Q&A with Alexander McCall Smith discussion

May I first say that I devour your books with a relish that constantly surprises me in its fervency. I don't know how you take the reader to so many different places and manage to make us fall in love with each one. Perhaps one day we shall see McCall Smith tours! Of course there is a special area in my heart reserved for The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs and all others in that series as they were the first I read. So my question is this: are we to see more of my favorite professor anytime soon?

Hello Mr Smith,

I love your work, am a huge fan of the NO. 1 Detective Agency, and enjoyed much of Portuguese Irregular Verbs. I do have a question about the latter, though: At the end of the book, in the story about the Geiger counter, the main character spoke to the child's mother and she replied in French. The point or at least resolution of this story seems to hinge on what she said, yet I, as an ignorant American, alas do not speak French (some Swahili and Latin, but virtually no French). Would you please explain what she said? If it really wasn't important, can you help me understand the ending of that story because I didn't get it. I'm sure this is my own ignorance and no fault of the beautiful writing, but it would be nice to understand what happened.

Thank you so much.

Mr Smith, I love all your books, and enjoyed your interview with NPR earlier this year. I, too, am hoping we will see more adventures of the extremely amusing Professor Dr von Igelfeld!

Of course there is a special area in my heart reserved for The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs...

A favorite of mine, too. I'm sure I never laughed harder than at the Professor's "surgery".

What I most love about this series is the gentle pokes at those who take themselves (and their skills, positions in life) a little too seriously. ;)

Americanogig wrote: "May I first say that I devour your books with a relish that constantly surprises me in its fervency. I don't know how you take the reader to so many different places and manage to make us fall in ..."

Yes, I am writing a fourth - and the sausage dog, Walter, will play a big part in it. All best, AMcS

Kelly wrote: "Hello Mr Smith,

I love your work, am a huge fan of the NO. 1 Detective Agency, and enjoyed much of Portuguese Irregular Verbs. I do have a question about the latter, though: At the end of the book..."

Dear Kelly, I don;t have a copy fo that book with me at the moment, but, as I recall, the conversation went rather like this: Von Igelfeld says to her:" Madame I very much regret it but your son, the very charming Tadzio, has become slightly radio-active." She turns to him and say, "Thank you very much for this information, Sir. I have strong views on the subject of radioactivity in children."
All best, AMcS

Ok, that made me laugh out loud! Sadly Mr. Smith has ended this discussion but it was so fun to get to talk with him!