Book: Offbeat tale of oak obsession

This is an unusual novel. The narrator, an untidy London bachelor with writing aspirations, ekes out a living preparing commercial brochures. At university, he becomes firm friends with Oskar from East Europe who is his exact opposite - tidy, fastidious to the point of obsession, and a talented and successful musician and composer.

When Oskar leaves his flat in an East European city to travel to California to finalise the divorce from his American wife, he asks the narrator if he would mind staying in his flat and looking after his two cats.

It seems a simple enough chore, but control-freak Oskar has left notes everywhere instructing what is and isn't to be done. He is especially concerned about care for his prized oak floors, and how the cats are to be treated.

This seems a rather banal storyline, but as the book progresses it becomes quite gripping. Things go wrong - spilled wine stains the floors - and there are serious misadventures with one of the cats and the cleaning lady.

Well-written and offbeat, this is an enjoyable read.

Title: Care Of Wooden Floors

Author: Will Wiles

Publisher: HarperCollins, $30