-read

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Jan 19, 2012

Andrea marked it as to-read

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Jan 17, 2012

Denise marked it as to-read

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Jan 06, 2012

Angela marked it as to-read

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Dec 20, 2011

Graham marked it as to-read

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