Alexander McCall-Smith (Login chapteraday) Forum Owner
Mystery Book Club The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall-Smith Buy book: $10.77
Filled with endearingly thorny characters and a Scottish atmosphere as dense and savory as oatmeal, "The Sunday Philosophy Club" is irresistible, and Isabel Dalhousie is the most delightful literary sleuth since Precious Ramotswe.
Seems like this book is going to be a great read! I thought the prose was going to be like the writing of the author's African series, but it is a little different...less sparse, more "starch". Mr. McCall Smith is a very talented writer.
I have read this book. I am a huge fan of the Ladies #1 detective series by this author. I enjoyed his "Ms. Marple-type" character he invented for this story. However, I did not think the book was as good as his other series, but it was still an entertaining read and I hope he continues this storyline with more books. If you enjoy this weeks read definately check out the "Ladies #1 detective agency" series. They're marvelous books. I love the morality of the characters.
I agree, Rachel. This new series doesn't seem to have the lyrical quality of the #1 Ladies Detective series, but it's a fun read and presents some interesting moral ponderings. Did you know that the Really Terrible Orchestra just released a CD? Alexander McCall Smith is a genuine treasure.
>Isabel Dalhousie is the most delightful literary sleuth since Precious Ramotswe.<
The new series is not grabing me as soon as the Ladies Detective Agency did but then I'm only on
day two of the 5 minute reads.
I'm still hoping that Isabel will
be an interesting character and
presented such as Precious was so
that the reader feels on a first
name basis. I think I have read
enough to go ahead with placing the book on hold at the library just based on owning the author's
previous complete series.
Hi, I don't get the mystery excerpts so am not reading this with you all. Is it set in Scotland? I love all things Scottish and thought I might like this then. Thanks!
I guess I'm the only one who is not getting into this one. I'm also disliking the fiction selection - it's just a bad "reading" week for me I guess!! =)
Alexander McCall Smith has a very distinctive literary "voice". If you are familiar with his Precious Ramotswe novels, you should persevere with this one. You may find it worth your while, I did. This character is not Precious, and the setting is not Botswana, and it is not so humorous, but it is a surprisingly quiet and interesting mystery.
I enjoy the way AMS shows such empathy for his characters and, by extension, mankind. This is not a typical "cozy" mystery, but as always, his books leave me feeling content.
I loved the Precious Ramotswe series, and I know that I am going to enjoy this series as well. I really enjoy AMS's style of mystery. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said reading his books left you feeling content.
This was the first book by this author I have read. I saw it on my way out of Richmond VA in a airport shop. It caught my attention but I moved on because I had a selection already.
I then found the book again in Audio format at my local library. If you can't get into the book, try the Audiobook format.
Davina Porter is the narrator and she does scottish accents like no one else can! She is fabulous and brought to life a book that, truthfully, would have done nothing for me.
