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Isabel Dalhousie #11
A Distant View of Everything
In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's ever-delightful and perennially bestselling series, amateur sleuth and philosopher Isabel Dalhousie is called upon to help when a matchmaker begins to question her latest match.
A new baby brings an abundance of joy to Isabel Dalhousie and her husband, Jamie--but Isabel's almost four-year-old son, Charlie, is none too keen on his newborn brother. In fact, Charlie refuses to acknowledge Magnus, and Isabel must find a way to impress upon her older son the patience and understanding that have served as guiding principles in her own life. These are, of course, the qualities that bring Rosemary Hipple, an old acquaintance of Isabel's, to seek her help in a tricky situation. Rosemary is something of a matchmaker and has brought together a cosmetic surgeon and a successful banker at her most recent dinner party. But new information comes to light about the cosmetic surgeon that causes Rosemary to doubt the auspiciousness of the match. Isabel agrees to find out more, but her inquiries take an unexpected turn, and she starts to wonder which of the two she should be investigating after all. As ever, her intelligence, quick wit and deep empathy for others will come to her aid as she grapples with the issues that are her bread and butter: friendship and its duties, the obligation of truthfulness and the importance of perspective.
A new baby brings an abundance of joy to Isabel Dalhousie and her husband, Jamie--but Isabel's almost four-year-old son, Charlie, is none too keen on his newborn brother. In fact, Charlie refuses to acknowledge Magnus, and Isabel must find a way to impress upon her older son the patience and understanding that have served as guiding principles in her own life. These are, of course, the qualities that bring Rosemary Hipple, an old acquaintance of Isabel's, to seek her help in a tricky situation. Rosemary is something of a matchmaker and has brought together a cosmetic surgeon and a successful banker at her most recent dinner party. But new information comes to light about the cosmetic surgeon that causes Rosemary to doubt the auspiciousness of the match. Isabel agrees to find out more, but her inquiries take an unexpected turn, and she starts to wonder which of the two she should be investigating after all. As ever, her intelligence, quick wit and deep empathy for others will come to her aid as she grapples with the issues that are her bread and butter: friendship and its duties, the obligation of truthfulness and the importance of perspective.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2017
403 people are currently reading
1793 people want to read
About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
658 books12.6k followersAlexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
June 28, 2017
I want to like this series, I really do. I love the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. But I find Isabel Dalhousie unlikeable. She is supposed to be my age, but I have always felt her to be about 20 years older than me. As Eddie (in the deli) says, she is rude, letting her mind wander while listening to other people talking. I just cannot connect with her. And nothing happens in this book. Essentially, you read and read, and nothing happens. I think my time with this series has come to an end.
July 24, 2017
Rating a book 5 stars on Goodreads means something.
Normally, if I rate something 1 star, it means - why was this ever published?
2 stars means - not my cup of tea
3 stars means - enjoyed it, but not one I would necessarily recommend
4 stars means - really enjoyed it, would recommend to those who like that genre
5 stars means - would recommend to everybody, if they don't like it they are crazy!
I am rating this book 5 stars, but I know that it is not the kind of book that everybody would enjoy.
It is normally shelved in the mystery genre, but the mystery is only very slight.
The main character is a philosopher and there are philosophical tangents.
The writing could be described as rambling and discursive, much like this review!
Yet, I am still rating it 5 stars because that accurately describes my enjoyment of the book.
I devoured it in 2 days, cherishing every minute spent with the characters and their thoughts.
Normally, if I rate something 1 star, it means - why was this ever published?
2 stars means - not my cup of tea
3 stars means - enjoyed it, but not one I would necessarily recommend
4 stars means - really enjoyed it, would recommend to those who like that genre
5 stars means - would recommend to everybody, if they don't like it they are crazy!
I am rating this book 5 stars, but I know that it is not the kind of book that everybody would enjoy.
It is normally shelved in the mystery genre, but the mystery is only very slight.
The main character is a philosopher and there are philosophical tangents.
The writing could be described as rambling and discursive, much like this review!
Yet, I am still rating it 5 stars because that accurately describes my enjoyment of the book.
I devoured it in 2 days, cherishing every minute spent with the characters and their thoughts.
July 28, 2017
In The Novel Habits of Happiness, Isabel Dalhousie was such a prig; thankfully, Alexander McCall Smith has redeemed himself in A Distant View of Everything, and Isabel is back to her old understanding self. And just in time! I hadn’t realized just how much I had missed her.
An old schoolmate of Isabel’s, Bea Shandon, fancies herself quite the matchmaker; however, Bea has come across information that she may have introduced a very rich friend to a doctor with a history of loving — and leaving — wealthy women, although only after he’s tapped them for a hefty amount. Bea turns to Isabel to discover if the rumors are true — and, if so, to stave off any future grifting. I don’t want to give away too much, but readers can be sure that Isabel, the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics and a moral philosopher, will do her best to make sure that justice prevails.
Unlike with Precious Ramotswe, the pace of a novel featuring McCall Smith’s other series, Isabel Dalhousie, is slower but more profound; she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But for those who appreciate Isabel’s cerebral and thoughtful approach to everyday living, she’s a breath of fresh air and a guide to living a holistic life. Too bad I’ll have to wait another year to spend more time with Isabel and her family.
An old schoolmate of Isabel’s, Bea Shandon, fancies herself quite the matchmaker; however, Bea has come across information that she may have introduced a very rich friend to a doctor with a history of loving — and leaving — wealthy women, although only after he’s tapped them for a hefty amount. Bea turns to Isabel to discover if the rumors are true — and, if so, to stave off any future grifting. I don’t want to give away too much, but readers can be sure that Isabel, the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics and a moral philosopher, will do her best to make sure that justice prevails.
Unlike with Precious Ramotswe, the pace of a novel featuring McCall Smith’s other series, Isabel Dalhousie, is slower but more profound; she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But for those who appreciate Isabel’s cerebral and thoughtful approach to everyday living, she’s a breath of fresh air and a guide to living a holistic life. Too bad I’ll have to wait another year to spend more time with Isabel and her family.
July 30, 2017
I wish Isabel Dalhousie could be my friend in real life.
August 11, 2017
Very little happens on the surface of the Isabel Dalhouse books and each book is very similar to its predecessors, yet there is something magnetic that draws the reader back to these books each time they are released. Isabel's rich - and often quite funny - thought life and her philosophical take on the world lend to these books a depth and richness that calm and edify the reader. In this newest addition to the series, McCall Smith encourages us to take a distant view of our lives and remind ourselves daily, especially in our interactions with others, how very blessed we are. That gentle prod, so necessary in today's self-centered, grasping world, is what makes this book such a worthwhile read.
January 22, 2022
“… it really was rude to allow oneself to daydream while somebody was talking to you. In a way, it was every bit as discourteous as taking a telephone call while engaged in conversation with another, or closing one’s eyes and drifting off to sleep in a concert in full view of a performer. And yet, how did you prevent thoughts coming into your mind? And once they were there, how did you stop yourself from entertaining them?”
A Distant View Of Everything is the eleventh novel in the Isabel Dalhousie series by popular British author, Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Karlyn Stephen. Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is now an even busier woman: mother to three-month-old Magnus (whose four-year-old brother, Charlie is less than impressed by his existence), another edition of the journal waiting for input on her desk, and she finds herself yet again cajoled into helping a friend solve a dilemma.
Bea Shannon, an old friend from school whose matchmaking skills are legendary in Edinburgh, has misgivings about an introduction she has made: is plastic surgeon, Tony MacUpsaig actually more interested in relieving Connie Macdonald of her money than in a genuine relationship? Is he, as has been suggested, a serial gold-digger? As if this is not enough distraction, it seems Jamie has something important he’s not telling her.
This eleventh instalment of Edinburgh’s favourite philosopher sees Isabel musing on population growth, moral proximity, the keeping of promises, the relationship of floor space to social position, the fate of statues of famous people fallen from grace, selfie protocols, social media mores, the privilege of being alive, and having a conscience: “The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps”
Isabel continues to appreciate her husband, but sometimes fears for her good fortune: “That was the problem with things that were exactly as you wished them to be; that was the problem if you found yourself in Eden – there was a snake in the garden”, even if she is sometimes mystified “… the key to understanding men, a friend had once said to her, is to remember that the boundaries between the man and the boy within were often blurred, and not every woman knew where they were”.
As always, McCall Smith includes plenty of gentle philosophy and an abundance of wisdom: “Anybody who coins an aphorism tends to regret it – because it gets quoted back at him ad infinitum and is inevitably misunderstood” and “… the judgement of others was often more about them than the ones they were judging” are examples. Isabel’s reflections often bring a smile to the face, and her banter with Jamie and her friends provide some laugh-out-loud moments. A delightful read, as always.
A Distant View Of Everything is the eleventh novel in the Isabel Dalhousie series by popular British author, Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Karlyn Stephen. Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is now an even busier woman: mother to three-month-old Magnus (whose four-year-old brother, Charlie is less than impressed by his existence), another edition of the journal waiting for input on her desk, and she finds herself yet again cajoled into helping a friend solve a dilemma.
Bea Shannon, an old friend from school whose matchmaking skills are legendary in Edinburgh, has misgivings about an introduction she has made: is plastic surgeon, Tony MacUpsaig actually more interested in relieving Connie Macdonald of her money than in a genuine relationship? Is he, as has been suggested, a serial gold-digger? As if this is not enough distraction, it seems Jamie has something important he’s not telling her.
This eleventh instalment of Edinburgh’s favourite philosopher sees Isabel musing on population growth, moral proximity, the keeping of promises, the relationship of floor space to social position, the fate of statues of famous people fallen from grace, selfie protocols, social media mores, the privilege of being alive, and having a conscience: “The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps”
Isabel continues to appreciate her husband, but sometimes fears for her good fortune: “That was the problem with things that were exactly as you wished them to be; that was the problem if you found yourself in Eden – there was a snake in the garden”, even if she is sometimes mystified “… the key to understanding men, a friend had once said to her, is to remember that the boundaries between the man and the boy within were often blurred, and not every woman knew where they were”.
As always, McCall Smith includes plenty of gentle philosophy and an abundance of wisdom: “Anybody who coins an aphorism tends to regret it – because it gets quoted back at him ad infinitum and is inevitably misunderstood” and “… the judgement of others was often more about them than the ones they were judging” are examples. Isabel’s reflections often bring a smile to the face, and her banter with Jamie and her friends provide some laugh-out-loud moments. A delightful read, as always.
October 8, 2017
The 11th installment of the Sunday Philosophy Club is here. Some things change, new baby Magnus and new deli employee Peg, while more things stay the same, Isabelle salivating over Jamie, bossy Grace the housekeeper, crazy Cat at the deli, sullen Eddie, and last but not least, an appearance by brother fox. In this outing Isabelle is asked to meddle in or rather investigate in the life of a doctor who may be a grifter.
Although I have a fondness for the series this novel began to irk me. While having a conversation with a friend Bea, every time Bea spoke, it launched another tangent off in Isabelle's head making the passage really annoying to follow. It was comic relief when Eddie finally called Isabelle out on her habit of thinking of something else and smiling when talking to a person. That aside I have become invested in the characters over the course of 11 novels. I always look forward to a visit to Edinburgh and I always get a gem of wisdom out of the novel. In this book it is the idea that we have to be careful how we talk to our friends. One rebuke can undo a thousand positive interactions and end the friendship. Well said Mr. McCall Smith.
October 11, 2018
3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me over. However an ok AMS book is still better than an ok book written by anyone else. 😀
October 22, 2017
I enjoy the musings of Isabel Dalhousie. I do understand that readers either love or hate the Sunday Philosophy Club Series. When I learned there was a new book, I could hardly wait to get it. Reading the book, I feel as if I have just stopped by Isabel’s house for a cup of tea and a chat.
Isabel has had another child, a boy named Magnus. Charlie is now four years old. Isabel is again involved in solving problems. This time with Bea, who is sort of a local matchmaker. She is trying to bring together a cosmetic surgeon and a banker and discovers a problem which she wants Isabel to fix. Isabel has her usual philosophical ruminations.
I read the book as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost eight hours long. One of my favorite female narrators, Davina Porter, narrates this series. She did a magnificent job with the narration. Porter is a classically trained stage actor from Scotland and in this book her slight Scottish accent comes through. I have listened to Porter narrate books for over twenty years. She has a beautiful voice and is a master of various dialects and accents. She has won over nineteen Audiofile Earphone Awards, the Golden Voice Award as well as the 2006 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator.
Isabel has had another child, a boy named Magnus. Charlie is now four years old. Isabel is again involved in solving problems. This time with Bea, who is sort of a local matchmaker. She is trying to bring together a cosmetic surgeon and a banker and discovers a problem which she wants Isabel to fix. Isabel has her usual philosophical ruminations.
I read the book as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost eight hours long. One of my favorite female narrators, Davina Porter, narrates this series. She did a magnificent job with the narration. Porter is a classically trained stage actor from Scotland and in this book her slight Scottish accent comes through. I have listened to Porter narrate books for over twenty years. She has a beautiful voice and is a master of various dialects and accents. She has won over nineteen Audiofile Earphone Awards, the Golden Voice Award as well as the 2006 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator.
March 9, 2018
“… it really was rude to allow oneself to daydream while somebody was talking to you. In a way, it was every bit as discourteous as taking a telephone call while engaged in conversation with another, or closing one’s eyes and drifting off to sleep in a concert in full view of a performer. And yet, how did you prevent thoughts coming into your mind? And once they were there, how did you stop yourself from entertaining them?”
A Distant View Of Everything is the eleventh novel in the Isabel Dalhousie series by popular British author, Alexander McCall Smith. Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is now an even busier woman: mother to three-month-old Magnus (whose four-year-old brother, Charlie is less than impressed by his existence), another edition of the journal waiting for input on her desk, and she finds herself yet again cajoled into helping a friend solve a dilemma.
Bea Shannon, an old friend from school whose matchmaking skills are legendary in Edinburgh, has misgivings about an introduction she has made: is plastic surgeon, Tony MacUpsaig actually more interested in relieving Connie Macdonald of her money than in a genuine relationship? Is he, as has been suggested, a serial gold-digger? As if this is not enough distraction, it seems Jamie has something important he’s not telling her.
This eleventh instalment of Edinburgh’s favourite philosopher sees Isabel musing on population growth, moral proximity, the keeping of promises, the relationship of floor space to social position, the fate of statues of famous people fallen from grace, selfie protocols, social media mores, the privilege of being alive, and having a conscience: “The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps”
Isabel continues to appreciate her husband, but sometimes fears for her good fortune: “That was the problem with things that were exactly as you wished them to be; that was the problem if you found yourself in Eden – there was a snake in the garden”, even if she is sometimes mystified “… the key to understanding men, a friend had once said to her, is to remember that the boundaries between the man and the boy within were often blurred, and not every woman knew where they were”.
As always, McCall Smith includes plenty of gentle philosophy and an abundance of wisdom: “Anybody who coins an aphorism tends to regret it – because it gets quoted back at him ad infinitum and is inevitably misunderstood” and “… the judgement of others was often more about them than the ones they were judging” are examples. Isabel’s reflections often bring a smile to the face, and her banter with Jamie and her friends provide some laugh-out-loud moments. A delightful read, as always.
A Distant View Of Everything is the eleventh novel in the Isabel Dalhousie series by popular British author, Alexander McCall Smith. Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is now an even busier woman: mother to three-month-old Magnus (whose four-year-old brother, Charlie is less than impressed by his existence), another edition of the journal waiting for input on her desk, and she finds herself yet again cajoled into helping a friend solve a dilemma.
Bea Shannon, an old friend from school whose matchmaking skills are legendary in Edinburgh, has misgivings about an introduction she has made: is plastic surgeon, Tony MacUpsaig actually more interested in relieving Connie Macdonald of her money than in a genuine relationship? Is he, as has been suggested, a serial gold-digger? As if this is not enough distraction, it seems Jamie has something important he’s not telling her.
This eleventh instalment of Edinburgh’s favourite philosopher sees Isabel musing on population growth, moral proximity, the keeping of promises, the relationship of floor space to social position, the fate of statues of famous people fallen from grace, selfie protocols, social media mores, the privilege of being alive, and having a conscience: “The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps”
Isabel continues to appreciate her husband, but sometimes fears for her good fortune: “That was the problem with things that were exactly as you wished them to be; that was the problem if you found yourself in Eden – there was a snake in the garden”, even if she is sometimes mystified “… the key to understanding men, a friend had once said to her, is to remember that the boundaries between the man and the boy within were often blurred, and not every woman knew where they were”.
As always, McCall Smith includes plenty of gentle philosophy and an abundance of wisdom: “Anybody who coins an aphorism tends to regret it – because it gets quoted back at him ad infinitum and is inevitably misunderstood” and “… the judgement of others was often more about them than the ones they were judging” are examples. Isabel’s reflections often bring a smile to the face, and her banter with Jamie and her friends provide some laugh-out-loud moments. A delightful read, as always.
January 14, 2018
This is a Seinfeld of a book without the laughter. The story is mildly interesting, the characters are mostly likeable and the setting is lovely Edinburgh. But nothing happens!! And while nothing is happening we are subjected to the many many philosophical ramblings of Isabel Dalhousie, the main character, who happens to be the editor of a philosophy journal. Her thoughts are a bit thought provoking but really have little to do with the plot involving a matchmaker with regrets about a possible dangerous match. This could have been a crackerjack of a mystery--albeit a cozy one --but instead it is filled with the story of a privileged protagonist musing on her first-world problems. The woman even has a housekeeper and can dash out to solve crimes leaving her two very young children at home whenever she pleases. And a sexy much younger husband. I enjoyed the book, it was fun but Alexander McCall Smith must be laughing all the way to the bank. Who was it said it was difficult to get published?
July 21, 2017
I decided, about 3/4 into this book, to not finish it. Which is unusual for me. I really can't see what the point is. I have read other books by this author, like the #1 Detective Agency books, that were good. So, this is disappointing.
August 22, 2017
Isabel Dalhousie continues to have a good life but at times there a few ripples on its calm surface. She realizes that little lies of omission can lead to misunderstandings and erode trust. She cannot take her life for granted. As always Isabel gets involved in investigating some problem or mystery someone brings to her. She learns that things are often not what they seem. Her niece Cat who is constantly in and out of relationships is again being secretive. This wasn't my favorite in the series but as a devotee of the series, I will keep reading them if only to see what develops in Isabel's life.
June 15, 2017
This novel is part of a great series. Each novel is a comfortable, thoughtful read and is not the series of novels for those wanting a great adventure and fast pace story. Isabelle is a philosopher and whilst she has interesting, often complicate, human problems to solve she is not dodging death or hunting villains. She is mulling over the problems we all meet and have to deal with. Each book in the series also looks at one particular quality that we need to live well and decently with each other. Basics like kindness, honesty, tolerance, not being judgemental are examined and discussed. It's philosophy for non-philosophers by the clever Mr McCall Smith who is a philosopher.
McCall Smith is a good writer so his characters and their lives are 3D, and entertaining. Isabelle, her family and friends become the readers' friends throughout the series. The fact that Edinburgh is a character only adds to the appeal of the novels.
Readers who like to think, like a pleasant read, and want to feel optimistic about the future of the human race will enjoy every one of the novels. They are a special read.
McCall Smith is a good writer so his characters and their lives are 3D, and entertaining. Isabelle, her family and friends become the readers' friends throughout the series. The fact that Edinburgh is a character only adds to the appeal of the novels.
Readers who like to think, like a pleasant read, and want to feel optimistic about the future of the human race will enjoy every one of the novels. They are a special read.
October 27, 2020
Another entertaining entry in the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel and Jamie are parents for the second time as Magnus is born to be Charlie's younger brother. Charlie's response to the birth and to Magnus is typical of a four-year-old who has been the center of his parents' lives and now will have to share the spotlight. The author manages to make points about societal change and resistance to it, including about gender roles, non-gender conforming relationships, life after prison, etc. He also manages to keep the story lines interesting as always. The reveal may not be too surprising, but if you're a fan of Isabel and her adventures, you'll enjoy this one too.
August 22, 2017
3.5
I thought I had the mystery in this one figured out, and I was only partially right - I should have known McCall Smith wouldn't resolve the story as cynically as I imagined. My one complaint - apart from my usual reservations about this series - is that far too many coincidences were required for the plot. Still, even taking into account the aforementioned reservations, a book in the presence of Isabel Dalhousie is always pleasurable.
I thought I had the mystery in this one figured out, and I was only partially right - I should have known McCall Smith wouldn't resolve the story as cynically as I imagined. My one complaint - apart from my usual reservations about this series - is that far too many coincidences were required for the plot. Still, even taking into account the aforementioned reservations, a book in the presence of Isabel Dalhousie is always pleasurable.
October 8, 2018
This series has become one of my all-time favorites, and this latest was another thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m left with just one more in the series, so I hope AMS is as eager to write more Isabel Dalhousie novels as I am to read them.
August 18, 2017
I love McCall Smith, but I feel his last several outings in the Isabel Dalhousie series have been lacking. I don't know if he's rushing to finish them, or if he's just losing steam as he gets older. This one could have used better editing. McCall Smith used the word "muttered" on about fifty occasions during the course of the novel, including several times on the same page. There are synonyms for the word, ("mumble" and "grumble" spring immediately to mind), and someone should have varied the language. Secondly, Jamie and Isabel seem to be stuck at the same age much like the perpetually six-year-old Bertie in McCall Smith's other series. The two have a four year-old son together, and yet Jamie is still under thirty. He's 14 years younger than Isabel, who was 43 when she gave birth to Charlie...you do the math.
Also, some of the regular characters, particularly Eddie, are starting to become caricatures of themselves, which I guess is an inevitable hazard when any series goes on for a while.
I will continue to read his books, but I'm hoping McCall Smith gets his mojo back.
Also, some of the regular characters, particularly Eddie, are starting to become caricatures of themselves, which I guess is an inevitable hazard when any series goes on for a while.
I will continue to read his books, but I'm hoping McCall Smith gets his mojo back.
July 29, 2017
This book is wonderful. Alexander McCall Smith shows readers that at every moment we are making choices based on our values. We can choose to do the right thing, the wrong thing, or remain neutral and do nothing. All of it matters. In our strange and dangerous current political environment, Alexander McCall Smith gently reminds us of the horrors of recent world dictators - Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Lenin - and urges us gently to be aware of the content of our souls and the souls of others. I just loved this: "She turned away from the window, allowing her gaze to fall on the lawyer's face. She saw that he had grey eyes and that these eyes were kind. Waiting in the reception area, she had flicked through a news magazine that had been lying on the table for clients to read while waiting for their appointment. On the cover there had been a picture of a well-known politician, a man famous for his rudeness and aggression. She had looked at the eyes - the piercing, accusing eyes, and had seen only an impenetrable, defensive anger. Nothing - no forced smiles nor rehearsed protestation of concern could cancel out the cold selfishness of those eyes. The eyes are the window of the soul...it was such a well-known adage, a cliche by now, but Isabel had read that neuroscience, which was validating so many intuitive, ancient beliefs about who we were and how we lived our lives, now confirmed this insight too. The part of the brain that was most closely associated with self-awareness, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, lay directly behind the eyes. So that was where we were located - that was where the soul was found, if it were to be found anywhere." So beautifully written. So insightful. So lovely. So true. Thank you, again, Mr. McCall Smith, for raising the consciousness of the world through your writing. You are using your God given talents in wonderful ways to make this world a better place. Whenever you publish a new book, it is like Christmas day for me. I am so filled with joy!
June 26, 2018
I couldn't imagine abandoning a series I've thoroughly enjoyed halfway through the eleventh book, but I suppose that's what I've just done.
I've abandoned the book, at least, if not the series.
I've said before about McCall Smith that one must be in the right frame of mind to read his gentle, insightful, meandering novels. I am, perhaps, not in the right frame of mind right now. The most exciting thing I found about this one was Charlie and his reactions to his new baby brother. Endearing, spiteful, funny, they were the primary reason I kept reading as long as I did and I was so focused on these interactions that it felt like the rest of the bones of the plot were weakly constructed around this one element.
I'm always going to love the 44 Scotland Street series, and I doubt that I won't return to the Dalhousie books but I've never abandoned one before, either, so I suppose we'll see.
I've abandoned the book, at least, if not the series.
I've said before about McCall Smith that one must be in the right frame of mind to read his gentle, insightful, meandering novels. I am, perhaps, not in the right frame of mind right now. The most exciting thing I found about this one was Charlie and his reactions to his new baby brother. Endearing, spiteful, funny, they were the primary reason I kept reading as long as I did and I was so focused on these interactions that it felt like the rest of the bones of the plot were weakly constructed around this one element.
I'm always going to love the 44 Scotland Street series, and I doubt that I won't return to the Dalhousie books but I've never abandoned one before, either, so I suppose we'll see.
May 25, 2021
Warning...possible spoilers!
I hated to give this book only three stars but from my point of view that is all it deserved. The Isabel Dalhousie series has always been a bit quirky but I have grown to enjoy it. This book though just fell flat for me.
Isabel, now the mother of two small boys is busy helping out at her niece's deli, being rather bossy and unkind to Eddie, one of the employees there, working on her philosophy publication, trying to quash malicious gossip in town, and generally trying to keep her feelings about Grace, her housekeeper, under control. What I see is that she is doing everything but mothering in this installment.
I also found her personality to be more abrasive than usual, and believe that there was even a line or two about "winning" in conversations.
McCall is so clever and writes enchanting stories about families and children. What happened here?
I hated to give this book only three stars but from my point of view that is all it deserved. The Isabel Dalhousie series has always been a bit quirky but I have grown to enjoy it. This book though just fell flat for me.
Isabel, now the mother of two small boys is busy helping out at her niece's deli, being rather bossy and unkind to Eddie, one of the employees there, working on her philosophy publication, trying to quash malicious gossip in town, and generally trying to keep her feelings about Grace, her housekeeper, under control. What I see is that she is doing everything but mothering in this installment.
I also found her personality to be more abrasive than usual, and believe that there was even a line or two about "winning" in conversations.
McCall is so clever and writes enchanting stories about families and children. What happened here?
April 6, 2017
I have to say I was a little worried when I read the reviews of this one that were up when I started. But sometimes having low expectations is just the ticket for really enjoying something. The thing I always love about this series is that the plot really doesn't matter. These books feel like a reassuring exploration of human nature and the stories hinge on small things- passing comments, misunderstandings, people's motivation. This is certainly not the series to read if you're looking for a tight suspense thriller. But still, I couldn't put it down and kept looking forward to getting back to it. I love how we get to explore Isabel's interior monologue and think about what it means to be alive now and the ways that philosophy helps her sort through that. As always, I'm sad it's over.
June 4, 2017
This may well be my favorite of this series to date. As usual, there's little "action" and lots of pondering, which is one of the delights of having a philosopher as a protagonist. Also, as usual, Isabel Dalhousie, now happily married and the mother of two boys, is called to help ("you have a reputation for helping people" she's told by those who come to her) and, of course, she does. The situation at hand is less a "mystery" than a dilemma that allows Isabel to think deeply about human nature (and a great many other things along the way). In this installment, Isabel's relationship with her husband, the lovely and talented Jamie, presents its own dilemma for Isabel, one that gives this entry in the series a more complex flavor than most.
July 26, 2021
Such a treat to get back to this series with a volume I haven't previously read. Isabel & Jamie have added to their family, the Review is still going, & Isabel has a new request to "help" an old school friend. It's a case that has consequences for a doctor who may or may not be shady. Can Isabel figure it out in time to warn a wealthy woman before she loses a ton of money? These are listed as mysteries but they are not hard-boiled crime fiction, rather they are mysteries in the traditional sense where there is a puzzle or problem to solve & the main character works it out by following clues. And in Isabel's case, in a very cultured, ethical, & delightful manner. Loved it!
April 28, 2019
I liked the mystery more than the usual one Smith smiths, though the solution was readily guessable. Isabel's philosophical musings and internal monologue tend to make the series, but here it's a bit intrusive and one wishes that Isabel would pay a bit more attention to the conversations she's having. Half-amusingly, the author acknowledges this - multiple characters point out irately that Isabel's mentally wandered off again.
PS The cover deserves a full five stars. I sure hope the positioning of the telescope was intentional.
PS The cover deserves a full five stars. I sure hope the positioning of the telescope was intentional.
July 20, 2017
Reviewers seem to love or strongly dislike these Isabel Dalhousie books. Count me in as really enjoying them. Maybe you have to be in the right mood and I was. I was ready to relax and go wherever McCall Smith led me--to a philosphy of sleep, to turning green after eating green olives, to salami conferences, to refrigerator magnets. There is plenty of love and good will to relish between Isabel, her family, her "housekeeper" aka personal assistant at times, and the deli crew of Cat and Eddie. There is also a theme of not jumping to conclusions which plays out in various story lines from Jamie's health, Isabel's involvement in helping others, the relationship between Cat and her new employee and even the initial reaction of a big brother to a new baby in the house.
Being married to a professor, now emeritus, I always enjoy the references to esoteric academic journals and the foibles of some academics (not the one I love, hwoever!)
Being married to a professor, now emeritus, I always enjoy the references to esoteric academic journals and the foibles of some academics (not the one I love, hwoever!)
August 1, 2017
Isabel Dalhousie is one of my favorite characters; in fact, I tend to forget she is a character. I feel quite certain that somewhere in Edinburgh, Isabel and her family go on about their lives from day to day, never dreaming Alexander McCall Smith has been looking through his magic glass and recording their stories, and even, and perhaps particularly, thoughts. Reading the 11th book in this series is like visiting an old friend. (If we could read the thoughts of our friends as AMS shows us what goes on within the minds and hearts of his characters, at least, certainly Isabel!) What is special about this wonderful character is that she puts us in touch with our own inner workings: thoughts, feelings, musings, digressions, problems we struggle to solve. And there is a wonderful light shone on how, sometimes, things just sort of work themselves out, in spite of how much we manage to get in the way. On occasion, I think the full name of the main character should be "Isobel 'but I digress' Dalhousie". Still, these lovely stories make me more conscious of my own inner workings, my own relationships with friends (and strangers.) A beautiful read for a beautiful summer's day!
January 29, 2020
The Isabel Dalhousie books are too intellectual and sophisticated to be called a soap opera, so perhaps serial is the best description. I am addicted to them, as I am to another series from their prolific author Alexander McCall Smith, the 44 Scotland Street novels. They are both set in Edinburgh, which is an important part of their charm. I lost interest years ago in his The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, set in Botswana.
Isabel Dalhousie is the publisher and editor of an academic journal on moral philosophy who is asked in every book to address some tricky personal situation, usually involving a complex moral dilemma. She is remarkably good at it, and we readers benefit from the complexity and subtlety of the situations that rarely involve criminality or danger. These are mysteries of the respectable middle class, people like us, after all. McCall Smith is Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, a respected expert on medical law and bioethics, and a deeply philosophical writer.
I am, however, thoroughly sick of hearing of the utter perfection of Isabel's 14-year-younger husband, Jamie, and their reciprocal adoration, but we will just have to suck it up.
Isabel Dalhousie is the publisher and editor of an academic journal on moral philosophy who is asked in every book to address some tricky personal situation, usually involving a complex moral dilemma. She is remarkably good at it, and we readers benefit from the complexity and subtlety of the situations that rarely involve criminality or danger. These are mysteries of the respectable middle class, people like us, after all. McCall Smith is Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, a respected expert on medical law and bioethics, and a deeply philosophical writer.
I am, however, thoroughly sick of hearing of the utter perfection of Isabel's 14-year-younger husband, Jamie, and their reciprocal adoration, but we will just have to suck it up.
July 8, 2018
I find I want to like these books, but I can't. I think this is my third. There is nothing in them like the wit and character of either the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency or the 44 Scotland Street series, both of which I love. Isabel is an irritating heroine in her little bubble of the posher bits of Edinburgh's southside, and I rejoiced when the rather shilpit Eddie in the delicatessen pointed out to her how rude she was to allow her mind to wander so much when others were speaking to her, then to appear to laugh at them. In fact, I think Eddie may have been the only character I half-liked. Oh, well, back to Bertie and his appalling mother, and Mma Ramotswe!
April 24, 2017
Another slice of the life of Isabel Dalhousie. I think you need to have read the others: the story is a bit thin and not very much happens, apart from Isabel having had another baby - it doesn't seem to change her life much. This is escapism with some moral questions sneaked in (oh, and one of the characters changes name, confusingly!). Very readable and occasionally funny too.
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