The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (9) (original 2012; edition 2012)

I received this book as a First Reads giveaway.

This was my first foray into the Isabel Dalhousie series, and in fact the first book I've read by Alexander McCall Smith.

One would imagine from the synopsis alone that this book is about a woman (Isabel, a philospher) helping a man recover his stolen multi-million dollar painting. I love mystery, and I especially love art heists, so it sounded right up my alley - I was thrilled when I won it through GoodReads!

This book is not actually about an art theft, or much of a mystery at all. That whole thing is basically a sideline, a B plot, at best - which I was actually quite disappointed about.

The main bulk of the book comprises of Isabel's philosophical thoughts, and the conundrum of allowing her babysitter to continue on teaching math to her 3 year old son. The writing itself is wonderful, I love Smith's flowing prose, although sometimes it can be heavy-handed (in fact, there were a few paragraphs where I couldn't help rolling my eyes at Isabel's rambling thoughts and skipped to the end). But going into this book thinking that it as a mystery and then having it be almost anything but (the actual "mystery" is written quite poorly, and doesn't even come to much of a resolution), was disappointing. If I had gone into this book knowing that it wasn't primarily about the theft of Duncan Munrowe's painting, I probably wouldn't harbour the disappointment I do.

Isabel herself I'm not particularly fond of, although she's an extremely strong and well written character. She's very stuffy, quite prim, and suffer fits of loosing herself in thought, sometimes so that she actually ignores the person she's talking to because she's so in her own head. This is a strong character, everything she does and thinks is 100% believable. I have no qualms about the writing of her itself - I just I'm not sure I'd like her much in person, and I think that's what turned me off. It's actually a testament to McCall Smith's exceptionally strong writing style and character development.

Having said that, it was interesting book, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it. I might go back and read Isabel Dalhousie's first book because I feel like perhaps jumping into the middle of her life did not do her justice.

Perhaps other books of this series does focus more on mystery than this one - it's something I'm interested in enough to try out.

All in all 2.5 or 3 out of five stars. It's just too bad I went into this thinking it was actually a mystery/art heist book due to the misleading synopsis. ( )

Actually, it was the appeal of being a lady philosopher, with a hefty portion of common sense what carried me through this book. With not a worry in the world to call her own, the main character Isabel busies herself with other people's moral and other dilemmas - a true luxury life, which I suppose some people, indeed, get to live. Good for them. The writing was readable, but not gripping, kind of non-committal. I have never read a book from McCall Smith before, so did not know what to expect, but must say that I was not very impressed and probably will not pick up another. ( )

Isabel faces several philosophical dilemmas: Charlie's uncanny math skills, an annoying acquaintance, involvement in an art theft, Eddie falling in love, and an abrupt resignation by Grace. Like mos of AMS's books, this one is focused on the interactions of the characters and the philosophical aspects ( )

Although I generally enjoy Alexander McCall Smith's Sunday Philosophy Club series, I did not care much for this latest entry. I found Isabel's philosophical musings on every minor comment or event becoming irritating, and the "resolution" of the problem which she is called upon to solve was most unsatisfying. A disappointment.

Another entry in the Isabel Dalhousie series has come out from the prolific McCall Smith. (Does anyone know how many words per year this man writes?) I found this book a little more fun than usual because Isabel's child, Charlie, is now 3 1/4 years-old and thus able to figure more prominently in the plot. Should his nanny have started teaching him multiplication and division without consulting Isabel? The more prominent part of the plot deals with a stolen painting that its owners want Isabel to help retrieve. It's a pleasant diversion that can be read in the course of two or three evenings and should not be missed by series fans. ( )