Wiles.jpg
2014 Longlist

Care of Wooden Floors

ABOUT
THE BOOK

A bold and brilliant debut from a darkly funny new voice.

Oskar is a minimalist composer best known for his piece ‘Variations on Tram Timetables’. He lives with his wife and two cats in an unnamed Eastern European city. But this book isn’t really about Oskar. Oskar is in Los Angeles, having his marriage dismantled by lawyers. Meanwhile, he has entrusted an old friend to take care of his perfect, beautiful apartment.
Despite Oskar leaving extensive notes on how to keep his flat in pristine condition, a tiny oversight initiates a chain of farcical, and even fatal, disasters. Care of Wooden Floors is about loneliness, friendship and the quest for, and struggle against, perfection. And it is, a little, about how to take care of wooden floors.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Will
Wiles

Will Wiles is an architecture and design journalist. He lives in London.

Will Wiles is an architecture and design journalist. He lives in London.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Truly a superb debut novel which amply shows how faint is the line between tragedy and comedy.

This book delighted me. It is very, very funny in a very stylish way and is not without food for thought.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Author
Publisher
Harper Collins

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.