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As you most likely know, this is the first book of Lawrence Durrell's acclaimed Alexandria Quartet. What is it about? Stupid question. Unless by "about" you mean, what does it feel like? It feels like a warm, ancient, beautiful, decaying, diverse, passionate, decadent city that seems to permeate the lives of its inhabitants, most of whom seem obsessed with sex. So it is a lot about sex and what it means, and how it relates to love and manipulation, and if any of this has any moral basis.

There is at least an implied plot, but this is more of a spatial exploration of the main Alexandrian characters who will no doubt resurface in the subsequent novels. Events are related thematically without much regard to chronology, but the whole thing plays out to a satisfying non-conclusion. In fact I couldn't stop thinking about the last line of the book. The writing style is luscious, very poetic...much of the story told through descriptions. Oh and I'll save you some grief...you never learn the name of the narrator.

So I will definitely read on. I'll let you know how Balthazar turns out.