A Promise Of Ankles by Alexander McCall Smith

A Promise of Ankles by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 297

Publisher - Abacus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

The latest, delectably witty installment of Alexander McCall Smith's sumptuous 44 Scotland Street series.

For the residents of 44 Scotland Street, life in Edinburgh's intriguing New Town is a thing to be relished. After all, there are new faces to excite Domenica's anthropological imagination, precious moments with his triplets for Matthew to savor, and the prospect of a trip to the promised land of Glasgow for young Bertie.


My Review

Book fourteen of the 44 Scotland Street series, if you haven't read them go back to the start just so you have back story for our residents. Irene is spending most of her time in Aberdeen but still makes an appearance to dampen everyones spirits. For one who has done and is doing what she did she sure has a cheek to be looking/talking down on Stuart, Nicola et al. Wee Bertie finally gets to go and see the holy grail (to him) good auld Glasgow with his wee bestie Ranald Braveheart McPherson.

Stuart is dabbling with the thought of dating again, Bruce, vain arrogant Bruce is his usual nightmare self, just out there doing what he does best, mad serial dater! An unusual finding may be of great importance to the museum with Angus and Domenica in the middle of it all. I did think this book was going to be more and feature more with Cyril (dog) due to the title so I was a wee bit disappointed by how little he actually did feature.

It is always nice to dip into Scotland street especially as my book before this one was so heavy and dark. I have ordered the next book in the series and whether I just like them or love them I am always looking forward to the next, 3/5.

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A Time of Love and Tartan by Alexander McCall Smith

A Time of Love and Tartan by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 256

Publisher - Abacus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Amazon

The latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's perennially popular and irresistibly charming 44 Scotland Street series.
When Pat accepts her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce's invitation for coffee, she has no idea of the complications in her romantic and professional life that will follow. Meanwhile, Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, attracts the attention of the police after a misunderstanding at the local bookstore.

Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart's application for promotion and his wife Irene's decision to pursue a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to Scotland Street. But for three seven-year-old boys--Bertie Pollock, Ranald, and Big Lou's foster son, Finlay--it also means getting a glimpse of perfect happiness.

Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh's New Town.


My Review

If you haven't read the previous books I think maybe you wouldn't enjoy it quite as much as I have. The usual we follow some of our fave characters and some of those we dislike. You do find in some of the books we see/hear more from some characters than others, for example the triplets developing/growing are a bit more in this one with Matthew and Elspeth moving home. However my main thing is wee Bertie and his dad Stuart both long suffering of Irene, she is unbearable and sucks the joy out of every room. Quite a bit of focus and development on them and I was quite happy because I feel we have been waiting for 12 books for a sniff of goodness for them, we got a wee pinch of it in this one. Bruce, whilst he doesn't feature largely in this, even his small appearances irks me, he is such a banger lol.

Such a mishmash of characters, across different ages set in Edinburgh. I often say this is like Friends but with classism, mixed ages and instead of 6 pals in each others pockets this is residents in 44 Scotland street :D and there about!

This one covers a bit of political correctness, feminism and someone having the edge in the work place and someone being disadvantaged on their gender. Whilst the books poke fun and have humour they do occasionally have serious tones or threads. So overall, for me it was a 4/5 and I bought the next in the series. I like these as a genre switch palate cleanser, wee Bertie whilst being a wean he is such a sweetheart and makes me smile.

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Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers by Alexander McCall Smith

Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 295

Publisher - Abacus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

It's not that poor Bertie Pollock is wishing his life away, but having anticipated his 7th birthday for so long he's now longing to be 18. But there's a lot of living to do and Bertie isn't alone amongst the residents of Scotland Street in trying to do just that - with mixed fortunes.


My Review


Aw wee Bertie, all he wants it to be a little boy and do all the things wee boys get to to but his mum, Irene is a total nightmare. Bertie is smart there is no denying it but Irene has him enrolled in activities she is interested in rather than the wean. Even what he wears, gifts nothing is really with him in mind but it is done with comedic turns on it. Well finally Bertie gets a wee bit of freedom in this book and Irene papped out the picture for a little while (I am looking forward to the next book to see how that plays out).

The series focuses on the characters that live in 44 Scotland street, their daily troubles/activities/interactions and of course Cyril the dog with the gold tooth. This book is more Bertie centric and we finally see him getting that most coveted gift that every wee boy wants. If you haven't read the other book I don't know if you would get as much out of this one, I actually really liked this because I have invested in the others and know all of what they have went though up to this point.

Antonia is back for a visit and has a nun with her, I forgot how pompous she is but it brings another flavour and the nun, whilst only in small parts blended well, you do feel for Angus and Domenica. You do laugh and snigger at these books, it is absolutely like a soap opera or I often say like Friends but an across the range of ages, Bertie and his wee school classmates, Bruce the beautiful narcissist, Pat has a love interest - will this one turn out better than her past escapades. Matthew the triplets, au pairs dramas, is Big Lou finally getting a happy ever after or more dramas.

Very easy reads and I do look forward to seeing what they group are up to next, whilst we do see/hear from all the characters some are more focused on in each book, this one is Bertie's time to shine, 4/5. I have already ordered the next book in the series.

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The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith

The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 344

Publisher - Abacus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

The story of Bertie and his dysfunctional family continues in this fifth instalment alongside the familiar cast of favourites - Big Lou, Domenica, Angus Lordie, Cyril and others - in their daily pursuit of a little happiness. With customary charm and deftness, Alexander McCall Smith has again given us a clever, witty and utterly delightful new novel.


My Review

This is book five in the series, I would suggest reading the previous books as you could pick up here but you would have lost a lot of background on the characters. Pretty much picking up where the last book left off and continuing the characters stories. Cyril the dog is causing more trouble, Domenica is still annoyed by her old acquaintance (friend would be too strong a word) who moved in next door. Poor wee Bertie, his mother is still an over bearing nightmare, Matthew got married and is settling into the role of a husband - well trying to. Bruce, Bruce the cad is back, irritating as per and landing on his feet yet again, getting by on his wit and good looks, will he ever change?

We see a few faces pop up from previous books, a famous Scottish author who has been in more than one book and a larger than life character. Humour, drama, nosiness, every day life, some bantz and friendship - the usual we have come to expect from Smith and the residents of Scotland street.

Left with more than a few questions that I am hoping will be addressed in the next book, specifically - puppies! I need to order the next in the series but not in a huge rush to get to it, 3/5 for me this time.

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44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 325

Publisher - Abacus

Source - Bought after seeing Smith at Edinburgh Book Festival

Blurb from Goodreads

44 SCOTLAND STREET - Book 1

The residents and neighbors of 44 Scotland Street and the city of Edinburgh come to vivid life in these gently satirical, wonderfully perceptive serial novels, featuring six-year-old Bertie, a remarkably precocious boy—just ask his mother.

Welcome to 44 Scotland Street, home to some of Edinburgh's most colorful characters. There's Pat, a twenty-year-old who has recently moved into a flat with Bruce, an athletic young man with a keen awareness of his own appearance. Their neighbor, Domenica, is an eccentric and insightful widow. In the flat below are Irene and her appealing son Bertie, who is the victim of his mother’s desire for him to learn the saxophone and italian–all at the tender age of five.

Love triangles, a lost painting, intriguing new friends, and an encounter with a famous Scottish crime writer are just a few of the ingredients that add to this delightful and witty portrait of Edinburgh society, which was first published as a serial in The Scotsman newspaper.


My Review

For reasons unknown I thought this was going to be a crime book lmao, I know I know I am a riot. Anyways welcome to 44 Scotland Street, Edinburgh. Flats where we meet Irene, an overbearing mother who is intent on getting the best/most for her five year old genius Bertie and nothing will get in her way. Pat has just moved into the flat and Bruce shows her about, attractive Bruce and by lord does he know it! Domenica is her neighbour across the way, widow, flashy, down to earth and fabulous. We also meet Matthew, owner of and art gallery and knows hee haw about anything really, his father uses his wealth to acquire jobs for him to keep him "busy" and Pat is now working with him but she actually knows a thing or two about art.

It is really a voyeurs book, you get to nosey into these characters mundane lives, who they are as people and how they judge others and themselves. Smith pokes fun at the hoity toity Edinburgh attitudes and self importance. By God that Irene is a nightmare, Bruce is so vain and shallow, I thought Domenica was fab and a well known author pops up in the book too.

There are wee drawn pictures in the book which I quite liked, you don't see that in a lot of books so it is nice when it pops up.

The stories themselves, it is a bit like watching the Royal Family (comedy tv show with Ralph Little) about "normal" people and their everyday lives. Nothing huge happens yet you are compelled to keep reading especially when they get themselves into a bit of a pickle. Daft decisions or actions you easily read thinking oh dear lord why did they do that or what will happen next. A good introduction to these characters and I want to see what happens next so book two was ordered just as I finished this one! 3.5/5 for me this time, witty, funny, silly a book type version of friends but instead of a group of boy/girl friends we have very different people in neighbouring flats and following their lives as they judge/interact with each other.

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