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Isabel Dalhousie #10.5
At the Reunion Buffet
Isabel Dalhousie - philosopher, mother and friend - is taking on the mammoth task of hosting her school reunion. In the hours before twenty-five former classmates descend on her home, and the caterers arrive to set up a buffet, Isabel has time to reflect. She is mindful of the fact that reunions can bring up all sorts of uncomfortable feelings.
Later that night, with the party in full swing, Isabel realises that the pull of the past remains as strong as ever. Some people are interested in fuelling disagreements, while others are hoping to make amends. As hostess of the party, Isabel feels compelled to help them on the path to mercy and forgiveness. But what if the reasons for forgiveness are murky and suspect? And what if long-held secrets threaten to derail Isabel's efforts?
In this warm, intelligently observed novella, Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful heroine, Isabel, learns valuable lessons about inviting the past into your life.
Later that night, with the party in full swing, Isabel realises that the pull of the past remains as strong as ever. Some people are interested in fuelling disagreements, while others are hoping to make amends. As hostess of the party, Isabel feels compelled to help them on the path to mercy and forgiveness. But what if the reasons for forgiveness are murky and suspect? And what if long-held secrets threaten to derail Isabel's efforts?
In this warm, intelligently observed novella, Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful heroine, Isabel, learns valuable lessons about inviting the past into your life.
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2015
262 people are currently reading
1489 people want to read
About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
675 books12.8k 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 154 reviews
April 8, 2025
I can’t remember now if the caterers served a light, fluffy dessert at Isabel’s school reunion -
There were just too many random metaphysical red herrings from Isabel and rapid mutations of inflection and mood among the suave party-goers, to remember concrete and discrete acts.
But Smith’s delightful dénouement is as light as a crème caramel finale…
If you know Isabel, her skill at walking on delicate social eggshells - from her private mental vantage point, which is several inches above the ground - will not surprise you.
And here she does it like a pro - not that she’s much of a pro on anything outside of theoretical conundrums.
As we all know, such bright eyed social skills can have their fateful Waterloo later on in life.
We all get tired of the game!
But Isabel hasn’t yet, being so young and ingenuous. And that’s the joy and the wonder of her persona. She, like her beau Jamie, is untouched by life.
But not too naïve not to feel another’s personal calamity as her own!
You see, in this new sequence of McCall Smith shorts, she’s grown quite a bit more affectively sympathetic than in the earlier full novels. She’s at last grown more warmly HUMAN.
I liked that.
As I like the fact that her headspace still is not lacking in vast untold philosophical possibilities in its navigation of eggshells. That’s not been lost.
In fact, with her emotions now fully engaged, her steering skills have obviously - with so many more eggshells to contend with - become exponentially wiser.
So, hats off to you, Isabel! You trail vast currents of goodwill behind you in your wake.
You cheer the gloomiest passerby with them -
And you always elevate us, in the end, into your light and refined cloudspace!
***
Now, a quick reality check, to interrupt our conceptual meringue.
We citizens of the North American continent, with a faster, more progressive and much more misinformational lifestyle than Isabel is used to, are used to more grains of salt in our realities than such staid, plodding Scots.
We get more monkey wrenches in a single minute of our lives that these lucky and high-minded Citizens of dour Edinburgh.
So Isabel, to us, is only an escape to a kinder, gentler time.
And as we turn from the last page of this story, we say a gentle, sad goodbye to her,
Wearily, as we would wave farewell
To la Rochefoucauld,
If the street were time
And he at the end of the street.
Hail and farewell, Isabel!
There were just too many random metaphysical red herrings from Isabel and rapid mutations of inflection and mood among the suave party-goers, to remember concrete and discrete acts.
But Smith’s delightful dénouement is as light as a crème caramel finale…
If you know Isabel, her skill at walking on delicate social eggshells - from her private mental vantage point, which is several inches above the ground - will not surprise you.
And here she does it like a pro - not that she’s much of a pro on anything outside of theoretical conundrums.
As we all know, such bright eyed social skills can have their fateful Waterloo later on in life.
We all get tired of the game!
But Isabel hasn’t yet, being so young and ingenuous. And that’s the joy and the wonder of her persona. She, like her beau Jamie, is untouched by life.
But not too naïve not to feel another’s personal calamity as her own!
You see, in this new sequence of McCall Smith shorts, she’s grown quite a bit more affectively sympathetic than in the earlier full novels. She’s at last grown more warmly HUMAN.
I liked that.
As I like the fact that her headspace still is not lacking in vast untold philosophical possibilities in its navigation of eggshells. That’s not been lost.
In fact, with her emotions now fully engaged, her steering skills have obviously - with so many more eggshells to contend with - become exponentially wiser.
So, hats off to you, Isabel! You trail vast currents of goodwill behind you in your wake.
You cheer the gloomiest passerby with them -
And you always elevate us, in the end, into your light and refined cloudspace!
***
Now, a quick reality check, to interrupt our conceptual meringue.
We citizens of the North American continent, with a faster, more progressive and much more misinformational lifestyle than Isabel is used to, are used to more grains of salt in our realities than such staid, plodding Scots.
We get more monkey wrenches in a single minute of our lives that these lucky and high-minded Citizens of dour Edinburgh.
So Isabel, to us, is only an escape to a kinder, gentler time.
And as we turn from the last page of this story, we say a gentle, sad goodbye to her,
Wearily, as we would wave farewell
To la Rochefoucauld,
If the street were time
And he at the end of the street.
Hail and farewell, Isabel!
June 1, 2015
This is a delightful short story about Isabel Dalhousie and a brief interlude in her life. Even though it is so short everyone of importance is there, Isabel herself, the oh so charming Jamie, Charlie and Cat. There is something very special about these peoples' lives that makes the reader want to be involved. Nothing really desperate ever happens yet there is interest and charm in their everyday lives. I am looking forward very much to their next full length book!
October 8, 2016
The Sunday Philosophy Club is one of my favorite Alexander McCall Smith’s series. When listening to Davina Porter I feel as though I am sitting with Isobel Dalhousie, Ph.D. over tea and listening to her discuss her day. I know some people are put off by Isobel’s musings but I enjoy the intellectual stimulation they trigger.
Isobel is hosting the first event of her class reunion in her home. Smith has some general discussion about class reunions. I found it interesting he discusses the effect of a class bully on individual members of the class after all these years. Of course, Isobel confronts the class bully and discovers a different set of memories.
The novella is well written. Smith is a master storyteller and I enjoy his fabulous vocabulary. There is at least one word in every book that sends me to the dictionary. I also enjoy the depth of his discussion on societal philosophy.
Davina Porter does a masterful job narrating the book. Porter is one of my favorite narrators. Porter is an actress and award winning audiobook narrator and has won Audiophile’s Golden Voice Award many times.
Isobel is hosting the first event of her class reunion in her home. Smith has some general discussion about class reunions. I found it interesting he discusses the effect of a class bully on individual members of the class after all these years. Of course, Isobel confronts the class bully and discovers a different set of memories.
The novella is well written. Smith is a master storyteller and I enjoy his fabulous vocabulary. There is at least one word in every book that sends me to the dictionary. I also enjoy the depth of his discussion on societal philosophy.
Davina Porter does a masterful job narrating the book. Porter is one of my favorite narrators. Porter is an actress and award winning audiobook narrator and has won Audiophile’s Golden Voice Award many times.
August 6, 2020
“…class reunions should not be marred by feelings of jealousy or triumph; should not be, yes, but she suspected that they often were. Class reunions were about curiosity; about satisfaction at the avoidance of the mistakes of one’s contemporaries, now revealed in their emerging life histories; about reflecting on the ravages – and injustices – of time; and of realising, perhaps, how strange and random are the twists and turns of fate”
At The Reunion Buffet is an Isabel Dalhousie short story by Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Karlyn Stephen. Isabel is hosting the inaugural party for her class reunion, and naturally, thoughts turn to certain classmates: the promiscuous girl and the bully in particular. As always, Isabel endeavours to be charitable when others are less so: “Tolerance: that was what was needed for class reunions, just as it was for everything else we did. Tolerance was like one of those soothing creams – it drew out inflammation, it did away with the pain”. But when she manages to facilitate the giving of mercy and forgiveness, she later wonders if she has been misled. And if it actually matters anyway. Another delightful dose of Dalhousie feelgood.
At The Reunion Buffet is an Isabel Dalhousie short story by Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Karlyn Stephen. Isabel is hosting the inaugural party for her class reunion, and naturally, thoughts turn to certain classmates: the promiscuous girl and the bully in particular. As always, Isabel endeavours to be charitable when others are less so: “Tolerance: that was what was needed for class reunions, just as it was for everything else we did. Tolerance was like one of those soothing creams – it drew out inflammation, it did away with the pain”. But when she manages to facilitate the giving of mercy and forgiveness, she later wonders if she has been misled. And if it actually matters anyway. Another delightful dose of Dalhousie feelgood.
May 25, 2021
Smith often weaves his philosophical viewpoints into his books. That is a charming touch usually.
In this book I believe he had such an idea that he wanted to build his story around. For me it fell flat. Sadly, I was bored by the whole book and was relieved to be done with it.
I usually love Smith’s books so felt very sad when I didn’t care for this one.
Hopefully his other readers will like it better than I did.
In this book I believe he had such an idea that he wanted to build his story around. For me it fell flat. Sadly, I was bored by the whole book and was relieved to be done with it.
I usually love Smith’s books so felt very sad when I didn’t care for this one.
Hopefully his other readers will like it better than I did.
March 31, 2018
Ahhh, to be reeled into Dalhousie's rumination and I have forgotten how adorable Jamie can be.
June 3, 2015
“…class reunions should not be marred by feelings of jealousy or triumph; should not be, yes, but she suspected that they often were. Class reunions were about curiosity; about satisfaction at the avoidance of the mistakes of one’s contemporaries, now revealed in their emerging life histories; about reflecting on the ravages – and injustices – of time; and of realising, perhaps, how strange and random are the twists and turns of fate”
At The Reunion Buffet is an Isabel Dalhousie short story by Alexander McCall Smith. Isabel is hosting the inaugural party for her class reunion, and naturally, thoughts turn to certain classmates: the promiscuous girl and the bully in particular. As always, Isabel endeavours to be charitable when others are less so: “Tolerance: that was what was needed for class reunions, just as it was for everything else we did. Tolerance was like one of those soothing creams – it drew out inflammation, it did away with the pain”. But when she manages to facilitate the giving of mercy and forgiveness, she later wonders if she has been misled. And if it actually matters anyway. Another delightful dose of Dalhousie feelgood.
At The Reunion Buffet is an Isabel Dalhousie short story by Alexander McCall Smith. Isabel is hosting the inaugural party for her class reunion, and naturally, thoughts turn to certain classmates: the promiscuous girl and the bully in particular. As always, Isabel endeavours to be charitable when others are less so: “Tolerance: that was what was needed for class reunions, just as it was for everything else we did. Tolerance was like one of those soothing creams – it drew out inflammation, it did away with the pain”. But when she manages to facilitate the giving of mercy and forgiveness, she later wonders if she has been misled. And if it actually matters anyway. Another delightful dose of Dalhousie feelgood.
May 26, 2015
A very gentle short story about Isabel Dalhousie attending her school reunion, with all of the conflicting memories and emotions that such an event brings. I think that the Isabel Dalhousie books are my favorite Alexander McCall Smith series. I'm looking forward to the next full length book, which I believe comes out later this year.
May 13, 2016
This story was short but sweet. Isabelle is hosting a school reunion dinner and is reflecting on the past and present. She has to acknowledge that there may be people from her past she just does not like. And contemplate how people can change with time (or maybe not) with many thoughts of lingering hatred and forgiveness. I love Isabelle's rambling thought and kind personality.
July 17, 2017
A short but very entertaining philosophical novella - a perfect little interlude between longer reads -
that makes you think and smile! I highly recommend the Isabel Dalhousie series for anyone interested in ethics and moral puzzles set in the gorgeous city of Edinburgh!
that makes you think and smile! I highly recommend the Isabel Dalhousie series for anyone interested in ethics and moral puzzles set in the gorgeous city of Edinburgh!
October 23, 2025
Every now and again I want to dip my toes into Isabel's life. She is kind and happy and a good model of how to treat others. This was actually a novella but I enjoyed it just the same.
October 27, 2024
Hmm, just filling in the gaps 🤷♀️, but still great reading
July 16, 2025
I did NOT like Eleanor! Harumph!
July 30, 2016
I listened to this on audio book while cleaning the kitchen. As all the Isabel Dalhousie novels, its a vehicle for exploring ethical and personal situations in a slow, conscious manner so at times its not terribly plot or character driven. I like Isabel, but as she is a vehicle for exploring the ethics of a social situation, she can sometimes come across as slightly facile and idealistic. This is essential to the playing out of the ethical exploration however, she enters every conversation with no expectations, attempting to be as open-minded as possible, to suspend her judgement of people's decisions and at times she finds herself enmeshed in situations she could have avoided, subject to the claws of an angry dinner partner, friend or colleague.
In this particular instalment, more novella than novel, At the Reunion Buffet, it is, as you would expect, about a reunion. Isabel's high school reunion, which, as Isabel is now in her forties, is 20+ years past her high school days. Having not been a fan of high school, this short examination of high school relationships and human interaction was interesting. While Isabel's co-organiser for the reunion is speculating out loud about who kept their looks, how many times divorced was the 'town bike' and other catty and shallow observations, Isabel is fascinated with thoughts about whether people ever change, about personality, blame and culpability.
I gave this book three stars because, like other books in this series, its hard to care for or feel particularly close to Isabel, she is a consummate professional, constantly in philosopher mode. However, I am always fascinated by Alexander McCall Smith's observations on human interaction, motivation and human convictions and it shows his ability to leave the frivolity of 44 Scotland street for 'The Scotsman'.
In this particular instalment, more novella than novel, At the Reunion Buffet, it is, as you would expect, about a reunion. Isabel's high school reunion, which, as Isabel is now in her forties, is 20+ years past her high school days. Having not been a fan of high school, this short examination of high school relationships and human interaction was interesting. While Isabel's co-organiser for the reunion is speculating out loud about who kept their looks, how many times divorced was the 'town bike' and other catty and shallow observations, Isabel is fascinated with thoughts about whether people ever change, about personality, blame and culpability.
I gave this book three stars because, like other books in this series, its hard to care for or feel particularly close to Isabel, she is a consummate professional, constantly in philosopher mode. However, I am always fascinated by Alexander McCall Smith's observations on human interaction, motivation and human convictions and it shows his ability to leave the frivolity of 44 Scotland street for 'The Scotsman'.
August 10, 2017
Again, my only issue is that this is a short story and I don't get to live in Isabel's world as long as I'd like to. In this one, she must deal with her school reunion and all the emotions and issues that event brings on. I've only been to one reunion, college 25th, and it was a strange, strange dreamlike memory as it was happening. I did not find solace in returning to old haunts and seeing faces from auld lang syne acting as they had 25 years earlier. I agree with Isabel who muses, "we do not need to remind ourselves of people with whom we had lost contact and with whom we probably had little in common. What was the point?...reunions ...were not much more that a scratching at the vague itch of a memory. And like scratching, they rarely helped--indeed, scratching often made matters worse..."
Indeed.
Indeed.
July 25, 2016
And yet another novelette, actually, this is more of a longish short story, that delves into the life of Isabel Dalhousie. Random philosophical ruminations, introspective musings and moral questions and answers abound. But in spite of all the pedantry and self righteousness that could come out of such a story, McCall Smith , again, manages to make a well flowing, interesting and entertaining tale of our heroine doing what she does best, interfering and solving problems of a intellectual bent. McCall Smith manages to look at everyday events and situations and create scenarios that will resound in the readers psyche. He makes the reader see old ideas in new and novel ways. Always a delight to read, he continues to put out good reads.
February 15, 2016
I love everything is the Isabel Dalhousie series. In this story Isabel finds herself co-hosting a class reunion. Conflicts arise. One of the ladies isn't welcome because she was thought to be a bully. There is a sort of mystery about her. Is it really her or her sister the actress? If it is the actress, does the bully know she is there? It doesn't seem to matter because Isabel treated the problem with kindness and thoughtfulness. Apologies were made and accepted. The observation that mercy precedes forgiveness was made by Isabel. A very helpful observation.
April 2, 2015
If I was looking for a friend, I would consider myself blessed to meet Isabel Dalhousie. This short story struck a chord; so many of the themes it deals with are highly relevant to my life as well. Isabel's musings on the true nature of human angst, on forgiveness and human interaction are - as always - kind, insightful and beautifully phrased.
Thank you, Mr McCall Smith, for this little gem.
Thank you, Mr McCall Smith, for this little gem.
April 13, 2015
Short but sweet
I don't think AMS can write someting which I do not like. In his gentle ruminative way he forces me to think twice about big issues, and makes me cuckle about his off-hand jokes. Delightful
I don't think AMS can write someting which I do not like. In his gentle ruminative way he forces me to think twice about big issues, and makes me cuckle about his off-hand jokes. Delightful
June 7, 2015
A nice little story to keep us going until the next book in the series comes out. The only thing about these short stories in that they are way too short and I would prefer that they were included in the actual books.
March 25, 2023
Book 47 of 200 ~ 2023
🌟🌟💫
this is the least fave of my amc series but still a decent enough read.
ending.. I am not a fan of those endings that seem kinda wishy washy and end abruptly...
So is it or is it not Barbara???
🌟🌟💫
this is the least fave of my amc series but still a decent enough read.
ending.. I am not a fan of those endings that seem kinda wishy washy and end abruptly...
So is it or is it not Barbara???
Read
September 19, 2021I am fond of Isabel D., so prone to judging other peoples' motives and actions, so often myopic when it comes to her own. The satire in her stories is gentler than in some of McCall Smith's other series.
The reader for this story, Davina Porter, is one of my favorites too.
The reader for this story, Davina Porter, is one of my favorites too.
January 22, 2016
Delightful short story
Delightful. Recommended to fans of the Isabel Dalhousie series. As its meant to be a short story it has a quick arc and tidy resolution... Or does it?
Delightful. Recommended to fans of the Isabel Dalhousie series. As its meant to be a short story it has a quick arc and tidy resolution... Or does it?
July 23, 2015
Too didactic
He seemed to want to share all kinds of things he believes he has learned about the world and it's people. It unbalanced the story.
He seemed to want to share all kinds of things he believes he has learned about the world and it's people. It unbalanced the story.
December 27, 2019
A quick and needed booster shot of Isabel Dalhousie.
August 17, 2017
This is an Isabel Dalhousie short story about a class reunion and the fact that we really don't change over the years. It did end with a little bit of a mystery which I am not sure I liked.
December 20, 2019
A too-brief visit with Isabel. I have to confess that I'm not sure I understood the conclusion of this story, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
December 14, 2021
Isabel Dalhousie has agreed to host a party as the opening event of her high school reunion. Most of these people she hasn't seen in twenty years, and Jamie's opinion on reunions can be summarized as "if these people were important in one's life, you'd be in regular touch with them." Not that he'd ever say anything that harsh! But Isabel has agreed, and the plans are in place. The party is being catered, so Jamie doesn't even have to cook.
The recurring themes in this novella are about identity. Are we still the same people in our thirties that we were at sixteen or seventeen? Can people really change? In this gathering of former classmates, the salient cases are the woman who was previously the "boy crazy" girl, and the woman whom many of Isabel's classmates remember as a terrible bully.
And, does it matter if the woman who shows up to apologize for the past bullying is really the former bully, or her younger sister?
It's a compelling yet gentle story, featuring the kindness of both Isabel and Jamie.
Recommended.
I bought this novella.
The recurring themes in this novella are about identity. Are we still the same people in our thirties that we were at sixteen or seventeen? Can people really change? In this gathering of former classmates, the salient cases are the woman who was previously the "boy crazy" girl, and the woman whom many of Isabel's classmates remember as a terrible bully.
And, does it matter if the woman who shows up to apologize for the past bullying is really the former bully, or her younger sister?
It's a compelling yet gentle story, featuring the kindness of both Isabel and Jamie.
Recommended.
I bought this novella.
May 29, 2022
Goodreads friends, if you are ever way behind on your yearly reading goal, read a McCall Smith book. This book which is available only on Kindle is especially short. Although it is about 10th in a series, it would be ok as a stand-alone although it would be better understood if one had read the previous books. True to form, this Isabel Dalhousie book has tidbits of philosophy and ways to view the situation of confession and forgiveness. Isabel is to host the buffet of her 20th reunion, and the woman in charge seems quite bossy and unforgiving of a former schoolmate who she perceived as a bully. The whole class of women arrive at the buffet, including the one who was thought to be a bully. After the buffet, Isabel thinks of a way to deal with the bully and the woman who resents her. As always, Isabel feels it necessary to intervene if needed. How this is accomplished is the meat of the book. By the way, Isabel gets real satisfaction in having these former schoolmates meet her handsome husband, Jamie.
November 6, 2020
Of course I give pretty much any book in my favorite series by my favorite author 5 stars and this short story deserved it. I'm already such a fan of Isabel and Jamie who are the only series characters (besides a tiny bit of Charlie) who appear since it's so short. We do meet a number of Isabel's old schoolmates who, as with all AMS characters, embody the various foibles and and strengths found in ourselves. We muse along with Isabel and Jamie on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the school reunion. We also answer the eternal question: Can we overcome the insecurities of our younger selves and become mature adults who can atone and forgive?
In other books, this might become a soap opera in which adult women enact the dramas of their school days, but AMS treats it philosophically (naturally). And as in all Isabel books, there is something of a mystery to solve.
In other books, this might become a soap opera in which adult women enact the dramas of their school days, but AMS treats it philosophically (naturally). And as in all Isabel books, there is something of a mystery to solve.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews