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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Alexander McCall Smith - Is He Pure Genius?

34 replies

expatinscotland · 01/02/2006 23:17

Have to admit, until tonight, I'd never read any of his work. Read his short 'The Unfortunate Fate of Kitty da Silva', part of the 'One City' anthology.

LOVELY stuff!

Would you recommend more?

Ah, f*"k it, I'm going to read him anyway, but will it pass the '50 page rule' (50 pages and if it sucks it's used to kill roaches)?

Is this another series to get excited about?

OP posts:

Original poster

expatinscotland · 01/02/2006 23:17

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 01/02/2006 23:19

I like the Scottish stuff (Sunday Philosophy Club, 44 Scotland St etc) a lot more than the Ladies Detective Club series. I find the Scottish stuff a bit more acerbic, less saccharine. Never read any of his short stories though.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 01/02/2006 23:19

He captures Edinburgh perfectly in this short. Well, at least, Edinburgh to the expat.

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mrsflowerpot · 01/02/2006 23:20

Just finished 44 Scotland Street this evening - also lovely.

Everything of his I've read I've loved, it just really gets under my skin.

SorenLorensen · 01/02/2006 23:22

I adore the Precious Ramotswe series - set in Botswana. The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency et al (write another one, dammit!)

But I really didn't like the Scottish ones - can't remember the heroine's name, she's a kind of amateur detective - I was so disappointed. Found them Joanna Trollopey Aga Saga-y pompous twaddle.

SorenLorensen · 01/02/2006 23:22

But of course if you liked them that's OK

mummytosteven · 01/02/2006 23:25

the joy of MN eh Soren - completely diverging opinion expressed authoritatively and definitively by both parties

Hausfrau · 02/02/2006 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hannahsaunt · 02/02/2006 09:53

Wonderful, wonderful stuff; all of it and for different reasons each time. The Sunday Philosophy Club is the only thing to have made me feel homesick since leaving Scotland it's so evocative of Edinburgh. And he is the most adorable, delightful man to listen to in conversation; he chuckles and it's very funny.

And my dad plays in the Really Terrible Orchestra with him too! Quite odd as I studied his text books when I was a student and thought he was fab then just writing legalese...

Enid · 02/02/2006 09:55

I loved the precious ramotswe books - well I loved the first four. Then I got bored. But she really is an excellent character and extremely refreshing to read about.

beatie · 02/02/2006 09:58

I've only read 'The 3 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom' trilogy. 'The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs' I found hillarious.

I'll watch this thread closely for other recommendations.

Marina · 02/02/2006 10:00

I love the fact that someone like him is getting regular commissions in this day and age. I don't think he is a genius but I love his literate wisdom and humane perspective. He likes people, his affection for ordinary, imperfect people rises off the page, and I can well believe he is a lovely man in real life, Hannahsaunt!
It's so great to see well-written mainstream fiction in the station bookshops alongside all those unsavoury memoirs of miserable childhoods etc, and all those ghastly slasher thrillers. Ugh.
We are occasional visitors to Edinburgh and the Isobel Dalhousie books make me feel I'm there when I'm not.
I loved Precious Ramotswe too SL!

Original poster

expatinscotland · 02/02/2006 10:07

Cool! It's like finding a little treasure. I had an appointment yesterday evening, and then naughtily went to have a coffee afterwards . . . ALONE . I'd brought the little book along and was so pleased w/that short story.

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singersgirl · 02/02/2006 11:26

I love Precious Ramotswe and 44 Scotland Street, but haven't read the rest yet. That'll be something to look forward to.

Frenchgirl · 02/02/2006 11:30

Wonderfully warm books, I like all of them (do read the 'Villa of reduced circumstances', 'the 3 and a half pillars' and I forget the other one....)
We went to his children's talk at the Cheltenham Lit Fest and he was fabulous, told the children lots of lovely stories, organised a competition for them (and gave £5 notes every time someone gave him the right answer!!), very charming.
He was also great when she went to get her books signed (the series of Akimbo) and took the time to have a little chat with her.
Not a genius but an excellent writer and a good man IMO.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 02/02/2006 11:33

He was just so pleasant to read. LOVED the ending, too.

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NomDePlume · 02/02/2006 11:36

I've seen the books and read the back of them, never been grabbed by the synopsis, I have to say. The title 'No1 Ladies Detective Agency', just makes me want to barf and puts me off immediately !

Hazellnut · 02/02/2006 12:38

Have read all the lady detective series and loved it as did dh. Have 3 others waiting to be read but haven't got round to yet - dh tried one of them and concluded it was too girly to read (he did actually dress it up slightly better but thats what he meant ).

SoupDragon · 02/02/2006 13:19

I've got several of the Precious Ramotswe ones. I loved the first but then found them to be a little, "clunky" with the phrasing. They're an inoffensive read.

singersgirl · 02/02/2006 14:35

I just find them easily devourable, not brilliant, but as a pp said, very warm and enjoyable.

Aimsmum · 02/02/2006 14:39

Message withdrawn

TwoIfBySea · 02/02/2006 21:46

Oh yes, 44 Scotland Street is brilliant, try and read it in the Scotsman too when I can. Also the sequel of that Espresso Tales is just as good. I am desperate for the next book to come out.

SorenLorensen · 02/02/2006 21:49

I think the "clunky" phrasing is part of their charm, soupy. It sort of lulls you into thinking they are simplistic, when there's actually a lot of stuff going on in there - lots of wise words.

And I just love bits like..

Mme Ramotswe looked at the piece of cake and knew it had about a million calories...but she was a traditionally built woman and didn't care about such things.

(that's paraphrased btw, in case it sounded clunky

MrsSpoon · 02/02/2006 21:51

I'm making my way through the Mma Ramotswe ones, they are very enjoyable but I couldn't read all six one after the other, they are a nice break in between other reading. I will have to wait until the better weather to read more of these as I found them perfect reading for the back doorstep in the sun with a glass of wine whilst the dinner is in the oven type book.

MrsSpoon · 02/02/2006 21:52

Love the "traditionally built woman" phrase, would love to have that mindset.

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