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Paul Stuart #2
The Second Worst Restaurant in France
Renowned Scottish cookbook writer Paul Stuart is hard at work on his new book, The Philosophy of Food, but complicated domestic circumstances, and two clingy cats, are making that difficult.
So when Paul's eccentric cousin Chloe suggests that he join her at the house she's rented in the French countryside, he jumps at the chance. The two quickly befriend the locals, including their twin-sister landladies, who also own the infamous local restaurant known to be the second-worst eatery in all of France. During their stay, the restaurant's sole waitress gives birth mid-dinner service and the maître d' storms off after fighting with the head chef. Paul is soon drafted to improve the gastronomy of the village, while Chloe, ever on the hunt for her next romance, busies herself with distracting the handsome but incompetent chef. Could he be husband number six?
With all this local drama to deal with, Paul finds it next to impossible to focus on his writing, and that's before he learns that Chloe's past is far more complicated than he'd ever imagined. Paul will have to call upon al his experience—with food and with people—to bring order back to the village. And he may just learn something about family—and about himself—along the way.
So when Paul's eccentric cousin Chloe suggests that he join her at the house she's rented in the French countryside, he jumps at the chance. The two quickly befriend the locals, including their twin-sister landladies, who also own the infamous local restaurant known to be the second-worst eatery in all of France. During their stay, the restaurant's sole waitress gives birth mid-dinner service and the maître d' storms off after fighting with the head chef. Paul is soon drafted to improve the gastronomy of the village, while Chloe, ever on the hunt for her next romance, busies herself with distracting the handsome but incompetent chef. Could he be husband number six?
With all this local drama to deal with, Paul finds it next to impossible to focus on his writing, and that's before he learns that Chloe's past is far more complicated than he'd ever imagined. Paul will have to call upon al his experience—with food and with people—to bring order back to the village. And he may just learn something about family—and about himself—along the way.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 2019
695 people are currently reading
4227 people want to read
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 799 reviews
September 21, 2019
So Alexander McCall Smith must have enjoyed his main character, Paul Stewart, from My Italian Bulldozer so much that he decided to give him a sequel. I rather like him too and I certainly enjoyed this book.
In The Second Worst Restaurant in France Paul leaves behind his agent and girlfriend, Gloria, and her cats and goes to stay in France with his cousin Chloe. I was divided in my opinion of Chloe. She was obviously there to be Paul's partner in philosophising and was also a springboard for much of the humour. However eventually she became very irritating indeed and I was quite happy in the end to see her go!
Despite that minor problem I found the story entertaining. It is written in the author's usual style, full of information, long debates and humorous characters. A great way to spend my afternoon!
In The Second Worst Restaurant in France Paul leaves behind his agent and girlfriend, Gloria, and her cats and goes to stay in France with his cousin Chloe. I was divided in my opinion of Chloe. She was obviously there to be Paul's partner in philosophising and was also a springboard for much of the humour. However eventually she became very irritating indeed and I was quite happy in the end to see her go!
Despite that minor problem I found the story entertaining. It is written in the author's usual style, full of information, long debates and humorous characters. A great way to spend my afternoon!
July 23, 2019
I will be the first to offer plaudits to the genius and gentle humor of Alexander McCall Smith. However, this sequel to the free-standing My Italian Bulldozer reads like it was the product of the publishers, not the author. There was no reason for a sequel other than to grab some extra bucks. The first book finished with the protagonist Paul growing in understanding about himself and love. In this book, Paul stagnates. The plot stagnates. I would even argue that much like a book by Henry James or Marcel Proust, whom the two lead characters reference several times, nothing happens for 300 pages.
Chloe was a bit like glitter: on the surface a shiny novelty meant to entertain, but she became an ever-growing irritant that you just couldn't shake. Her opinions were erratic, incoherent, not aligned to any particular walk of life or philosophy. Sometimes she came off as a moral absolutist. Then the next instance, she would make excuses for people's poor behavior: "the end justifies the means," a clear mantra of moral relativism. And while I typically enjoy AMS's philosophical meanderings (why read his books if you don't?), the majority of the book was made up of these rambling sophistries with only an inkling of plot interspersed between.
Which is why I contend the book was not Smith's idea, but his publishers. It's just too incomplete. The characters, with the exception of Paul, Chloe and Gloria, are one-dimensional. (There are twin sisters in the book whose dialogue is literally interchangeable). Nothing happens to Paul. He doesn't grow or change as in the previous novel. The ending is vague.
I really hope either this is the end of Paul Stuart, or that Alexander McCall Smith finds better inspiration for his next outing.
Chloe was a bit like glitter: on the surface a shiny novelty meant to entertain, but she became an ever-growing irritant that you just couldn't shake. Her opinions were erratic, incoherent, not aligned to any particular walk of life or philosophy. Sometimes she came off as a moral absolutist. Then the next instance, she would make excuses for people's poor behavior: "the end justifies the means," a clear mantra of moral relativism. And while I typically enjoy AMS's philosophical meanderings (why read his books if you don't?), the majority of the book was made up of these rambling sophistries with only an inkling of plot interspersed between.
Which is why I contend the book was not Smith's idea, but his publishers. It's just too incomplete. The characters, with the exception of Paul, Chloe and Gloria, are one-dimensional. (There are twin sisters in the book whose dialogue is literally interchangeable). Nothing happens to Paul. He doesn't grow or change as in the previous novel. The ending is vague.
I really hope either this is the end of Paul Stuart, or that Alexander McCall Smith finds better inspiration for his next outing.
June 26, 2019
“To go anywhere, with anybody, was an act of faith. You trusted in the others’ judgement, navigation, and sense of what they were doing. What did he know about Chloe? Very little, he realised, other than that there had been a succession of husbands, that she had a mind filled with enthusiasms of one sort or another, and that she had a tendency to act on impulse.”
The Second-Worst Restaurant in France is the second book in the Paul Stuart series by popular Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. Food writer Paul Stuart has another deadline coming. His book, The Philosophy of Food, is due in six months, but he’s finding it difficult to work on it at home because his freelance publisher (and girlfriend), Gloria has moved her two Siamese into his flat.
To the rescue comes Remarkable Cousin Chloe, a distant cousin of his father’s, who has an empty flat he can use. That, however, leads to more problems, and Paul is grateful to accept Chloe’s invitation to share her (rented) house in the French countryside over the summer. He enjoys her company but sometimes wonders about her outrageous tales: “Had he inadvertently stepped into a play – with a fantasist as director?”
St Vincent de la Colline seems like a charming French village: set within gently swaying fields of grain, it has an excellent boulangerie, some fine buildings and a restaurant. But this, Chloe and Paul are told, is the Second-Worst Restaurant in France. Yet their twin landladies recommend it. They are greeted by the personable chef and then duly served by a rather surly and very pregnant waitress; the food, unfortunately, seems to bear out the descriptor.
While Paul does get some work done on his book, he is soon involved in the dramas of the village where “nothing ever happens” but a baby is born in the restaurant kitchen, the chef falls in love with Chloe, the restaurant needs saving, a psychopath threatens a kidnap and a caravan explodes. “How quickly, he thought, did one become part of the world of others, with all that that entailed – the need to help them, and, more importantly, the desire to do so.”
McCall Smith entertains the reader with lots of quirky characters described in charming little vignettes. Chloe’s pronouncements, tangential observations and mangled quotes are a constant source of humour and, after entertaining some doubts about his cousin, Paul learns an amazing truth.
Paul and Chloe muse philosophically on a vast range of topics: monarchies, the peasantry and Marie Antoinette; miracles, angels and saints; the ranks of dictators; the superiority of cultures; teacher-student relations; generosity and largesse. Meanwhile, McCall Smith’s French characters speculate, amongst other things, on what language God speaks (inarguably French) and the car he must drive (a Citroen, of course!). This is a delightful read and more of Paul Stuart will definitely be welcome.
The Second-Worst Restaurant in France is the second book in the Paul Stuart series by popular Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. Food writer Paul Stuart has another deadline coming. His book, The Philosophy of Food, is due in six months, but he’s finding it difficult to work on it at home because his freelance publisher (and girlfriend), Gloria has moved her two Siamese into his flat.
To the rescue comes Remarkable Cousin Chloe, a distant cousin of his father’s, who has an empty flat he can use. That, however, leads to more problems, and Paul is grateful to accept Chloe’s invitation to share her (rented) house in the French countryside over the summer. He enjoys her company but sometimes wonders about her outrageous tales: “Had he inadvertently stepped into a play – with a fantasist as director?”
St Vincent de la Colline seems like a charming French village: set within gently swaying fields of grain, it has an excellent boulangerie, some fine buildings and a restaurant. But this, Chloe and Paul are told, is the Second-Worst Restaurant in France. Yet their twin landladies recommend it. They are greeted by the personable chef and then duly served by a rather surly and very pregnant waitress; the food, unfortunately, seems to bear out the descriptor.
While Paul does get some work done on his book, he is soon involved in the dramas of the village where “nothing ever happens” but a baby is born in the restaurant kitchen, the chef falls in love with Chloe, the restaurant needs saving, a psychopath threatens a kidnap and a caravan explodes. “How quickly, he thought, did one become part of the world of others, with all that that entailed – the need to help them, and, more importantly, the desire to do so.”
McCall Smith entertains the reader with lots of quirky characters described in charming little vignettes. Chloe’s pronouncements, tangential observations and mangled quotes are a constant source of humour and, after entertaining some doubts about his cousin, Paul learns an amazing truth.
Paul and Chloe muse philosophically on a vast range of topics: monarchies, the peasantry and Marie Antoinette; miracles, angels and saints; the ranks of dictators; the superiority of cultures; teacher-student relations; generosity and largesse. Meanwhile, McCall Smith’s French characters speculate, amongst other things, on what language God speaks (inarguably French) and the car he must drive (a Citroen, of course!). This is a delightful read and more of Paul Stuart will definitely be welcome.
May 1, 2019
I always look forward to relaxing with a new book by Alexander McCall Smith. He shows a great understanding of human nature. His writing displays a quiet but thought-provoking philosophy in his witty dialogues, as well as a wry sense of humour. His characters are usually endearing.
Having read with pleasure the entire Scotland Street series and all the Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency books, and some of his stand-alone novels, he has become one of my favourite authors. This is the second book in his newest series and features food writer Paul Stuart. This time he is visiting a small village in France which is said to have the second worst restaurant in France. He goes there with an older female relative in hoping for a peaceful setting to write his next book. The local restaurant lives up to its reputation for serving terrible food. The first time he eats there he becomes ill from food poisoning.
Getting caught up in the lives and problems of the villagers, Paul enjoys being of help which leaves little time for progress in writing his book. The description of the pleasant French village, its people, and the food and market makes me want to visit.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this delightful ARC.
Having read with pleasure the entire Scotland Street series and all the Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency books, and some of his stand-alone novels, he has become one of my favourite authors. This is the second book in his newest series and features food writer Paul Stuart. This time he is visiting a small village in France which is said to have the second worst restaurant in France. He goes there with an older female relative in hoping for a peaceful setting to write his next book. The local restaurant lives up to its reputation for serving terrible food. The first time he eats there he becomes ill from food poisoning.
Getting caught up in the lives and problems of the villagers, Paul enjoys being of help which leaves little time for progress in writing his book. The description of the pleasant French village, its people, and the food and market makes me want to visit.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this delightful ARC.
July 25, 2019
Maybe 2.5. Sixty pages from the end something happens. Not much.... but enough that you can say this book actually has a story and isn't just a collection of philosophical musings. Generally I love A. McCall Smith book but not this book.
January 17, 2022
“To go anywhere, with anybody, was an act of faith. You trusted in the others’ judgement, navigation, and sense of what they were doing. What did he know about Chloe? Very little, he realised, other than that there had been a succession of husbands, that she had a mind filled with enthusiasms of one sort or another, and that she had a tendency to act on impulse.”
The Second-Worst Restaurant in France is the second book in the Paul Stuart series by popular Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Sir Timothy Ackroyd. Food writer Paul Stuart has another deadline coming. His book, The Philosophy of Food, is due in six months, but he’s finding it difficult to work on it at home because his freelance publisher (and girlfriend), Gloria has moved her two Siamese into his flat.
To the rescue comes Remarkable Cousin Chloe, a distant cousin of his father’s, who has an empty flat he can use. That, however, leads to more problems, and Paul is grateful to accept Chloe’s invitation to share her (rented) house in the French countryside over the summer. He enjoys her company but sometimes wonders about her outrageous tales: “Had he inadvertently stepped into a play – with a fantasist as director?”
St Vincent de la Colline seems like a charming French village: set within gently swaying fields of grain, it has an excellent boulangerie, some fine buildings and a restaurant. But this, Chloe and Paul are told, is the Second-Worst Restaurant in France. Yet their twin landladies recommend it. They are greeted by the personable chef and then duly served by a rather surly and very pregnant waitress; the food, unfortunately, seems to bear out the descriptor.
While Paul does get some work done on his book, he is soon involved in the dramas of the village where “nothing ever happens” but a baby is born in the restaurant kitchen, the chef falls in love with Chloe, the restaurant needs saving, a psychopath threatens a kidnap and a caravan explodes. “How quickly, he thought, did one become part of the world of others, with all that that entailed – the need to help them, and, more importantly, the desire to do so.”
McCall Smith entertains the reader with lots of quirky characters described in charming little vignettes. Chloe’s pronouncements, tangential observations and mangled quotes are a constant source of humour and, after entertaining some doubts about his cousin, Paul learns an amazing truth.
Paul and Chloe muse philosophically on a vast range of topics: monarchies, the peasantry and Marie Antoinette; miracles, angels and saints; the ranks of dictators; the superiority of cultures; teacher-student relations; generosity and largesse. Meanwhile, McCall Smith’s French characters speculate, amongst other things, on what language God speaks (inarguably French) and the car he must drive (a Citroen, of course!). This is a delightful read and more of Paul Stuart will definitely be welcome.
The Second-Worst Restaurant in France is the second book in the Paul Stuart series by popular Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Sir Timothy Ackroyd. Food writer Paul Stuart has another deadline coming. His book, The Philosophy of Food, is due in six months, but he’s finding it difficult to work on it at home because his freelance publisher (and girlfriend), Gloria has moved her two Siamese into his flat.
To the rescue comes Remarkable Cousin Chloe, a distant cousin of his father’s, who has an empty flat he can use. That, however, leads to more problems, and Paul is grateful to accept Chloe’s invitation to share her (rented) house in the French countryside over the summer. He enjoys her company but sometimes wonders about her outrageous tales: “Had he inadvertently stepped into a play – with a fantasist as director?”
St Vincent de la Colline seems like a charming French village: set within gently swaying fields of grain, it has an excellent boulangerie, some fine buildings and a restaurant. But this, Chloe and Paul are told, is the Second-Worst Restaurant in France. Yet their twin landladies recommend it. They are greeted by the personable chef and then duly served by a rather surly and very pregnant waitress; the food, unfortunately, seems to bear out the descriptor.
While Paul does get some work done on his book, he is soon involved in the dramas of the village where “nothing ever happens” but a baby is born in the restaurant kitchen, the chef falls in love with Chloe, the restaurant needs saving, a psychopath threatens a kidnap and a caravan explodes. “How quickly, he thought, did one become part of the world of others, with all that that entailed – the need to help them, and, more importantly, the desire to do so.”
McCall Smith entertains the reader with lots of quirky characters described in charming little vignettes. Chloe’s pronouncements, tangential observations and mangled quotes are a constant source of humour and, after entertaining some doubts about his cousin, Paul learns an amazing truth.
Paul and Chloe muse philosophically on a vast range of topics: monarchies, the peasantry and Marie Antoinette; miracles, angels and saints; the ranks of dictators; the superiority of cultures; teacher-student relations; generosity and largesse. Meanwhile, McCall Smith’s French characters speculate, amongst other things, on what language God speaks (inarguably French) and the car he must drive (a Citroen, of course!). This is a delightful read and more of Paul Stuart will definitely be welcome.
January 20, 2023
Digital audiobook performed by Timothy Ackroyd
This is the second book featuring Paul Stuart, the “renowned Scottish cookbook writer.” He’s trying to write about the Philosophy of Food but his muse has left him. His home situation isn’t helping, so when his eccentric cousin Chloe suggests he accompany her to France, where she’s rented a cottage in a small village, he agrees.
Much as in the first outing ( My Italian Bulldozer ), there is not a central plot to move the story along. Rather, Paul just stumbles into situations in the village; he meets new and interesting people among which are the twin-sister owners of the cottage he and Chloe are renting, as well as the local eatery widely known as the second-worst restaurant in France. Paul begins to learn more of Chloe’s colorful (and barely believable) background; he befriends the very pregnant waitress, and gets involved in the lives of several of the local residents.
What I like about this book and several of McCall Smith’s other works are the characters. I enjoy peeping into their lives for a bit and watching the goings on from afar. I’m interested and entertained but can easily drop it for a time and then come back when I start to wonder “whatever happened to …?” Because this is only book two in the series (if I can even call it a series at this point), I have no idea which, if any, of these people will reappear in future installments. But I’d be willing to read more of Paul’s adventures in food.
Timothy Ackroyd does a fine job of performing the audio. There are a lot of characters to handle, and he is up to the task.
This is the second book featuring Paul Stuart, the “renowned Scottish cookbook writer.” He’s trying to write about the Philosophy of Food but his muse has left him. His home situation isn’t helping, so when his eccentric cousin Chloe suggests he accompany her to France, where she’s rented a cottage in a small village, he agrees.
Much as in the first outing ( My Italian Bulldozer ), there is not a central plot to move the story along. Rather, Paul just stumbles into situations in the village; he meets new and interesting people among which are the twin-sister owners of the cottage he and Chloe are renting, as well as the local eatery widely known as the second-worst restaurant in France. Paul begins to learn more of Chloe’s colorful (and barely believable) background; he befriends the very pregnant waitress, and gets involved in the lives of several of the local residents.
What I like about this book and several of McCall Smith’s other works are the characters. I enjoy peeping into their lives for a bit and watching the goings on from afar. I’m interested and entertained but can easily drop it for a time and then come back when I start to wonder “whatever happened to …?” Because this is only book two in the series (if I can even call it a series at this point), I have no idea which, if any, of these people will reappear in future installments. But I’d be willing to read more of Paul’s adventures in food.
Timothy Ackroyd does a fine job of performing the audio. There are a lot of characters to handle, and he is up to the task.
November 16, 2019
Not his best. Could not finish. But I love the Mma Rowatse series.
August 5, 2019
Paul Stuart, Scottish cookbook author, travels to France with his cousin Chloe to work on his newest cookbook about the philosophy of food. She has rented a house in a small town that has the distinction of having the second worst restaurant in France. The mussels even give Paul food poisoning.
Once there Chloe and Paul get involved in the lives of some odd characters including the awful chef, his nephew who has the makings to be a great chef, two sisters who own most of the town, a pregnant waitress and a world class baker. It also offers a peek into French life where people supplement their wages from their employers and can't get fired.
This is a fun romp and the second of the series after the bulldozer lead off in book one. It could be another entertaining series by this prolific author.
Once there Chloe and Paul get involved in the lives of some odd characters including the awful chef, his nephew who has the makings to be a great chef, two sisters who own most of the town, a pregnant waitress and a world class baker. It also offers a peek into French life where people supplement their wages from their employers and can't get fired.
This is a fun romp and the second of the series after the bulldozer lead off in book one. It could be another entertaining series by this prolific author.
August 17, 2019
It's got the same style as the first in the series, My Italian Bulldozer, and some of the same characters, but I didn't quite like this as much. The story didn't feel as strong, to my way of thinking - it meandered along and took a while to get to the point.
There was a lot about cats in the beginning, and they didn't ultimately have anything to do with the rest of the story. I can see why they were there, but I thought the amount of time devoted to them as disproportionate.
But despite its shortcomings, it was still an enjoyable read. And great as an audiobook - Sir Timothy Ackroyd does a great job!
There was a lot about cats in the beginning, and they didn't ultimately have anything to do with the rest of the story. I can see why they were there, but I thought the amount of time devoted to them as disproportionate.
But despite its shortcomings, it was still an enjoyable read. And great as an audiobook - Sir Timothy Ackroyd does a great job!
July 18, 2019
Disappointing
A potentially good story set in lovely rural France but spoilt by too many pompous references to the classics, and ending far too soon without a proper conclusion. Several good characters that the author could have done so much more with but sadly missed the opportunity. Very disappointing
A potentially good story set in lovely rural France but spoilt by too many pompous references to the classics, and ending far too soon without a proper conclusion. Several good characters that the author could have done so much more with but sadly missed the opportunity. Very disappointing
July 23, 2019
I'm at a loss concering this one. Did I like it...no. Maybe I just don't get it, but this book was allll over the place. I liked the setting, but that's about it. I think I got taken in because I have been watching Le Tour de France and I love all the helicopter shots of the villages. ( that was a weird aside ) Keep on reading! :)
November 9, 2020
Super duper meandering and seemingly pointless. Not for me.
August 2, 2019
Not sure the point of this book. The title was so intriguing, but the "second worst restaurant in France" did not really even come into the story until at LEAST halfway through. I just think it could have been so much better. The characters in this book would've been much more interesting in a less rambling story.
August 10, 2019
Pretty much just one eccentric character having a tirade most of the time. Dull.
December 2, 2019
Loved the rich descriptions of France. There was also a lot of conversation which reminded me of the movie, My Dinner with Andre, one of my favorites.
November 6, 2019
Why, yes! Well, according to Alexander McCall Smith in his latest Paul Stuart novel, The Second-Worst Restaurant in France. (I still find it hard to suspend disbelief that France could have a terrible restaurant. Hence the appeal of Smith's great title!)
But this book was delicious enough to make up for the book's restaurant that's being run into the ground by a restauranter-hopeful named Claude.
It reminded me of how much I love to read. More than that, though, it also appealed to my former self that used to work in the restaurant biz, and loved shows like Restaurant Impossible and Kitchen Nightmares back when I had access to cable in a non-rural, non-frontier locale. This book is a great literary version of that.
But, more than that, I found that the side character of Chloe (Paul's mysterious and unconventional cousin) upholds what Alexander McCall Smith does best--using the main character to develop secondary characters that are just as interesting, if not more so, than the main character. And, without giving away too much, I also related to the character of Hugo--a sensitive individual trying to create his own life based on his ideals and passions. During the course of his journey, he's aided by Paul in fulfilling these dreams. And I can really relate to Hugo at his stage in life, even though he's a lot younger.
(This review contains spoilers!)
This is where I struggled a bit with the book. I love the works of Alexander McCall Smith that I've read but my own life development stage and mindset as I enter middle age sometimes made The Second-Worst Restaurant in France an emotionally fraught read. And, boy, did I have bias in spades that was hard to put aside while I read the book that I won via a Goodreads giveaway hosted by the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf.
But that's also the great thing about reading. It's just you and the book and the characters that feel real enough to debate with in the privacy of your own mind and feelings.
As most writers will agree. Especially when you find out that Paul Stuart can't work in his apartment where, for some reason, his girlfriend has decided to bring her noisy two cats for a staycation at his apartment, even though she has a flat of her own.
Anyone who's ever had cats would be like "why on earth would she do that?" Naturally, the cats complain a lot to Paul about the situation, but he's got a book to write, and eventually has to relocate his writing space into another apartment that Chloe offers him use of.
Poor Paul.
But the apartment doesn't suit him either, as there are a bevy of young people upstairs doing what they do best--making sure everyone knows they are there with lots of loud music.
And poor Paul ends up in a silly man-predicament with the younger woman, where he swears the interaction they have in the store is "innocent" to his girlfriend Gloria, who witnesses the weird olive-feeding interaction that somehow gets mistaken for a kiss. Let's hear it, everyone: a big, resounding "Innocent, my a**!" *laugh*
So, poor, poor Paul has to pack up and relocate to the French countryside to finish his book that he doesn't even want to write, but in between lecturing his experienced, worldly secret agent cousin about how to act and think, and nurturing poor, belittled, sensitive, chef-hopeful Hugo in fulfilling his cooking-promise, he realizes he doesn't want to write the book he was working on, about the philosophy of food, and he also realizes that nobody will want to read it, either, despite the fact that his influential editor/girlfriend Gloria has pulled strings and gotten a publisher to back it.
So, wonderfully understanding and supportive Gloria arranges a whole other wonderful project for Paul to undertake, all the pieces fall into place, and everything is happily ever after--all thanks to Paul, presumably, not Gloria and Chloe (who comes to the aid of a local mother-to-be in an unconventional and fascinating way)--in the idyllic French countryside villa that I, and a million other hardworking writers who are also working day jobs (like me) and (unlike me) also trying to raise kids and maintain romantic relationships, are probably thinking that poor Paul is anything but poor.
But it's proof positive that a main character doesn't have to be likeable in order for you to fully engage with a book. And that's why I like books so much. So much diversity there that gets left out of movies.
And, despite my mixed critique of Alexander McCall Smith's book (which, again, I liked so much I read it twice!); yes, I'm still a fan! I would definitely read more of the Paul Stuart series, including his first book in the series, and others. It comes down to the writing, which is, as always, so good!
And the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is fabulous, of course! Visit Alexander McCall Smith and discover his fantastic writing and compelling characters for yourself, here: https://www.alexandermccallsmith.com/.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2019
The Second Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith is the second book in the Paul Stuart series after the wonderful, funny, touching My Italian Bulldozer, but unfortunately the second in the series may be the second worst. Paul Stuart, cookbook writer, is having trouble writing The Philosophy of Food, so he goes off with his cousin/ aunt's cousin/ vague relative, Chloe to France for inspiration. At a small village in the French countryside, St. Vincent de la Colline, rather than peace and quiet, they find the "second worst restaurant" run by a very nice, but extremely awful cook, a sullen unmarried waitress who gives birth in the kitchen of the restaurant, her vile boyfriend Bleu who wants to steal the child away from her, the gypsy caravan Bleu lives in which is blown up, the young nephew of the awful cook, Hugo, who has the ability and interest to become a major chief among other interesting characters.
This is Alexander McCall Smith. Of course everything is put back the way it ought to have been. Of course the scenery is lusciously described and the food practically jumps off the page and into your mouth (or you end up drooling while reading). It is calm, and gentle, and nice; the conversations are humorous and interesting. It is good to see Paul again, who you became fond of in My Italian Bulldozer. But, this novel is boring, and there is really no point to the story. Having a very successful start to this series, it seems McCall Smith just decided to add another one (which I hoped he would), but without taking the time to think up a good story to go with it. I still hope for a good third, but am sorry for the second. Hugo can save La Table de St. Vincent, but his story can't save this novel.
This is Alexander McCall Smith. Of course everything is put back the way it ought to have been. Of course the scenery is lusciously described and the food practically jumps off the page and into your mouth (or you end up drooling while reading). It is calm, and gentle, and nice; the conversations are humorous and interesting. It is good to see Paul again, who you became fond of in My Italian Bulldozer. But, this novel is boring, and there is really no point to the story. Having a very successful start to this series, it seems McCall Smith just decided to add another one (which I hoped he would), but without taking the time to think up a good story to go with it. I still hope for a good third, but am sorry for the second. Hugo can save La Table de St. Vincent, but his story can't save this novel.
July 23, 2019
About halfway through this book I realized I wasn't enjoying it very much, and it didn't take long to figure out why. I think much of the delight in McCall Smith's books revolves around the odd, introspective, sometimes bizarre characters you meet in the pages. Some are insufferable, but they usually come and go and you're off to the next chapter. (Even Bertie's awful mother isn't around for the entire book, thank God.) But this book has Chloe, and she's inescapable, and by halfway through the book, I was really fed up with her. There is a pay-off at the end, and I was glad I put up with her and finished the book. I only hope that if this series has a third installment Chloe stays far, far away and we can get back to Paul's enjoyment of food and his travels.
September 25, 2019
Just oK. But given the quantity of output, he can be forgiven.
September 2, 2019
My rating is really 3.5 Stars but that doesn't work on the App so it has appeared as 4. But that aside......
I hated the first couple of chapters and nearly abandoned it, I was asking my self why I was wasting time with a book that appeared to be pretentious overly "wordy" and then the storyline arrived in France and what a change.
I laughed till tears ran down my face with the delightful absurdity of the characters development and the emergence of the storyline.
Ridiculously fun, light-hearted and full of "those people" and food descriptions that make your mouth water.
I hated the first couple of chapters and nearly abandoned it, I was asking my self why I was wasting time with a book that appeared to be pretentious overly "wordy" and then the storyline arrived in France and what a change.
I laughed till tears ran down my face with the delightful absurdity of the characters development and the emergence of the storyline.
Ridiculously fun, light-hearted and full of "those people" and food descriptions that make your mouth water.
July 28, 2019
I do enjoy a leisurely read through one of Andrew Mc Call Smith’s books. This one is the story of the Second-Worst Restaurant in France. Is a change possible?
As discussed in the book: “There’s nothing wrong with butter. It’s been rehabilitated—along with eggs. We can eat eggs again, thank goodness.” Parenting advice: “I discovered that you can calm him [a four-year-old with anger issues] down by throwing a bucket of water over him.”
Great fun!
As discussed in the book: “There’s nothing wrong with butter. It’s been rehabilitated—along with eggs. We can eat eggs again, thank goodness.” Parenting advice: “I discovered that you can calm him [a four-year-old with anger issues] down by throwing a bucket of water over him.”
Great fun!
August 3, 2019
If it hadn't been for Chloe, I would have liked this as much as My Italian Bulldozer. She has an interesting reveal at the end of the book, but it didn't make up for annoying character. I did like the rest of the story and most of the characters, but I am hoping that there will be a third book tie up a few loose ends. The setting was lovely, and the food, for the most part, sounded delicious. There was an unfortunate incident involving the restaurant.
September 20, 2019
I am a big fan of this author, but this book was not his best work, in my view. A bit of the middle was nice, but I did not enjoy the start or the end. Oh well, when I've written a novel half this good myself, I'll complain. But I don't recommend this one.
January 22, 2021
Az első részben, a Találkozzunk Toscanában! c. kötetben megismerkedhettünk Paul Stuarttal, a zseniális skót szakáccsal, aki már sokadik könyvét írja, ezúttal a toszkán ízekről. Bejártuk fél Itáliát, buldózerrel közlekedtünk a kicsi, hegyvidékes szűk utcákon, és közben megismertük az ottani ízeket, borokat. A sorozat második részében ismét Paul Stuart az idegenvezetőnk, de ezúttal Franciaország szívébe, egy Poitiers-környéki kis falucskába látogatunk, a cél pedig ismét az, hogy Paul befejezze az épp készülő könyvét, Az étel filozófiája című írást. Persze ezúttal sem ilyen egyszerű a dolga, az útra ugyanis elkíséri Chloé, a kissé sznob, férfifaló, fura nagynénje, és mindenféle bonyodalmakba keverednek, míg végül Paul kapja a feladatot, hogy Franciaország második legrosszabb vendéglőjét gatyába rázza.
A kötet ezúttal leginkább Chloéra és a volt férjeire koncentrál, sőt, még egy sötét titok is kiderül a múltból, de mindezeknek szép és ízes keretet adnak a jobbnál jobb (és rosszabbnál rosszabb) ételek és receptek, amelyekkel a nyugodt francia tájon, az igazi vidéki kisvárosban ismerkedhetünk meg. Mindig is volt bennem egyfajta vonzalom az ilyen ódon, régi, szűk, kanyargós utcácskákkal beszőtt francia városkák iránt, és reméltem, hogy itt is hasonlóan sokat kapok ebből a hangulatból, mint az előző kötet toszkán tájaiból. Ebben nem is csalódtam.
A történet főleg a mai színes, szagos, izgalmakkal teli regénykavalkádokkal szemben régimódinak és semmitmondónak tűnik, de ez a régimódiság nem feltétlen hibája: egyben bája is. "Visszarepít" egy sosem létező békés, nyugodt korszakba, ahol vannak titkok, bűntények és vér is, de mégis azt a fajta nyugalmat árasztja, amit egy városi kavalkádban élő ember elképzel a vidékről és a vidéki emberekről. De ezt inkább csak a felszín, a külcsín, a nosztalgia és a régmúlt utáni vágy hajtja, semmint a valóság. Egy kicsit ilyen ez a könyv is. El akarja feledtetni a mindennapokat, és egy szép világot kreál elénk, amely mintha egy letűnt korba repítene vissza, de ez a letűnt kor csupán a nosztalgia terméke. Ilyen egy kicsit maga Paul is és a többi szereplő. Kissé felszínes, kissé sznob, noha tudja magáról, hogy vannak sznob gondolatai, és nem szereti a sznobságot, mégis újra és újra ebbe esik. A szerző személyiségét és gondolatait is tükrözi talán, Alexander McCall Smith 1948-ban született. A regényeiben a saját fiatalkori emlékeit és utazásait elevenítheti fel, így természetes, hogy egy szép, nosztalgikus világot kreál.
Mindezek mellett a kötet pihentető, szórakoztató, a párbeszédek furák, nem életszerűek, de játékosak és értelmesek, minden életszerűtlensége ellenére szerettem ezt a kötetet. Semmi esztelen magasság, semmi szédítő mélység, de pontosan azt adta, amit vártam: egy kis szórakozást. A könyvből süt, hogy a szerző nagyon szereti a jó ételeket és minden földi jót, és ezeket én is nagyon szeretem, így jó volt benne elmerülni. Nagyon nehezen indult a történet és elég hirtelen ért véget, de hasonló volt az előző kötet is, így erre fel voltam készülve. McCall Smith nem egy nagyformátumú író, és mostanra, sokadik könyvére túlságosan rutinból írt, de azt hiszem, ezekkel a kötetekkel tényleg a fiatalkori éveinek, utazásainak, élményeinek állít emléket, egyfajta örömírás ez, ami tökéletlen, de pont ezért szerethető.
A kötet ezúttal leginkább Chloéra és a volt férjeire koncentrál, sőt, még egy sötét titok is kiderül a múltból, de mindezeknek szép és ízes keretet adnak a jobbnál jobb (és rosszabbnál rosszabb) ételek és receptek, amelyekkel a nyugodt francia tájon, az igazi vidéki kisvárosban ismerkedhetünk meg. Mindig is volt bennem egyfajta vonzalom az ilyen ódon, régi, szűk, kanyargós utcácskákkal beszőtt francia városkák iránt, és reméltem, hogy itt is hasonlóan sokat kapok ebből a hangulatból, mint az előző kötet toszkán tájaiból. Ebben nem is csalódtam.
A történet főleg a mai színes, szagos, izgalmakkal teli regénykavalkádokkal szemben régimódinak és semmitmondónak tűnik, de ez a régimódiság nem feltétlen hibája: egyben bája is. "Visszarepít" egy sosem létező békés, nyugodt korszakba, ahol vannak titkok, bűntények és vér is, de mégis azt a fajta nyugalmat árasztja, amit egy városi kavalkádban élő ember elképzel a vidékről és a vidéki emberekről. De ezt inkább csak a felszín, a külcsín, a nosztalgia és a régmúlt utáni vágy hajtja, semmint a valóság. Egy kicsit ilyen ez a könyv is. El akarja feledtetni a mindennapokat, és egy szép világot kreál elénk, amely mintha egy letűnt korba repítene vissza, de ez a letűnt kor csupán a nosztalgia terméke. Ilyen egy kicsit maga Paul is és a többi szereplő. Kissé felszínes, kissé sznob, noha tudja magáról, hogy vannak sznob gondolatai, és nem szereti a sznobságot, mégis újra és újra ebbe esik. A szerző személyiségét és gondolatait is tükrözi talán, Alexander McCall Smith 1948-ban született. A regényeiben a saját fiatalkori emlékeit és utazásait elevenítheti fel, így természetes, hogy egy szép, nosztalgikus világot kreál.
Mindezek mellett a kötet pihentető, szórakoztató, a párbeszédek furák, nem életszerűek, de játékosak és értelmesek, minden életszerűtlensége ellenére szerettem ezt a kötetet. Semmi esztelen magasság, semmi szédítő mélység, de pontosan azt adta, amit vártam: egy kis szórakozást. A könyvből süt, hogy a szerző nagyon szereti a jó ételeket és minden földi jót, és ezeket én is nagyon szeretem, így jó volt benne elmerülni. Nagyon nehezen indult a történet és elég hirtelen ért véget, de hasonló volt az előző kötet is, így erre fel voltam készülve. McCall Smith nem egy nagyformátumú író, és mostanra, sokadik könyvére túlságosan rutinból írt, de azt hiszem, ezekkel a kötetekkel tényleg a fiatalkori éveinek, utazásainak, élményeinek állít emléket, egyfajta örömírás ez, ami tökéletlen, de pont ezért szerethető.
September 29, 2020
Wonderful
February 19, 2020
I really love McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series a lot. So I've sometimes tried other of his books, not always with success. But I really enjoyed the first book in what looks to be a new series - My Italian Bulldozer. I bought it when McCall Smith came to Book People. He was so charming and generous in person, personally signed and inscribed everyone's books and took pictures with most of us - and it was a long line. That experience likely makes me like the books even more. But I thought this book, in which Paul Stuart goes to France for a holiday (and to write a book he's stalling on) with his much older cousin Chloe and then mayhem ensues to have a hint of the Mma Ramotswe books.
One quibble I had near the end was how many characters had names starting with A (and also Chloe and Claude). I like it when characters' names aren't too alliterative (unless it's a thing like with siblings). But mostly I found this a light, charming read. Just what I needed in the middle of February while I'm reading some heavier stuff.
One quibble I had near the end was how many characters had names starting with A (and also Chloe and Claude). I like it when characters' names aren't too alliterative (unless it's a thing like with siblings). But mostly I found this a light, charming read. Just what I needed in the middle of February while I'm reading some heavier stuff.
August 3, 2019
Perhaps, I would have enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith's "The Second-Worst Restaurant in France" more if I spoke French. The restaurant's menu offerings -- even the awful ones -- were in French. Google was my much-needed friend.
The story, itself, was vintage Alexander McCall Smith. We get touches of philosophy, our characters' need to help those in need and quirky minor characters and strange developments. Along the way, we find out just how horrendous the second-worst restaurant in France really is.
Now, I'm in the mood for charcuterie. Mussels sound pretty good, too.
The story, itself, was vintage Alexander McCall Smith. We get touches of philosophy, our characters' need to help those in need and quirky minor characters and strange developments. Along the way, we find out just how horrendous the second-worst restaurant in France really is.
Now, I'm in the mood for charcuterie. Mussels sound pretty good, too.
Read
August 7, 2019I think this may have been the second worst book I've ever finished. It was much like a text conversation with my brother. Which at first sounds nice, until you realize you are in the middle of a conversation you never knew you were having. It goes on for quite awhile, ending abruptly with you still not knowing exactly what the original idea was, or if anything was accomplished.
PS my brother had improved at texting...perhaps there is hope that this series can improve to the level of the authors other works
PS my brother had improved at texting...perhaps there is hope that this series can improve to the level of the authors other works
July 28, 2019
What a charming read! This is the third Alexander McCall Smith novel I've read and I've loved them all! This one, though, set in Scotland and France engaged me from page one! Between the Scottish foodie world to the French countryside, Paul ambles through both local and international drama with seeming ease.
Side-splitting laughter, intrigue, and family ties all combine for a truly delightful read.
Side-splitting laughter, intrigue, and family ties all combine for a truly delightful read.
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