From Publishers Weekly
Lawrence Butler, a commercial illustrator in London, is desperately seeking his wife, who has walked out on him, leaving behind a reminder to water the plants. Disconsolate, Lawrence designs British postage stamps with Sheila's face on them. He rashly accuses her pudgy boss of having an affair with her. He checks his father-in-law's house. Increasingly frantic, he gets hit by a car. He convalesces, contemplates the "pagan" look of talcum powder, fantasizes having sex with Nurse Cummings, then does. Still no Sheila. Readers seeking psychological causes for the split will be let down, even though Dublin-based novelist Davison strews a few clues of marital discord. What this slender, bittersweet tale does best is convey the sharp taste of overwhelming grief and loss, in a deceptively glib tone of wry, cool detachment.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
