From Amazon:
Effie and her mother Nora are staying in the decaying family home on a small island off the West coast of Scotland. To keep themselves amused they begin telling stories. Nora's are about their ancestors, in whose veins blood blue as "delphiniums and lupins" flows, and the real identity of Effie's father and mother. Nora's language is like her "sea-change eyes", full of poetry and strange beauty. Effie's tales of life at the University of Dundee and her life with Star Trek obsessed Bob are more prosaic and funny: "I did so hope that Bob was a dress rehearsal, a kind of mock relationship, like a mock exam, to prepare me for the real thing."

The novel follows Effie to a creative writing course at the university. The class is run by Martha: who writes poetry "with impenetrable syntax about a life where nothing happened". The other characters in the novel are pre-occupied with the same need to find meaning through writing. Archetypal detective stories, sword and sorcery fantasy, doctor and nurse romantic scenarios, existential angst and liberal use of ellipses are given free reign. Whilst this self-conscious wordplay is fun for those who enjoy a more literary book, those who simply enjoy a good read may get lost in the jostle of competing language construction.

This is a strangely constructed book of two stories woven around each other, interspersed with various fictional tales. To assist in recognising which voice we are hearing, a different typeface is used. This complicated structure actually works rather well especially as this book is really about the art of writing. Academic jargon,the naivety of a fledgling fantasy writer, the beautifully descriptive language of the tales told on the Scottish island - the styles are varied, but each is tightly and accurately controlled.

At times I found it a bit over the top, and towards the end of Effie's narrative I became rather confused, but the timely arrival of the conclusion of Nora's story, and subsequent tying up of the loose ends saved the day.

I'll pass this on to chelseagirl the next time I see her.

Update: handed over on 14 December.

I've read Kate Atkinson's Case Histories and really enjoyed its intricate plotlines - hope this one is as good. Thanks!

This book has come to me in a large box of books. I will pass it on somehow (I'm new to book crossing) and see where it goes next.