I've just started experimenting with it and I can tell you that layout is possible in CSS. In fact it should be comparatively easy.

I've found there are lots of online guides with info on CSS and how to use it but, I'm so far from understanding them, I felt that buying a book on it might help.
And it has proved MUCH better than all the online guides I've visited so far and is filling in all the starting places I haven't found online. I only bought it yesterday and it's already solved a few problems I was having and spurned me onto another level. I'm beginning to see why everyone raves about CSS.

The one I bought is "CSS Mastery - Advanced Web Statndards Solutions" by Andy Budd. It's a 'Friends of Ed' book (I've had experience of their guides before, and they've been good too).
It deals with CSS version 2.1 (in lieu of CSS version 3 which is still a long way off yet).
There are many other guides available if you don't fancy this particular one.


[edit: I should add, that I'd already received a good deal of help, in my efforts to transfer to CSS, on this forum and only bought the book so I didn't bug everyone quite so much.
The more I read and play about with it the more I think I may be doing that anyway.]