I find it difficult to write an intelligent review for this book. It is one of my favorite books - I bring it with me when I travel and when I meet someone who I care about, I give them this book to read. The measure of a good book for me is its ability to be read in different moods and give different facets of itself each time.

Kiteley writes in careful measured prose. His characters are complex but simply written. I am reminded of the Japanese art of Sumi-e (brush painting) in which a single line describes the entirety of a form. Still Life with Insects does this for a man's life. We read scenes ranging from his honeymoon to playing pool with his grandchildren.