The title suggests a literacy study, but although some ideas about the nature of writing are touched upon, there is nothing at all difficult about this book. In fact the clear and well-crafted writing is one of the book's strengths. The narrator is a novelist recalling his part in the love affairs among a group of expatriate students in 1950's London. This framework works well in drawing you into the story, and the balance between nostalgia and realism is nicely done. The result is a thoughtful read.
