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44 Scotland Street #12
A Time of Love and Tartan
MP3 CD Format
The latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's perennially popular and irresistibly charming 44 Scotland Street series. When Pat accepts her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce's invitation for coffee, she has no idea of the complications in her romantic and professional life that will follow. Meanwhile, Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, attracts the attention of the police after a misunderstanding at the local bookstore. Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart's application for promotion and his wife Irene's decision to pursue a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to Scotland Street. But for three seven-year-old boy-Bertie Pollock, Ranald, and Big Lou's foster son, Finlay-it also means getting a glimpse of perfect happiness. Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been at the center of life in Edinburgh's New Town.1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 27, 2017
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About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
668 books12.7k followersAlexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 517 reviews
October 23, 2017
Reading books in the 44 Scotland Street series is always like catching up with family. I want to know how Bertie is doing, what awful thing Irene has done now, how the triplets are progressing and whether Bruce has settled down yet. Alexander McCall Smith could carry on writing these books forever and I would still read them.
I enjoyed this instalment very much. The author seems to have found a satisfactory solution to the Irene problem and I hope Bertie has many happy days before she reappears. I do wonder how Ulysses will fare though since there are concerns about his paternity. Matthew and Elspeth's new home help just has to be too good to be true. And just what will happen to Bruce.
Please keep writing this series Mr. McCall Smith, at least until Bertie turns 21:)
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
I enjoyed this instalment very much. The author seems to have found a satisfactory solution to the Irene problem and I hope Bertie has many happy days before she reappears. I do wonder how Ulysses will fare though since there are concerns about his paternity. Matthew and Elspeth's new home help just has to be too good to be true. And just what will happen to Bruce.
Please keep writing this series Mr. McCall Smith, at least until Bertie turns 21:)
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
December 27, 2017
Another charming read! The solution to a reading slump seems to be reading Alexander McCall Smith. I read the previous book in this series a few months ago, and felt that it was a perfect palate cleanser. The Time of Love and Tartans did the trick once again. This series focuses on an eclectic group of people living in contemporary Edinburgh. It’s not so much a story, as an ongoing ensemble piece focusing on the ups and downs of these characters. There’s a fair bit of humour, but also real emotion and a few contemporary issues thrown in. I must remember McCall Smith next time I hit a slump. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
January 2, 2018
Is there another 7 year old boy we worry more about than Bertie? He's such a sweet boy with such a terrible, horrible mother who doesn't starve or hurt him but tries to kill him with political correctness? It's hard to raise a male child when you despise his gender and try to make him into something that no one would want to be around. Still Bertie survives admirably. When a school mate asks how it feels to have a mother that everyone hates, Bernie says he didn't have a choice in his selection of a mother and he just make do with what he has. Aw, the wisdom of children.
Smith worries about the political correctness prevailing now that strangles us from our freedom and differing opinions. It's hard to express viewpoints with everyone so full of hate and impatience and little tolerance. He worries about whether this narrow minded thinking will cripple us all in the end. It's the same thoughts I have had that we must find a way to get along and enjoy our differences not hate them. I find it ironic that much of this clamping off of freedom of expression comes from the liberal left and Smith uses Irene brilliantly to illustrate this. Stuart's interview for promotion is priceless and so true.
It seems like a cozy read but there are lots of ideas that run through it and makes it such an exceptional series.
Smith worries about the political correctness prevailing now that strangles us from our freedom and differing opinions. It's hard to express viewpoints with everyone so full of hate and impatience and little tolerance. He worries about whether this narrow minded thinking will cripple us all in the end. It's the same thoughts I have had that we must find a way to get along and enjoy our differences not hate them. I find it ironic that much of this clamping off of freedom of expression comes from the liberal left and Smith uses Irene brilliantly to illustrate this. Stuart's interview for promotion is priceless and so true.
It seems like a cozy read but there are lots of ideas that run through it and makes it such an exceptional series.
March 5, 2022
I love the character of Bertie. This, book #12 is as much the warm, lovely book as the other 11. We follow Bertie as he learns about so many things that really matter in life... decency...the character of people and places...what little boys are really made of... respect...taking pains and doing a good job... the beauty of the sea and sky...how yummy good bacon rolls smell...and how much his family and friends mean in his life. This is the final book in the series and I'm going to miss Bertie. I am not going to miss Irene, whom Bertie has the misfortune to have as a mother. What a snob she has been from book 1. She refuses or just cannot see what a fool she is making of herself or the neglect she is causing when it comes to Bertie's childhood. It is good to have the satisfaction in this final book, to know she has gone, and I say good riddance. We can leave Bertie to enjoy his life in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
September 5, 2017
This book is like being with an old friend. Familiar but with new slants and experiences. An ideal holiday read: stimulating but gentle. You feed on it in random moments and suddenly find you've reached the end and you - without being aware of it - have experienced another cracking tale. Funny but there is also a touch of elegy about this. I do hope this does not mean that this novel is the last in this series.
May 1, 2022
“’It’s good to see you.” Bruce inclined his head, as if to acknowledge an act of homage. Of course it was good to see him; he had been good to see for as long as he could remember. Even as a small boy, he had attracted admiration for his looks; the cherub had become an angel, had become a youth from a Giotto painting, had become a matinee idol…”
A Time Of Love And Tartan is the twelfth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street serial novel by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith, and in it, the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street and those of their friends are, once again, updated for the continuing enjoyment of series fans. The audio version is narrated by David Rintoul. So this time we learn that: Domenica wonders about her marriage to Angus; Cyril experiences a tiny pang of jealousy; and Pat Macgregor finds herself again in the sights of the narcissistic Bruce, but for the wrong reasons.
Big changes are afoot in the Pollock household: Stuart makes a life-changing decision on the spur of the moment; he worries more than he apparently needs to about Bertie’s reaction to Irene’s latest grand plan; Bertie, still seven, delights in receiving a compass; and his happiness at attending a Scotland/New Zealand Rugby Match, in a kilt, with his father, and his best friend, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson, knows no bounds.
Matthew does something silly in a bookshop, is embarrassed and compounds the error with something still sillier, attracting the attention of the police; Elspeth, au-pairless, is at her wits end with exhaustion until the Duke of Johannesburg comes to the rescue. Meanwhile, Big Lou is finding foster-parenthood gratifying.
As always, McCall Smith gives his characters plenty of wise words as he lets them wonder about or discuss a wide range of topics including: the various meanings of the word “Aye”; the modern trends in architecture; sexism and political correctness in job interviews; the proliferation of hate; and the disappearance of forest habitats of remote tribes.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and charming little observations like: “…he was on the committee of the Scottish Artists’ Benevolent Association, the body that distributed largesse (smallesse, as Angus called it, in view of the limited nature of the fund) to struggling artists”.
The potential for young Bertie’s ongoing happiness expands exponentially with Irene’s Aberdeen plans, although a fan of the series might worry about the absence of the character we all love to despise. McCall Smith’s work is always a joy to read, and fans will hope for many more instalments of this delightful series.
A Time Of Love And Tartan is the twelfth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street serial novel by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith, and in it, the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street and those of their friends are, once again, updated for the continuing enjoyment of series fans. The audio version is narrated by David Rintoul. So this time we learn that: Domenica wonders about her marriage to Angus; Cyril experiences a tiny pang of jealousy; and Pat Macgregor finds herself again in the sights of the narcissistic Bruce, but for the wrong reasons.
Big changes are afoot in the Pollock household: Stuart makes a life-changing decision on the spur of the moment; he worries more than he apparently needs to about Bertie’s reaction to Irene’s latest grand plan; Bertie, still seven, delights in receiving a compass; and his happiness at attending a Scotland/New Zealand Rugby Match, in a kilt, with his father, and his best friend, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson, knows no bounds.
Matthew does something silly in a bookshop, is embarrassed and compounds the error with something still sillier, attracting the attention of the police; Elspeth, au-pairless, is at her wits end with exhaustion until the Duke of Johannesburg comes to the rescue. Meanwhile, Big Lou is finding foster-parenthood gratifying.
As always, McCall Smith gives his characters plenty of wise words as he lets them wonder about or discuss a wide range of topics including: the various meanings of the word “Aye”; the modern trends in architecture; sexism and political correctness in job interviews; the proliferation of hate; and the disappearance of forest habitats of remote tribes.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and charming little observations like: “…he was on the committee of the Scottish Artists’ Benevolent Association, the body that distributed largesse (smallesse, as Angus called it, in view of the limited nature of the fund) to struggling artists”.
The potential for young Bertie’s ongoing happiness expands exponentially with Irene’s Aberdeen plans, although a fan of the series might worry about the absence of the character we all love to despise. McCall Smith’s work is always a joy to read, and fans will hope for many more instalments of this delightful series.
September 30, 2018
Although good, this wasn't as interesting as the last several volumes in the series. One minor character who played a major role in one of the major character's families at the end of the last book was apparently forgotten, or at least left out with no explanation as to their disappearance. I think AMS may not be feeling this series as much as some of his others.
But I truly hope that "The End" at the end of this book does not mean the series is finished. I definitely felt that many storylines remain openended, as in prior installments. And my favorite character's is one of those.
Please keep writing the series, AMS! These characters you've created are a part of my world now. I don't want to lose them. Fingers crossed a new volume appears in February. 💙
But I truly hope that "The End" at the end of this book does not mean the series is finished. I definitely felt that many storylines remain openended, as in prior installments. And my favorite character's is one of those.
Please keep writing the series, AMS! These characters you've created are a part of my world now. I don't want to lose them. Fingers crossed a new volume appears in February. 💙
November 19, 2018
“’It’s good to see you.” Bruce inclined his head, as if to acknowledge an act of homage. Of course it was good to see him; he had been good to see for as long as he could remember. Even as a small boy, he had attracted admiration for his looks; the cherub had become an angel, had become a youth from a Giotto painting, had become a matinee idol…”
A Time Of Love And Tartan is the twelfth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street serial novel by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith, and in it, the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street and those of their friends are, once again, updated for the continuing enjoyment of series fans. So this time we learn that: Domenica wonders about her marriage to Angus; Cyril experiences a tiny pang of jealousy; and Pat Macgregor finds herself again in the sights of the narcissistic Bruce, but for the wrong reasons.
Big changes are afoot in the Pollock household: Stuart makes a life-changing decision on the spur of the moment; he worries more than he apparently needs to about Bertie’s reaction to Irene’s latest grand plan; Bertie, still seven, delights in receiving a compass; and his happiness at attending a Scotland/New Zealand Rugby Match, in a kilt, with his father, and his best friend, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson, knows no bounds.
Matthew does something silly in a bookshop, is embarrassed and compounds the error with something still sillier, attracting the attention of the police; Elspeth, au-pairless, is at her wits end with exhaustion until the Duke of Johannesburg comes to the rescue. Meanwhile, Big Lou is finding foster-parenthood gratifying.
As always, McCall Smith gives his characters plenty of wise words as he lets them wonder about or discuss a wide range of topics including: the various meanings of the word “Aye”; the modern trends in architecture; sexism and political correctness in job interviews; the proliferation of hate; and the disappearance of forest habitats of remote tribes.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and charming little observations like: “…he was on the committee of the Scottish Artists’ Benevolent Association, the body that distributed largesse (smallesse, as Angus called it, in view of the limited nature of the fund) to struggling artists”.
The potential for young Bertie’s ongoing happiness expands exponentially with Irene’s Aberdeen plans, although a fan of the series might worry about the absence of the character we all love to despise. McCall Smith’s work is always a joy to read, and fans will hope for many more instalments of this delightful series.
A Time Of Love And Tartan is the twelfth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street serial novel by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith, and in it, the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street and those of their friends are, once again, updated for the continuing enjoyment of series fans. So this time we learn that: Domenica wonders about her marriage to Angus; Cyril experiences a tiny pang of jealousy; and Pat Macgregor finds herself again in the sights of the narcissistic Bruce, but for the wrong reasons.
Big changes are afoot in the Pollock household: Stuart makes a life-changing decision on the spur of the moment; he worries more than he apparently needs to about Bertie’s reaction to Irene’s latest grand plan; Bertie, still seven, delights in receiving a compass; and his happiness at attending a Scotland/New Zealand Rugby Match, in a kilt, with his father, and his best friend, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson, knows no bounds.
Matthew does something silly in a bookshop, is embarrassed and compounds the error with something still sillier, attracting the attention of the police; Elspeth, au-pairless, is at her wits end with exhaustion until the Duke of Johannesburg comes to the rescue. Meanwhile, Big Lou is finding foster-parenthood gratifying.
As always, McCall Smith gives his characters plenty of wise words as he lets them wonder about or discuss a wide range of topics including: the various meanings of the word “Aye”; the modern trends in architecture; sexism and political correctness in job interviews; the proliferation of hate; and the disappearance of forest habitats of remote tribes.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and charming little observations like: “…he was on the committee of the Scottish Artists’ Benevolent Association, the body that distributed largesse (smallesse, as Angus called it, in view of the limited nature of the fund) to struggling artists”.
The potential for young Bertie’s ongoing happiness expands exponentially with Irene’s Aberdeen plans, although a fan of the series might worry about the absence of the character we all love to despise. McCall Smith’s work is always a joy to read, and fans will hope for many more instalments of this delightful series.
November 24, 2017
This one felt like an ending. Relationships were cemented or ended, decisions were made and peace descended. I hope this isn't the last one but if it is then it is a fitting conclusion.
June 24, 2018
So, McCall Smith went full MRA in this one. He'd been skirting it in the last few books, to the point of being tiresome, but this crossed the line. WTF?
Everything else--especially Bertie's story--was good (though some plot elements were rushed, contrary to McCall Smith's usual style). Makes me sad to give it only 2 stars, but this is quite a departure for someone I've always thought of as a highly empathetic writer, especially when writing women and people of color.
Everything else--especially Bertie's story--was good (though some plot elements were rushed, contrary to McCall Smith's usual style). Makes me sad to give it only 2 stars, but this is quite a departure for someone I've always thought of as a highly empathetic writer, especially when writing women and people of color.
February 17, 2018
“A Time of Love and Tartan” is number twelve in the 44 Scotland Street series. It hardly seems possible that readers have been following this interesting and diverse group of people living in contemporary Edinburgh for that long, but we have. Every new episode is like visiting old friends. Everyone wants to catch up with Bertie, who never seems to age, and to find out all about the latest escapades of the rest of the group.
McCall Smith’s rich and unique characters drive the story. They are the plot and substance of the book. Readers think of these characters almost as family, and love them, both the good and the not so good. There is of course a lot of comedy, but also emotion and contemporary issues. Some past problems are resolved, but there are plenty of questions for the future.
McCall Smith’s books are always a delight to read, and this is no exception. I heard him speak at The Book Carnival in Orange, Ca, and he is as fascinating in person as his characters are in his books. He is a born storyteller I received a copy of ““A Time of Love and Tartan” from Alexander McCall Smith, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley.
Seriously, this is an entertaining book, but be careful; you might just laugh out loud as you read. We all hope for many more installments of this enjoyable series. When Bertie is happy, all are happy.
McCall Smith’s rich and unique characters drive the story. They are the plot and substance of the book. Readers think of these characters almost as family, and love them, both the good and the not so good. There is of course a lot of comedy, but also emotion and contemporary issues. Some past problems are resolved, but there are plenty of questions for the future.
McCall Smith’s books are always a delight to read, and this is no exception. I heard him speak at The Book Carnival in Orange, Ca, and he is as fascinating in person as his characters are in his books. He is a born storyteller I received a copy of ““A Time of Love and Tartan” from Alexander McCall Smith, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley.
Seriously, this is an entertaining book, but be careful; you might just laugh out loud as you read. We all hope for many more installments of this enjoyable series. When Bertie is happy, all are happy.
June 3, 2019
I found this to be a really one dimensional sarcastic take down of actual real important issues of gender in the workplace. Lazy and insulting.
July 2, 2024
Rated 4 stars. #12 44 Scotland. Love this charming, cozy contemporary fiction series set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Each chapter is short and follows the daily lives of the inhabitants at 44 Scotland Street and their friends and neighbors. This is probably not for those readers who want thrills & excitement in their reading. So I recommend this series if you want to curl up in a comfortable chair and involve yourself in the lives of these delightful characters. Best to read in order. I read on Kindle while listening to Libby Audio. Wonderful audio narration by Robert Ian MacKenzie.
September 4, 2019
Comfortable and comforting like a warm quilt.Raises several thorny issues too.
January 9, 2018
Thank you, Alexander McCall Smith, for "A Time of Love and Tartan", the twelfth book in the wonderful "44 Scotland Street" series. Let's check in with our denizens of Scotland Street in Edinburgh:
Wherein Pat still harbors feeling for the quintessential narcissist, Bruce.
Wherein Ulysses still pukes whenever his horror of a mother, Irene, picks him up.
Wherein father of triplet boys, Matthew, sneaks a peak at "Fifty Shades of Grey" in a bookshop and embarrassing hi-jinks ensue.
Wherein Stuart Pollock's mother, Nicola, aptly describes his wife, Irene as "a cross between Carl Gustav Jung and a Stasi officer."
Wherein Olive and Tofu continue to be at odds in the most entertaining way of seven-year-olds.
Wherein Angus reminisces about the summer he was nineteen and fly fishing.
Wherein Alexander McCall Smith gently presents to us his eminently sane views on the following topics:
Gender politics
Meritocracies
Political Correctness
Circular logic
Modern Art (and the Turner Prize)
Architecture
Johnny Walker - Blue Label
Au Pair immigration
The destruction of civility, and the harboring of hate
The culpability of Scotland vis-s-vis British Imperialism
Scandinavian noir dramas
"Safe spaces"
Slight spoiler: changes are afoot in the Pollock household.
In short, if you are reading this trying to decide whether to start this series of to continue it, I'm giving it a resounding thumbs up!
Wherein Pat still harbors feeling for the quintessential narcissist, Bruce.
Wherein Ulysses still pukes whenever his horror of a mother, Irene, picks him up.
Wherein father of triplet boys, Matthew, sneaks a peak at "Fifty Shades of Grey" in a bookshop and embarrassing hi-jinks ensue.
Wherein Stuart Pollock's mother, Nicola, aptly describes his wife, Irene as "a cross between Carl Gustav Jung and a Stasi officer."
Wherein Olive and Tofu continue to be at odds in the most entertaining way of seven-year-olds.
Wherein Angus reminisces about the summer he was nineteen and fly fishing.
Wherein Alexander McCall Smith gently presents to us his eminently sane views on the following topics:
Gender politics
Meritocracies
Political Correctness
Circular logic
Modern Art (and the Turner Prize)
Architecture
Johnny Walker - Blue Label
Au Pair immigration
The destruction of civility, and the harboring of hate
The culpability of Scotland vis-s-vis British Imperialism
Scandinavian noir dramas
"Safe spaces"
Slight spoiler: changes are afoot in the Pollock household.
In short, if you are reading this trying to decide whether to start this series of to continue it, I'm giving it a resounding thumbs up!
March 19, 2018
I probably should have started at the beginning of this series, but there you have it. This is a delightful "slice of life" story of the residents at 44 Scotland Street. Such eccentric characters live there to be sure. This charming book was a sweet palate cleanser after some heavier reading. Little Bertie is happy; so all is well with the world.
Synopsis (from book's back cover):
When Pat accepts her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce’s invitation for coffee, she has no idea of the complications in her romantic and professional life that will follow. Meanwhile, Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, attracts the attention of the police after a misunderstanding at the local bookstore.
Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart’s application for promotion and his wife Irene’s decision to pursue a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to Scotland Street. But for three seven-year-old boys–Bertie Pollock, Ranald, and Big Lou’s foster son, Finlay–it also means getting a glimpse of perfect happiness.
Alexander McCall Smith’s delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh’s New Town.
Synopsis (from book's back cover):
When Pat accepts her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce’s invitation for coffee, she has no idea of the complications in her romantic and professional life that will follow. Meanwhile, Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, attracts the attention of the police after a misunderstanding at the local bookstore.
Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart’s application for promotion and his wife Irene’s decision to pursue a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to Scotland Street. But for three seven-year-old boys–Bertie Pollock, Ranald, and Big Lou’s foster son, Finlay–it also means getting a glimpse of perfect happiness.
Alexander McCall Smith’s delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh’s New Town.
August 15, 2021
The 12th novel in the “44 Scotland Street” series, and hooray! This one is really concentrated on Bertie, the most loveable 7-year-old boy you will ever want to meet. Bertie’s perfectly awful mother decides to move to Aberdeen to pursue a PhD and Bertie’s father chuck’s his job as a statistician for the Scottish government. One hopes this means that life will finally hold happiness for both of them.
Meanwhile, Pat is considering a relationship with Bruce to which everyone asks, “Why, why, WHY?” Dominica and Angus prattle on about their nonsense, but I have to admit that I skim their chapters because they don’t interest me. And the Duke of Johannesburg finds a “manny” for Matthew & Elsbeth’s triplets.
Once again, Alexandre McCall Smith provides the reader with a perfect world in which to forget what’s going on in the real one outside.
Meanwhile, Pat is considering a relationship with Bruce to which everyone asks, “Why, why, WHY?” Dominica and Angus prattle on about their nonsense, but I have to admit that I skim their chapters because they don’t interest me. And the Duke of Johannesburg finds a “manny” for Matthew & Elsbeth’s triplets.
Once again, Alexandre McCall Smith provides the reader with a perfect world in which to forget what’s going on in the real one outside.
November 16, 2018
After a long break from the series, I decided to read this book and after having read it, feel that it's time to draw reading this series to a close. The "kinder" characters are so horribly self-absorbed in their very white, paternalistic world that I felt as though I was reading a book written by a misogynistic colonialist.
I've really enjoyed some parts of the series, especially in the early days when the characters felt fresh, and there were some genuine social observations. I've been feeling particularly jaded about this series since the casually bi-phobic comment that popped up in the previous book. This book, I realised that there's a properly Victorian view of women in the series as a whole. Now's the time to gently bow out of reading it.
I've really enjoyed some parts of the series, especially in the early days when the characters felt fresh, and there were some genuine social observations. I've been feeling particularly jaded about this series since the casually bi-phobic comment that popped up in the previous book. This book, I realised that there's a properly Victorian view of women in the series as a whole. Now's the time to gently bow out of reading it.
September 13, 2018
Happy sigh. I really don't want this to be the end of the series, but if that must be the case, at least I can relax and feel that wee Bertie is finally in the proper hands. I have really come to love that lad. I cannot say enough about how incredible these are in the audio book format. The narrator is divine. I will miss his voice and brogue most of all if there are no further installments and I may have to one day begin the series over again just because his voice has become a friend to me, as have these characters, well, most of them.
February 28, 2018
Further life vignettes from the 44 Scotland Street people, this book seemed hurriedly put together. It seemed more of an outlet for the author to voice his political and social views--all "liberal" except for a push back against the women's movement. There were quite a few strident, irritating women, including two little vixens in the young Bertie's class. If it weren't for his wonderful *Ladies #1 Detective Agency* series, I'd say that the author definitely had a misogynistic streak.
June 21, 2018
Another pleasant visit to the dear friends of Scotland St and environs! The clever and quaint whimsical insights into the lives and personae of the regular characters does not disappoint. It's lovely to see Stuart grow restless and the sly lampooning of the excesses of gender inequity and redress by McCall Smith through this agency is apt. The laugh-out-loud interchanges in the classroom chapters were a particular delight. And at the end of the book, one's faith in the triumph of the human soul, appreciating kindness, decency and the small things despite the vagaries and pitfalls of the modern world is something that I come to enjoy and look forward to in this particular series.
November 19, 2018
I agree with the reader who said that McCall Smith had gone full MRA in this one. I hadn’t experienced it before so strongly. He makes it seem as if Scotland
had become overwhelmedly anti-men. I found a lot of this political bent to be
very irritating! I read him as a respite from politics so it was very surprising and
unwelcome!!
had become overwhelmedly anti-men. I found a lot of this political bent to be
very irritating! I read him as a respite from politics so it was very surprising and
unwelcome!!
November 8, 2019
Tired, stale. Too much reminiscence about irrelevancies (although Irene taking charge of the Steiner School play was great). Stuart is such a wimp I'm starting to find him more irritating than Irene. And there was a weird snide tone all the way through, criticising feminism and mocking feminists in a way that was more than just poking fun at extremism.
I still love Bertie though.
I still love Bertie though.
August 9, 2017
Another gentle read from Alexander McCall Smith following the story of the inhabitants of Scotland Street. This book makes a few more social/ political observations than many of the others and I thought it was the better for a bit more substance. Thoroughly enjoyable.
January 27, 2025
Such a cozy delight to be back with these characters. Second hand embarrassment but also lots of laughs abound. So much emotion especially poured into this one. Loved the satirical look at gender in the workplace - I related SO MUCH to that.
Note: these audiobooks are the MOST soothing!
Note: these audiobooks are the MOST soothing!
June 16, 2020
Again, as a reader, I find reading the latest in this series requires wading through half the book to get to the new content.
Such a disappointment to be reminded slowly, page after page, of what has previously transpired. I'm basically just scanning for new content about 7 year old Bertie, his Dad and brother and their lives. I lost interest long ago in the other characters -- same old, same old. I hate to say it, but there it is.
Such a disappointment to be reminded slowly, page after page, of what has previously transpired. I'm basically just scanning for new content about 7 year old Bertie, his Dad and brother and their lives. I lost interest long ago in the other characters -- same old, same old. I hate to say it, but there it is.
August 16, 2018
This book is a very charming read, with its cast of characters being the heart of it all. I might venture into 44 Scotland Street again in future (Grade: B+).
December 6, 2017
Scotland Street Sage #12
Welcome back to the continuing tales of the residents of Scotland Street, up to their usual pursuits with some new wrinkles thrown in.
If you are new to this series, there is enough background provided that you will be able to follow the thread, but it is a series that depends on the reader being invested in the characters rather than on a compelling story line, and that will require a familiarity with the personalities and their quirks from previous books. I recommend you begin with the first book, 44 Scotland Yard.
That first book in the series was written as a serial that appeared as short pieces in The Scotsman Daily, and the current book continues the practice of short, pithy chapters.
Short and pithy is a good way to describe McCall at his best in his many observations on human nature and society. They can be humorous, like the mention of the remote tribe in the New Guinea Highlands that were so accustomed to having visiting anthropologists study them that they had a special guest house in the village reserved for visiting professors. They are also eloquent, like when he says of Domenica that she “was normally quite content to allow her life to follow its accustomed patterns, which were quiet and predictable, rather like a river that knows it is going to reach the sea eventually and is in no particular hurry to get there.” And they are often poignant, as when Stuart observes in the closing scene of the book that ”Sometimes the people for whom we are really destined escape our attention: they may be there in full view, but unnoticed because we take them for granted.”
McCall Smith probably comments on human foibles and flaws as much as our better side, and in A Time of Love and Tartan he perhaps goes a bit far. I have long found the shrewish Irene to be a character so unpleasant I would just as soon not read about her, especially her treatment of her blameless husband Stuart and her sweet son Bertie. This book, however takes up the subject of workplace entitlement and gender favoritism to such excess that I might have quit reading if the author were new to me.
Some significant changes come to the lives of some of the residents by the book’s end, with new paths to pursue. In addition to relationships changing or strengthening, there are other plot threads that seem ripe to follow up. Bertie and his friend Ranald find what appears to be a lost spurtle that belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. The book description from the publisher prominently mentions Big Lou’s foster son Finlay, who only appears in one chapter of this book but seems to be being groomed for a bigger role. Fans will be glad to see that there is no indication that the series is coming to a close.
As is usual, the book ends with a poem by Angus, a poem of love tempered by the reality of life. Moments like this are what keeps me reading Alexander McCall Smith.
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Welcome back to the continuing tales of the residents of Scotland Street, up to their usual pursuits with some new wrinkles thrown in.
If you are new to this series, there is enough background provided that you will be able to follow the thread, but it is a series that depends on the reader being invested in the characters rather than on a compelling story line, and that will require a familiarity with the personalities and their quirks from previous books. I recommend you begin with the first book, 44 Scotland Yard.
That first book in the series was written as a serial that appeared as short pieces in The Scotsman Daily, and the current book continues the practice of short, pithy chapters.
Short and pithy is a good way to describe McCall at his best in his many observations on human nature and society. They can be humorous, like the mention of the remote tribe in the New Guinea Highlands that were so accustomed to having visiting anthropologists study them that they had a special guest house in the village reserved for visiting professors. They are also eloquent, like when he says of Domenica that she “was normally quite content to allow her life to follow its accustomed patterns, which were quiet and predictable, rather like a river that knows it is going to reach the sea eventually and is in no particular hurry to get there.” And they are often poignant, as when Stuart observes in the closing scene of the book that ”Sometimes the people for whom we are really destined escape our attention: they may be there in full view, but unnoticed because we take them for granted.”
McCall Smith probably comments on human foibles and flaws as much as our better side, and in A Time of Love and Tartan he perhaps goes a bit far. I have long found the shrewish Irene to be a character so unpleasant I would just as soon not read about her, especially her treatment of her blameless husband Stuart and her sweet son Bertie. This book, however takes up the subject of workplace entitlement and gender favoritism to such excess that I might have quit reading if the author were new to me.
Some significant changes come to the lives of some of the residents by the book’s end, with new paths to pursue. In addition to relationships changing or strengthening, there are other plot threads that seem ripe to follow up. Bertie and his friend Ranald find what appears to be a lost spurtle that belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. The book description from the publisher prominently mentions Big Lou’s foster son Finlay, who only appears in one chapter of this book but seems to be being groomed for a bigger role. Fans will be glad to see that there is no indication that the series is coming to a close.
As is usual, the book ends with a poem by Angus, a poem of love tempered by the reality of life. Moments like this are what keeps me reading Alexander McCall Smith.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/customer-...
September 17, 2017
I have to say that Bertie's life is looking up, and if nothing else, that makes me happy about this instalment of life in 44 Scotland St. Dominica has a moment's panic when considering a life time of predictability, but eventually recovers her composure. Matthew has a near catastrophic run in with a teacher from his childhood that sees him temporarily become a 'dangerous' criminal and not to be approached, which is resolved by the simple expedient of conversation which reduces potential embarrassment to realistic proportions. But not all of Mr McCall Smith's vignettes sit so comfortably this time around. Stuart's farce of a promotion interview and the contemplation of feminism was uncomfortable for me. Yes, the right noises about how unfairly women have been treated in employment negotiations are conceded, and I understand that a failure to treat Stuart's application with fairness is equally unjust, but there is some ridicule for women's rights that annoys me. At the end, when all the usual suspects are gathered together for a traditional Angus poem, everyone seems to have fobbed their children off to the underlings - the new au pair or the benevolent grandmother. And while there is acknowledgement of the male au pair's amazing skills, and the relief this provides to the seriously overwhelmed Elspeth, mother of triplets, and the wisdom and pragmatism of Stuart's mother, there seems a class system almost, a sense of a right structure in the world. It irked. Although I did laugh at the depiction of Stuart and Bertie and Randall in their kilts at a NZ vs Scotland rugby union match, which Scotland won, to a nil score line, with the All blacks reduced to a shattered shell of their former selves. Definitely wishful thinking, although the haka could have revived a little more respect. Moments of insight, moments of hilarity, a little too much self indulgence, compared to normal, but I guess I can forgive it.....
April 13, 2025
It’s always a joy to meet up with the characters from 44 Scotland Street, especially after reading something dark or challenging. It’s a reminder of the kindness, gentleness and warmth that still exists in the world and is more prevalent than we often think.
In this episode, Stuart makes a life changing (and uncharacteristically bold) decision, Bruce struts back into Pat’s life, Domenica has a burst of gratitude, and Matthew gets caught in an embarrassing situation that he manages to make worse. And the wonderful Bertie finally gets some much deserved moments of joy!
As always, there are some topical issues mused upon with wisdom and humour, but also some gentle indignation - the impact of political correctness in the workplace, the loss of forest habitats, the prevalence of cheap Chinese garments. I’m already looking forward to the next in my favourite series from a favourite author.
In this episode, Stuart makes a life changing (and uncharacteristically bold) decision, Bruce struts back into Pat’s life, Domenica has a burst of gratitude, and Matthew gets caught in an embarrassing situation that he manages to make worse. And the wonderful Bertie finally gets some much deserved moments of joy!
As always, there are some topical issues mused upon with wisdom and humour, but also some gentle indignation - the impact of political correctness in the workplace, the loss of forest habitats, the prevalence of cheap Chinese garments. I’m already looking forward to the next in my favourite series from a favourite author.
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