The Fur Quits - simpson's book

[swissmiss]

simpson's choice: FSS by AMS

Discuss

This is the book i've got to read, just finding the page.

I finally finished this book. But it was a struggle, not in the sense that is was a hard going deep read, but exactly the opposite. It seemed to lack substance, there was no developed plot line with subplots, just 110 short chapters that had you flitting between the lives of the characters. Just as something is getting your interest you find the story focussed on something totally differant. I couldnt connect with any of the characters I found them all very self absorbed and annoying. Some of the storyline was somewhat interesting I did like bertie, but he was a tiny fraction of the whole book.
Nothing seemed to actually happen I thought it would all come together at the end of the book, but it didn't.
To me the book felt like a long winded soap opera in edinburgh, that I found myself constantly checking how many pages I had left to get through it.

It was however easy to dip into with the short chapters and as I said there were some amusing parts. Maybe someone with a differant sense of humour may find it more enjoyable. Overall I think it was the style it was written that I really disliked, suited a newspaper like it was intended but not indepth and juicy enough for me as a book.

Sorry simpson please don't take this personally.

Dare I ask what you would give it out of ten??!!

TBH I wanted a book that if I got distracted by DD I could pick up again without too much bother.

I do think there were far too many characters in it though.

I had a similar problem - have tried to read this book in the past before and given up halfway through, but I persevered this time! I think that perhaps it's best read a chapter a day, as it was originally published.

I totally agree about the characters too - I just found them all immensely annoying, except for Bertie and Domenica. And they kept doing stupid things that really wound me up - like leaving the Peploe? in that cupboard, or letting it be cleaned with paint-stripper - I mean, even I know enough not to do that! I did get quite frustrated... Caykon, comparing it to a soap is actually quite apt, I don't watch soaps either because all the characters are so stupid I end up wanting to throw things at the TV!

Having said that, I didn't hate the book and found some of it quite enjoyable (although I did skim-read a lot of the more annoying chapters). I think I would be interested in reading the sequels - not enough to buy them though!

I think his publishers did Alexander McCall Smith a disservice when they published this book without some serious editing.

I agree it was probably much more successful as a daily column, but read in its entirety it rambles far too much.

But I love the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series so my expectations were rather high. What a disappointment Pat was after Mma Ramotswe!

I enjoyed Domenica and Bertie and it was a pleasant read, but I wouldn't be rushing out to buy more McCall Smiths if this was the only one of his I'd read.

I must be the only person who couldn't get on with No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, so my heart fell a bit when I saw this book. However, it's so totally different and I quite enjoyed it. True, there's not much depth or any particularly engaging character, but it was easy to dip into.
I would have liked to find out a little more what happened to the characters, and it didn't engage me enough to inspire me to go and buy the next book.
All in all a pleasant and non-challenging read!

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Given that No1 Ladies Detective Agency was so forgettable, my hopes were not high for this other A McCall Smith which, incidentally, I'd never heard of before this MN swap.

But I really liked this book! I lived in Edinburgh for quite a long time, and so the familiarity of the settings and streets, the art galleries, the Morningside charity shops etc etc were all so SPOT on.

I think the author has quite a wry look on life, and so much of what happens depended on the characters internal thoughts and observations, prejudices, pride, fantasies, misunderstandings. The majority of the characters just did not connect in any meaningful way with what was going on in their relationships.

True it has quite a few characters - but I really was not overwhelmed by them, as they were simply drawn and there were only a few main themes - Pat with Bruce, Matthew and the Peploe?, Todd and Bruce at work, Irene and Bertie, Domenica and the tunnel, Angus Lordie and his funny dog.

Lots of funny bits, easy to read, not exactly life-changing literature but really intriguing in its own way. I will probably read more.

(PS Is it true about the tunnel under Scotland Street?!)

I had previously read this book so I didnt re-read. I quite enjoyed it when I did read it and it reminded me of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.I wouldnt be encouraged to read anything else by him though as it was a bit too 'bland' for my tastes-I want to 'get lost' in the story and couldnt do that with this -it was too transient.

I enjoyed this book and found it a light funny read. I have lived in Edinburgh too (very near S Street ) and thought he captured the essence of the city extremely well. He writes characters really well and seems very perceptive. Would read another in this series if I was needing something not taxing.