A slightly shady finishing school called College Sunrise situated in Ouchy near Lausanne is run by husband and wife. Parents with more money than sense send their children to the school before university where they are ‘finished’ in a variety of ways. The pupils are an eclectic mix but we don’t find out too much about them other than Chris a student who is writing a book.

It just so happens that Rowland, one of the owners of the school, is a writer and also runs the creative writing classes and tells everyone that he is writing his next book although he has writer’s block. Chris, however, is writing freely his historical novel where he is playing fast and free with the dates and timelines and people. Rowland is filled with envy when he reads the first two chapters and this feeling then drives the story.

This is a book that leaves me with more questions than answers. Half way through the book it is suggested that Rowland might be gay and this fact then helps shape the ending. I am not sure what that has to do with envy, being a writer and being obsessed.

What isn’t in doubt, in my opinion, is Spark’s thoughts about writing and the process of writing that appear right from the start. Through Rowland and sometimes Chris, ideas are explored such as how to set a scene or who controls the characters: author or do they have a life of their own? Spark also explores gently the blurring of fact and fiction with the book Chris is writing and whether it matters, particularly in a novel. I wondered whether Spark was Chris or Rowland.

The blurb said the book was very funny – I didn’t find it so. I can’t help feeling that I am missing something with Muriel. I enjoyed Loitering with Intent by Spark much more as it also deals with writers, jealousy and obsession.