Niall Duthie's exquisite first novel is as delightfully literary as his second (Natterjack) and third (Lobster Moth) novels. It is not often that a contemporary author surprises you. Niall Duthie has the rare talent of doing so in almost every page I have read of his three novels. Language, art, literature, translation, perception, man's construction of reality and relationship with that construction, come together in all three novels. The result is literature as one of the most charming games one can engage in. I find it hard to choose between any of his three novels. Duthie's power of observation is so moving it's almost eerie.

More than highly recommendable.