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44 Scotland Street (44 scotland street series: vol 1) [Kindle Edition]

Alexander Mccall Smith (Author)

3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (81 customer reviews)

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Length: 354 pages (Contains Real Page Numbers)
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Product Description

Review

As charming as the bohemian street in which it's set. (SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD)

It is hard to think of a contemporary writer more genuinely engaging...[his] novels are also extremely funny: I find it impossible to think about them without smiling (Craig Brown, MAIL ON SUNDAY)

A treasure of a writer whose books deserve immediate devouring (Marcel Berlins, GUARDIAN)

a hilarious yet sharply insightful tale of middle-class Edinburgh ... a joyous, charming portrait of city life and human foibles (SUNDAY EXPRESS)

Times, 20 August 2005

‘Addicts of McCall Smith’s Precious Ramotswe novels will recognise the gentle humour … of his latest work’

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Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 445 KB
Print Length: 354 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1400079446
Publisher: Abacus; New Ed edition (2 Oct 2008)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.� r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B002TXZRVS
Text-to-Speech: Not enabled

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Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (81 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #524 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Alexander McCall Smith Page

Following a distinguished career as a Professor of Medical Law, Alexander McCall Smith has turned to writing full-time. He is the author of over sixty books on a wide array of subjects, and his books have been translated into forty-two languages. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife.

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Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

3.9 out of 5 stars

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely fab book! 9 Mar 2005

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book is wonderful, and everything you would expect from Alexander McCall Smith at his top form. The characters are engaging and intriguing, and the style of the book keeps you turning the pages. The format is slightly unusual - as this book was originally a daily column in a Scottish newspaper. It means each chapter is v.brief but very contained. The stories are centred round the residents of a house in Edingburgh, and offer slices of life from a variety of characters who lives overlap.
Incidently, he notes at the beginning that the idea for this book was born at a party hosted by Amy Tan, and in conversation with Armistad Maupin - for me that was recommendation enough!

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68 of 71 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant surprise 25 April 2007

By Matthew Thorbes

Format:Paperback

When this book came into my hands, I have to admit I didn't think I was going to like it. Given that my only knowledge of the author had to do with a series of novels revolving around an African detective agency for women (or thereabouts)- I guess I was expecting a flight of fancy through Edinburgh, with no real meat to it.

I couln't have been more wrong. This book is a wittily observed journey through the lives and thoughts of five or six of the best realised characters I've come across in modern fiction.

The narcissistic Bruce, fantastically pretentious Irene and perpetually befuddled Matthew are among my favourites, but I think there's definitely someone for everyone in this book.

I can foresee a potential negative for some people coming to this book expecting a great saga. Because of the way in which it was written (Smith submitted a chapter a day to The Scotsman newspaper for 110 days), the story flits around and just as a particular line gets some legs, you find yourself focused on something totally different.

For those who like books with a long, developed plot line and deeply winding subplots, this book may feel like dealing with a hyperactive child. However, if you like dry, well realised humour with a good pace and excellent characters, then this will make a great read.

I'm certainly interested enough to hunt down the two sequels. Well done, Mr Smith, you've converted another fan.

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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A treat that hs enlivened my tube journeys 16 Mar 2006

By purplepadma VINE VOICE

Format:Paperback

44 Scotland Street is little gem. It's a revival of the neglected genre of the serial novel, written - like Armistad Maupin's Tales of the City - to appear regularly in a newspaper. Yes, there are loose ends and some characters are little more than sketches, but given the virtual impossibility of producing a structurally polished novel when it is (as McCall Smith points out in his introduction) impossible to go back and make revisions, and the pressure is on to produce a daily episode for publication.
Insufferably pushy mothers, Conservative party stalwarts who would rather go ahead with just six participants than cancel a ball, narcissistic young men devoted to their hair gel ... the lighthearted sketchiness of these characters is what makes it permissable to laugh at them. The real heart of the book, however, lies in those characters who are wistfully chasing after what they cannot have - Big Lou, who has lived a life without love; Pat, with her misplaced infatuation; Matthew, who cannot seem to find his place in life; and poor 5-year-old Bertie (I wish I knew if he is ever to be free from having to speak Italian).
Read, enjoy, don't take it too seriously.

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tales of the City for Auld Reekie 14 Nov 2006

By Tealady2000 VINE VOICE

Format:Paperback

This book is the story of the occupants of 44 Scotland Street, a traditional Edinburgh New Town (the posh Georgian bit) residence divided into multiple flats. The inhabitants are all very well-to-do, exactly as would be expected in this neighbourhood, and are based on character types that are instantly recognisable by anyone who knows middle-class Edinburgh. The characters are generally unburdened by the depressing reality of real life, spending their time in art galleries, fashionable bars and the floatarium, and this creates a wonderful feeling of escapism for the reader. While most of us ponder mundane questions like 'What am I going to have for tea tonight?' and 'What's on TV?', the inhabitants of 44 Scotland Street are constantly engaged in philosophical thoughts (very much in the style of Mma Ramotswe in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency).

The goings-on are extremely funny. I loved the strand featuring prodigious pre-schooler Bertie and his monstrously misguided mother, Irene, who puts Bertie into therapy after he defaces his nursery school with Italian graffiti. Also the plot concerning the Conservative Party ball, attended by just six people (all frightful), and involving the stealing of pants to go under a kilt and misappropriation of raffle prizes, was hilarious.

This book really reminded me of Tales of the City (without the sex) and when I had finished it I read the preface and discovered that Tales of the City had indeed inspired the original serial in the Scotsman newspaper. An easy, funny and highly entertaining read.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book 18 Aug 2006

By Ms. S. C. Fletcher

Format:Paperback

I thought this was a really good book anyway, but having lived in Edinburgh for four years I loved it. It makes a difference when you can recognise every place name and every description. One of my old uni societies, Savoy Opera Group, even made its way into the book - although annoyingly as a negative side of one of the characters (its much better than that really). Aside from that, I found this book addictive. The characters may not be that deep, but they are fun and interesting. The pace of the novel is consistent, and once you start reading it you can't put it down. I think I finished it in two days. I've read the sequel, which isn't as good as the first one, but it resolves some of the problems, like character depth, and I can't wait to read the third.

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› See all 81 customer reviews (newest first) on Amazon.co.uk

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› Go to Amazon.com to see all 177 reviews 3.8 out of 5 stars

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgic

This book reminded me of all the books I devoured as a child, the style seeming so simple but really rather clever. Wonderful.

Published 6 days ago by hilary cropper

5.0 out of 5 stars 44 Scotland Street

He is a modern Jane Austen - on a small canvas, he dissects the good, bad, and the good looking of Edinburgh. Read more

Published 29 days ago by Amazon Customer

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story

I really enjoyed this book but felt it was incomplete. I have ordered the sequel to see if it continues to a satisfactory conclusion . Read more

Published 1 month ago by TrishA

5.0 out of 5 stars Did not want it to end!

I came to this book after reading a few of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books, thinking nothing could bet them - but this is equally enjoyable! Read more

Published 2 months ago by tangerina

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming

Brilliantly drawn characters, interesting conversations, gentle happenings.
It's a kind world in 44 Scotland Street, I love reading them and return to them regularly.

Published 5 months ago by Ms R. Mitten

3.0 out of 5 stars not the best

Didn't finish the book as I did not find it interesting enough. Very disjointed. Would not recommend.perhaps the following books get better

Published 5 months ago by grangran

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Surprise

I must admit I was becoming disappointed with the recent repetitive/formulaic lady detective stories and Isabel Dalhousie's twee rantings were starting to drive me, ever so... Read more

Published 5 months ago by pierre

3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly amusing

Not really my cup of tea. I found the short chapters very irritating and a bit disjointed, which meant I didn't feel involved with the characters. Read more

Published 6 months ago by cakemaker7

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Wonderful Series from Smith

I'm a huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Smith is a very fast and prolific author (writing multiple series and typically churning out a... Read more

Published 6 months ago by Karen Lea Hansen

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant atmosphere

Fantastic writing, great atmosphere and characters - now everyone wants to go to Edinburgh even more:) I think this is my favourite series of books by McCall.

Published 6 months ago by kas

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