JoAnn G. (bookwoman28) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 166 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This is the full length publication of a serialized novel that Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith wrote for his local paper in Edinburgh. There is, or will be, a sequel. The story line follows the interconnected lives of the occupants of the title address, and their various friends, through relationships, jobs, personal problems, and the like. There is narcissistic Bruce and his roommate Pat, a young woman taking her second year off from university to work in an art gallery; the lively older woman Domenica who knows everybody; and little Bertie, a five-year-old whose Mum is pushing him right past childhood into Italian lessons and the saxophone. This is charming, as all Smith's work is, and a light, easy read.
Elizabeth D. (LizGH) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 132 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
I like the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, but I find I enjoy the author's other works even more. It's fast-moving, charming, absolutely right on with human foibles and Edinburgh city life and odd roommates.
Michelle P. (Michelle) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 124 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I just loved all of the people in this book. The second book is great too! The second in the series in Expresso Tales, and in Jan 08 there is a third. This book came from small stories in a Scottish paper. The stories became so popular, he decided to put them together into a book. I love all the characters have little quirks and they make for very intersting reads
LeAnne G. (Gracious-Granny) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 137 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A Mc Smith's books make you feel calm and comfortable, this one is no different, it makes me smile.
Sandy W. (swilhelm) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This book starts slow but the characters are intriguing and you are interested in their outcome. A good read from the author of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
Connie J. (socialworker6) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Very different from the Ladies Detective Agency books. Very easy to read with a host of new characters---and characters they are, indeed.
Helpful Score: 2
The characters were a bit weak I will not read book 2.
Helpful Score: 2
Love triangles, a lost painting, intriguing new friends and an encounter with a famous Scottich crime writer are just a few of the things that add to this delightful and witty portrait of Edinburgh society.
Annette H. (nananet) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I loved the 1st Ladies Detective series and was anxious to read more from this author. This book started out okay but took a lot of rabbit trails causing the reader to be able to lay it down and not care if they picked it back up or not. I realize this was originally written for newspaper and in short chapters but it still could have been more interesting and stayed with some of the character more and deleted some of the less interesting characters completely.
Carol B. (ilovetolearn) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A book originally written as a daily serial for the Scotsman Journal, AMS chronicles the daily life of Edinburgh residents. The book is whimsical, and full of humor. It does deal with a few mature situations. A fun read, but not at the level of his wonderful No. 1 Ladies Detective series.
Helpful Score: 1
This story was okay, but not nearly as good in my opinion as his series about Precious Ramwotse, although it did get more interesting as it progressed. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and very few of any worth. That's my opinion, anyway.
Donna E. (impossible) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 3352 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Sort of soap operaish. Definitely not like No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. About an assortment of people in one area in modern Edinburgh and how they learn and cope with life.
Bonnie B. (bonniefb) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I was just beginning to get interested in some of the characters towards the end of this book. Some of them are just not that likable. I'm assuming there is a sequel because it just seemed to need one.
First published in the "Scotsman" as a serial. Delightful set of characters.
Rebecca S. (beccals) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 44 more book reviews
This is no Ladies Detective Agency, but it is a really interesting insight into modern Edinburgh. Originally published as a serial in "The Scotsman" newspaper, this feels like a serial, but a very intriguing one. I'd recommend it for novices in modern Scottish literature, and I imagine it'd be a fun read for actual Scots, as well.
Maureen S. (Goldyloxn4bears) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 16 more book reviews
This is a novel from the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith...suspenseful until the end with incredible description.
Delightful reading. Alexander McCall Smith is a real pro.
Allison W. (alliwag) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 96 more book reviews
A very fun read!
Unlike Smith's other books, this took me awhile to get through. I really like his style and kind way of bringing his characters to life. This book is very much worth reading.
A gentle read, I enjoyed it. Not as good as Ladies Detctive Agency series, but a start of another series, no doubt.
Christine H. (xoxohall) - , reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 24 more book reviews
Light read, some inside knowledge of Edinburgh and it's community would be helpful.
Reading the #1 Detective Agency books is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, as I'm not sure if I ought to be reading about a Botswanian woman detective written by a male Scotsman. However, 44 Scotland Street has a lot of the same charm and feels guilt free.
I so very much enjoyed this book! Once I had read the author's preface I wondered if the book would be too choppy since it had originally been a serialized story in a daily newspaper. Instead of finding it too choppy, I found it addicting - each little chapter pulled me along to the next. It was so hard to put the book down to go to bed! I wanted, no HAD, to know what happened next in these people's lives! While one minor little mystery is solved in the day-to-day lives of some of the characters, there are others that aren't resolved, specifically Bernie (Poor, poor Bernie! Totally at the mercy of his mother!) and Bruce (Will he get the comeuppance he deserves??) Seriously, this is a book that I highly recommend - I know I'll be rereading it in the future and I'm so glad I have the 2nd in the series, so I can immediately start on it...
Kathy N. (addicated-to-reading) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 151 more book reviews
Another series by McCall Smith about an address and building and the people who live there. As usual the characters are well drawn and filled out making you want to know more about them and what they'll be getting up to next. I like him as a writer and would recommend this series.
Not up to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, but not a bad read.
Corrina T. (cocoamomo) reviewed 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1) on + 83 more book reviews
I only got thru about 1/3 of it. It just didn't hold my attention, but maybe it will hold yours! He's a terrific author.
not my cup of tea.
