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Six-year-old Bertie and artist Angus Lordie join forces to rescue Lordie's beloved dog Cyril from the pound in this fourth charming installment in the bestselling 44 Scotland Street series.Tags
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Alexander McCall Smith books are always a delight, and I tend to treat them a bit like boxes of chocolates, as things to be stashed away until a suitable occasion for self-indulgence, such as an illness or a tedious journey. This one kept me chuckling merrily through a couple of hours at Manchester Airport and a KLM flight, events which probably qualify on both counts...
This is the fourth novel to come out of McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street serial. It's a bit more introspective and character-based than the earlier instalments. Things do happen, but they have oddly inverted levels of significance - the mislaying of a baby is less important to the story than the possible theft of a teacup; marriage proposals accepted and rejected do show more little to ruffle the even tenor of Edinburgh life (one wonders how Inspector Rebus ever finds any crimes to solve in such a tranquil place...). The serial form is very evident - McCall Smith wanders off from time to time into discussions of new books or abstract philosophical ideas, or puts in little nods to other Edinburgh citizens (presumably friends and acquaintances). It may well be the discipline of writing the stories as a serial that keep his gentle ironic tone fresh and interesting, even when the characters aren't doing very much except sitting around thinking. show less
This is the fourth novel to come out of McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street serial. It's a bit more introspective and character-based than the earlier instalments. Things do happen, but they have oddly inverted levels of significance - the mislaying of a baby is less important to the story than the possible theft of a teacup; marriage proposals accepted and rejected do show more little to ruffle the even tenor of Edinburgh life (one wonders how Inspector Rebus ever finds any crimes to solve in such a tranquil place...). The serial form is very evident - McCall Smith wanders off from time to time into discussions of new books or abstract philosophical ideas, or puts in little nods to other Edinburgh citizens (presumably friends and acquaintances). It may well be the discipline of writing the stories as a serial that keep his gentle ironic tone fresh and interesting, even when the characters aren't doing very much except sitting around thinking. show less
The latest installment of McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series is as delightful as its predecessors. Bertie's mom continues to be obnoxious and oblivious, but Bertie and his dad both seem to be growing backbones. Bruce is back, also oblivious and obnoxious, but he may have met his feminine match! We have the usual philosophical digressions that make the author's books so enjoyable, and of course Edinburgh is again as much a character as any of the humans (or dogs).
There better be more, because we have some new people introduced about whom I was instantly curious, and some relationships (of love and friendship) look to be starting or ending. I want more!
There better be more, because we have some new people introduced about whom I was instantly curious, and some relationships (of love and friendship) look to be starting or ending. I want more!
Book on CD performed by Robert Ian MacKenzie
Book four in the 44 Scotland Street series continues the varied stories of the current (or former) residents of the apartment complex. Bertie has questions about his new baby brother, Ulysses. Angus is frantic after his beloved Cyril is “incarcerated” on a charge of biting. Bruce, Big Lou and Matthew find new love interests. And Domenica is not so sure that her friend Antonia is really a friend after the latter moves in across the hall.
What I love about the ensemble series is that each book gives us just a glimpse into their lives. We pick up where the last book left off, and end with many issues still unresolved. It’s the same way we encounter casual friends, catching up when we see show more them, but not knowing how things will turn out once we depart. And yet, happy to see them again and catch up once more.
Robert Ian MacKenzie does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobooks. He really brings all these characters to life. I particularly like how he voices Bertie. How I love that kid! show less
Book four in the 44 Scotland Street series continues the varied stories of the current (or former) residents of the apartment complex. Bertie has questions about his new baby brother, Ulysses. Angus is frantic after his beloved Cyril is “incarcerated” on a charge of biting. Bruce, Big Lou and Matthew find new love interests. And Domenica is not so sure that her friend Antonia is really a friend after the latter moves in across the hall.
What I love about the ensemble series is that each book gives us just a glimpse into their lives. We pick up where the last book left off, and end with many issues still unresolved. It’s the same way we encounter casual friends, catching up when we see show more them, but not knowing how things will turn out once we depart. And yet, happy to see them again and catch up once more.
Robert Ian MacKenzie does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobooks. He really brings all these characters to life. I particularly like how he voices Bertie. How I love that kid! show less
This is the 4th in this series by Alexander McCall Smith, and it continues the sagas of a variety of characters in modern Edinburg, Scotland. To say that Smith has a keen insight to human frailties and comedic lapses is to put it mildly. He actually gets you to understand how so many things that we do, or behavior that we view in others, are hilarious, particularly when the full circumstances of that behavior are known. From pompous egotists to overbearing mothers to husbands and children who are learning that they can actually have a voice in their own destinies, and the interactions of each with each other, lend to laugh-out-loud scenes and opportunities to hope for the best for those still lost.
Smith is truly a master at transition, show more building on history and experience to extract next actions, truly memorable thoughts and words. His segues can leave you breathless.
Young Bertie, the 6-year-old master of Italian, the saxophone, yoga and voracious reader of everything he can get his hands on, is someone you will remember (and hope you find in real life). At times the young child who is fairly inept at making and/or understanding friendships, he is also very capable of seeing through the deceptions that adults create for themselves and pointing those out. show less
Smith is truly a master at transition, show more building on history and experience to extract next actions, truly memorable thoughts and words. His segues can leave you breathless.
Young Bertie, the 6-year-old master of Italian, the saxophone, yoga and voracious reader of everything he can get his hands on, is someone you will remember (and hope you find in real life). At times the young child who is fairly inept at making and/or understanding friendships, he is also very capable of seeing through the deceptions that adults create for themselves and pointing those out. show less
Angus comments on Scotland, her history and quirky secret clubs when discussing Big Lou's latest beau with Matthew. He uses phrases and terminology with which I am not familiar. Had to do a bit of research.
Wonderful Domenica is coerced into re-thinking and modifying her neighborly expectations and responsibilities to her friend Antonia who has purchased an apartment in the building.
Matthew and Bruce both make life-changing committments but in such different ways. One based on true love and care; the other more of a manipulated materialistic transactional arrangement.
Once again, McCall Smith spices up this novel with lots of humor through Bertie's thoughts of new baby Ulysses' provenance. And with Angus' Cyril making up for being show more locked up, with a quickie hook up during what had been a regular walk.
Once again McCall Smith has pulled off an engaging, informative, and fun addition to the 44 Scotland Street series. show less
Wonderful Domenica is coerced into re-thinking and modifying her neighborly expectations and responsibilities to her friend Antonia who has purchased an apartment in the building.
Matthew and Bruce both make life-changing committments but in such different ways. One based on true love and care; the other more of a manipulated materialistic transactional arrangement.
Once again, McCall Smith spices up this novel with lots of humor through Bertie's thoughts of new baby Ulysses' provenance. And with Angus' Cyril making up for being show more locked up, with a quickie hook up during what had been a regular walk.
Once again McCall Smith has pulled off an engaging, informative, and fun addition to the 44 Scotland Street series. show less
I've really enjoyed the 44 Scotland Street series so far, and was impressed overall with this fourth installment as well.
There were a couple of disappointments. Child prodigy Bertie and his horrifically pushy mother Irene have always been the stand out characters and judging from the title I'd hoped they would have a more prominent role. Their storyline was particularly entertaining this time though, with Irene finding a mini-me in Bertie's awful classmate Olive.
The other characters vary in how far they've developed. Pat, who was promising in the first novel, is increasingly bland. Smith doesn't seem to know what to do with her and is just recycling old material. Happily, her shy boss/friend/boyfriend Matthew, who used to be in the show more background and who I always liked, is now being given more attention and getting more rounded. Domenica's 'frenemy' relationship with her neighbour Antonia was another strong point, with some very amusing scenes centred on their strained meetings. I was unsure about the return of Bruce - I definitely didn't miss him in the previous book - but his egotism and complete lack of morality provided some excellent moments this time. Angus's mournful chapters seemed to drag, and I hope he gets a happier and more interesting plot next time.
Of course, as you can see from my reactions, Alexander McCall Smith's real strong point is getting you involved in the lives of characters who seem like real people. Although very little happens in the Scotland Street stories (except a lot of talking and thinking) and I often wish the plot would move faster, I'm always eager to read the next chapter. I suppose that's an indication of Smith's skill in writing the original serialised newspaper story, and the eagerness to continue reading doesn't end on the final page. There were lots of interesting leads at the end of the book and I'm really looking forward to reading number 5. PLEASE let Irene fall on her face! show less
There were a couple of disappointments. Child prodigy Bertie and his horrifically pushy mother Irene have always been the stand out characters and judging from the title I'd hoped they would have a more prominent role. Their storyline was particularly entertaining this time though, with Irene finding a mini-me in Bertie's awful classmate Olive.
The other characters vary in how far they've developed. Pat, who was promising in the first novel, is increasingly bland. Smith doesn't seem to know what to do with her and is just recycling old material. Happily, her shy boss/friend/boyfriend Matthew, who used to be in the show more background and who I always liked, is now being given more attention and getting more rounded. Domenica's 'frenemy' relationship with her neighbour Antonia was another strong point, with some very amusing scenes centred on their strained meetings. I was unsure about the return of Bruce - I definitely didn't miss him in the previous book - but his egotism and complete lack of morality provided some excellent moments this time. Angus's mournful chapters seemed to drag, and I hope he gets a happier and more interesting plot next time.
Of course, as you can see from my reactions, Alexander McCall Smith's real strong point is getting you involved in the lives of characters who seem like real people. Although very little happens in the Scotland Street stories (except a lot of talking and thinking) and I often wish the plot would move faster, I'm always eager to read the next chapter. I suppose that's an indication of Smith's skill in writing the original serialised newspaper story, and the eagerness to continue reading doesn't end on the final page. There were lots of interesting leads at the end of the book and I'm really looking forward to reading number 5. PLEASE let Irene fall on her face! show less
What's there to say about this book that hasn't been said about the previous three? This one is also a good read that is hard to put down. A difference in this series of chapters is the settlement of many of the issues already developed.
Oh, I won't spoil them, but I will say that I'm quite glad that the last voice from Bertie's house is Bertie's own. It is disturbing to me that Irene is as she is. It is even more disturbing that there are people like her out there in the world. How sad.
I was left quite pleased with how things turned out. A good read.
Oh, I won't spoil them, but I will say that I'm quite glad that the last voice from Bertie's house is Bertie's own. It is disturbing to me that Irene is as she is. It is even more disturbing that there are people like her out there in the world. How sad.
I was left quite pleased with how things turned out. A good read.
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313+ Works 125,691 Members
Alexander McCall Smith was born on August 24, 1948 in Zimbabwe. He was a professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh, but he left in 2005 to focus on his writing. He has written over 60 books, including specialist academic titles including Forensic Aspects of Sleep and The Criminal Law of Botswana, short story collections including show more Portuguese Irregular Verbs, and children's books including The Perfect Hamburger. He is best known for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He also writes the Corduroy Mansions, Isabel Dalhousie and 44 Scotland Street series. He has received numerous awards, including The Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award and the 2004 United Kingdom's Author of the Year Award. His book, The Full Cupboard of Life, received the Saga Award for Wit in the United Kingdom. In 2007, he received a CBE for his services in literature. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
44 Scotland Street 5 Book Collection (44 Scotland Street / Espresso Tales / Love Over Scotland / The World According to Bertie / The Unbearable Lightness of Scones) by Alexander McCall Smith
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The World According to Bertie
- Original title
- The World According to Bertie
- Original publication date
- 2007-08-01
- People/Characters
- Bertie Pollock; Bertie; Irene Pollock; Irene; Olive; Angus Lordie (show all 23); Tofu; Domenica Macdonald; Ulysses Pollock; Matthew; Bruce Anderson; Miss Harmony; Cyril; Pat Macgregor; Antonia; Matthew Duncan; Pat; Big Lou; Bruce; Stuart Pollock; Julia; Hugo Fairbairn; Antonia Collie
- Important places
- Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Dedication
- This book is for Derek and Dilly Emslie
- First words
- Pat saw Bruce at ten o'clock on a Saturday morning, or at least that is when she thought she saw him.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But what breaks the heart the most, I think
Is the knowledge that what we have
We all must lose; I don't much care for denial
But if pressed to say goodbye, that final word
On which even the strongest can stumble,
I am not above pretending
That the party continues elsewhere,
With a guest list that's mostly the same,
And every bit as satisfactory;
That what we think are ends are really adjournments,
An entr'acte, an interval, not real goodbyes;
And perhaps they are, dear friends, perhaps they are.
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- ISBNs
- 30
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