Many English writers from the UK dig into the language to discover or re-discover words that are not used everyday but are nevertheless sometimes interesting, sometimes charming but always give more color to the narrative. Jo Blake is one of those and she succeeds well in creating a world in which you feel engulfed and included. With time it becomes a bit too much, as drinking something very sweet our sour can overwhelm after a little bit. I nevertheless enjoyed this book and am going to read other works by her. To give you a vague idea, allow me a quote from this book:" to a little park, where a brass band was parping out that particularly northern brand of nostalgia between borders planted with primulas and daffodils and hyacinths. Kids darted round on scooters, wobbled on small bikes. Dogs dragged old ladies after them."