Nick Earls: World of Chickens

By GILBERT WONG

For me the phrase "a novel about chasing your dreams" triggers the schmaltz alert. A cover blurb like this is usually a good way of telling that said book should be left well alone.

Against better judgment I persevered and found Earls entertaining, if not quite the humorist he believes himself to be. Think sub-Hornby, filtered through an Ocker sensibility by way of the Farrelly brothers of Something about Mary fame, and you'd be close.

Phil and Frank, young med students, supplement their bursaries by flipping burgers in a hotplate chicken joint in the anonymous 'burbs of the Gold Coast. Along with Sophie, the owner's daughter, they are the A team.

Sophie and Phil take turns in the chicken suit, flapping their arms outside because Frank can't fit it. Frank has problems fitting in most places.

Most of the time Frank is trying to get laid, Phil is too, but his focus suffers from male angst, self-consciousness and a liberal arts background. Before he can say "premature ejaculation", he's probably done it. Frank is unburdened by a faltering ego, though his confidence is mostly bravado helped by luck.

Since this is the early 80s, and Hornbyesque, the lads' characters are informed by their taste in music. Predictably Frank goes for Eye of the Tiger (for music to make moves to), while sensitive listener Phil prefers The Psychedelic Furs.

Earls is the sort of writer who tries to leave the characters better if not wiser and it pays not to think too hard about the plausibility of some of their misadventures. If you were at university during the 80s Earls does catch the relatively carefree ambience before user-pays made education a business.

If there is such a thing as women's fiction, and I believe Marian Keyes would support me here, then Earls has gone for lads lit done light, with all the emotional complexity of a sit com. Nothing wrong with it, but note the schmaltz warning.

Viking

$26.95

* Gilbert Wong is an Auckland journalist