This short story collection covers a broad terrain, opening with a beautifully witty monologue of childhood kissing techniques in Three Kinds of Kissing. The title story reveals the paper-thin world of bedsits, while the terse, dark and haunting qualities of The Wall and The Shadow Man give way to a poignant study of daughter-father relationships in A Good Ear. The easy humour inspired by vulgar Olga in Opretta is perfectly balanced by Painted Toes, a subtle and candid depiction of a disintegrating relationship.