Fiction

44 Scotland Street

44 Scotland Street

  • Downloads：2342
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2023-12-12 07:21:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-14
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Alexander McCall Smith
  • ISBN：1038632978
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

The story revolves around the comings and goings at No。 44 Scotland Street， a fictitious building in a real street in Edinburgh。 Immediately recognisable are the Edinburgh chartered surveyor， stalwart of the Conservative Association， who dreams of membership of Scotland's most exclusive golf club。 We have the pushy Stockbridge mother， and her prodigiously talented five-year-old son， who is making good progress with the saxophone and with his Italian。 Then there is Domenica Macdonald who is that type of Edinburgh lady who sees herself as a citizen of a broader intellectual world。 In McCall Smith's hands such characters retain charm and novelty， simultaneously arousing both mirth and empathy。 44 Scotland Street is vintage McCall Smith， tackling issues of trust and honesty， snobbery and hypocrisy， love and loss， but all with great lightness of touch。 Clever， elegant and funny， this is a novel that provides huge entertainment but which is underpinned by the moral dilemmas of everyday life and the characters' struggles to resolve them。

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Reviews

Hattie ，

Fun to read after being in Edinburgh and interesting that it was published in a newspaper。 There were a lot of story lines going on at once and he did not come back to many of them。

Emma Tavangari ，

This author is like the Wes Anderson of writing。 I succumb to the charms because they are so charming and meant for the exact type of person that I am， someone who willenjoy reading a plotless little series of dotingly-written vignettes with a kind of Seinfeld-in-Scotland type energy （but more artsy）。 But you can’t deny that they’re rather one note。 On a bad day I’d pick up another book of his！

Emily ，

This was written as a modern serial novel， which I loved knowing a the beginning。 I also loved the little tidbits about Edinburgh and seeing familiar settings on the page。 There really isn't much of a plot。。。so it feels interesting， but not intriguing。 This was written as a modern serial novel， which I loved knowing a the beginning。 I also loved the little tidbits about Edinburgh and seeing familiar settings on the page。 There really isn't much of a plot。。。so it feels interesting， but not intriguing。 。。。more

Sarah Lake-Wallace ，

This book does have some really great characters and a convoluted story lines。 Wasn't my favorite read but I it helped me get a big project done。 This book does have some really great characters and a convoluted story lines。 Wasn't my favorite read but I it helped me get a big project done。 。。。more

Aliaa Sharara ，

3。5/5

Meagan ，

The characters in this book make interesting but frustrating choices， and I cannot say that I would want to befriend any of them。 There is story， but not enough plot to deeply satisfy。 The author weaves philosophy into the dialogue in an agreeable way， but I wasn't keen on most of the ideas。 The setting wasn't terribly romantic for someone like me （as I was raised in the American countryside）， but it might be nostalgic for someone from Edinburgh。 I can't say that I desire to continue reading the The characters in this book make interesting but frustrating choices， and I cannot say that I would want to befriend any of them。 There is story， but not enough plot to deeply satisfy。 The author weaves philosophy into the dialogue in an agreeable way， but I wasn't keen on most of the ideas。 The setting wasn't terribly romantic for someone like me （as I was raised in the American countryside）， but it might be nostalgic for someone from Edinburgh。 I can't say that I desire to continue reading the series， although I do respect the author's ability to write for a newspaper。 。。。more

Sarah ，

easy readingDelightfully calming and relaxing story。 The characters are very well drawn and I look forward to seeing their development in the rest of this series。 A couple of them are hard to like so I’m curious to see what becomes of them。 I’m not a fan of poetry because I can’t ‘hear’ it or retain it in my mind but these few poems at least were easy to read and not too long。

Tamara Baker ，

3。5 stars because I love people watching This is basically just people watching in book form。 An easy read， laugh out loud funny at times and just sweet。 I will definitely be paying attention if I see the next instalment in a book shop

Naomi Allen ，

V much enjoyed。 Love his style of writing

Annie The ，

Rambling。。。nothing ever concluded

Pri ，

i like how someone said “nothing happens。” in this book。 it’s true！ nothing does happen。 nothing is supposed to happen。 it was silly and light and a bit of fun， with over exaggerated characters。I think mcall’s age alas makes for sometimes sexist and skewed view of young people today。 i won’t be reading the sequels

Paula Garrecht ，

It took me a long time in short segments to finish this on audiobook， but I did enjoy it。 The author's understanding of human nature and diverse personalities is presented with compassion and humor。 An interesting cast of people going about their daily lives。 I look forward to #2 in the series。 It took me a long time in short segments to finish this on audiobook， but I did enjoy it。 The author's understanding of human nature and diverse personalities is presented with compassion and humor。 An interesting cast of people going about their daily lives。 I look forward to #2 in the series。 。。。more

Julia Schulz ，

I won't offer marks on this as I've read the series before in around 2010 & up to about "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones。" I hired this from the library as I had nothing to read， but it doesn't float my boat like it used to。 DNF。 No offence Mr Smith。 It's me， not you。 Tastes change over the years。。。 I won't offer marks on this as I've read the series before in around 2010 & up to about "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones。" I hired this from the library as I had nothing to read， but it doesn't float my boat like it used to。 DNF。 No offence Mr Smith。 It's me， not you。 Tastes change over the years。。。 。。。more

Shannon Coyne ，

If you’re in the mood for a quippy， light book， that intentionally doesn’t really have a plot。 Follow the lives of these Scottspeople， and come to know and love the characters。 I thought it was a bit of a slow read， but I hear it gets better as you continue the series。

Robert A ，

The average star ratings were about right， 3。5 stars

Venkat K ，

I’ve just started my journey with Alexander McCall Smith and his extensive and incredible number of books。 44 Scotland Street #1 is sweet little tale about various interesting personalities intersecting with each other in Edinburgh society and all the intricacies that produces。 I thought the author has some insight into gifted and precocious children and their mindset， either because he was one as a child or that he has children that are like that。 I really enjoyed reading about Bertie and the w I’ve just started my journey with Alexander McCall Smith and his extensive and incredible number of books。 44 Scotland Street #1 is sweet little tale about various interesting personalities intersecting with each other in Edinburgh society and all the intricacies that produces。 I thought the author has some insight into gifted and precocious children and their mindset， either because he was one as a child or that he has children that are like that。 I really enjoyed reading about Bertie and the way his mind thinks and the challenges and obsessions his mom has raising him。I really liked the gentle touch that the author displays while addressing deep philosophical issues （like the existence or usefulness of God）。 The playful and pithy ways he just touches upon these issues makes me want for more！ All in all， thoroughly enjoyable and I can’t wait to read the #2 in the series and more to see what’s happening with each character 。。。more

Alicia Hanson ，

Requisite for a trip to Scotland though I didn't get to Edinburgh。。。 Requisite for a trip to Scotland though I didn't get to Edinburgh。。。 。。。more

Mephistia ，

GENRE: Lit FicNARRATIVE TYPE: Character DrivenPERSPECTIVES: Multiple （rotating cast）。POV: Primarily 3rd person limited

Quinn ，

This book is a compilation of stories the author wrote for a magazine。 I listened to this expertly read book and found it enjoyable but about half-way through I thought it started to drag。 The stories revolved around the inhabitants of Scotland Street in Edinburgh。 There was an occasional chuckle to be had， but mostly they were quiet stories about dealing with life。

Sue Russo Rogers ，

The little I know about the Scottish people is they possess very dry， clever senses of humor。 Alexander McCall Smith writes with what appears to be outward simplicity， but you need to pay attention to his nuanced tongue-in-cheek portrayal of people and places。 The Audible recording very much helps a reader hone in on these gems， because I’m sure most reading his books don’t “get” them or wonder in what direction the plot is going。 But I very much enjoyed 44 Scotland Street for its characters and The little I know about the Scottish people is they possess very dry， clever senses of humor。 Alexander McCall Smith writes with what appears to be outward simplicity， but you need to pay attention to his nuanced tongue-in-cheek portrayal of people and places。 The Audible recording very much helps a reader hone in on these gems， because I’m sure most reading his books don’t “get” them or wonder in what direction the plot is going。 But I very much enjoyed 44 Scotland Street for its characters and their mostly awkward interactions within their daily lives。 I look forward to the next in the series， if only to experience more endearing （or annoying） characters and share a laugh。 。。。more

Mathi ，

Interesting format of a book - each chapter was published weekly so the way it's written is that each chapter is almost self contained。 But reading it as a continuous novel now， some of the chapters had way too much content that did not contribute to the overall story Interesting format of a book - each chapter was published weekly so the way it's written is that each chapter is almost self contained。 But reading it as a continuous novel now， some of the chapters had way too much content that did not contribute to the overall story 。。。more

Margaret Richard ，

Coming to the conclusion that the No。1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is his best stuff 😬

Lisa ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I had enjoyed the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency years ago。 I could read those again。 I enjoyed just smiling as I read。So this is a new series， well， new to me。 He has a way of being funny that is subtle， but so effective。The characters really come alive。 Bruce the Narcissist。 Poor little Bertie。 Irene is so bizarre。 Matthew and Pat at the art gallery。 Angus and the winking dog。 I love Dominica。 Anyways， I will enjoy this series。Too bad about the painting。 Oh that is a spoiler。

Matthew Roche ，

This is a very， very silly book， but amusing， and a perfect audiobook。

Shelley ，

I loved this book。 It doesn't have an exciting plot but the characters are wonderful: Pat， Bruce， Matthew， Bertie， Irene， Domenica and more。Pat works for Matthew at an art gallery。 She shares a flat with Bruce。 Bertie， Irene， and Domenica live in the same apartment building。 I loved this book。 It doesn't have an exciting plot but the characters are wonderful: Pat， Bruce， Matthew， Bertie， Irene， Domenica and more。Pat works for Matthew at an art gallery。 She shares a flat with Bruce。 Bertie， Irene， and Domenica live in the same apartment building。 。。。more

Marlee ，

I didn’t enjoy these characters as much as those in the No。 1 Ladies Detective Agency。 I was a little disappointed。 But it was still enjoyable。 I will probably continue the series。

Julie ，

I'd give this a 3。5 if we could award half stars。 It was entertaining， made me laugh in some spots and had interesting characters in a wide spectrum of classes。 I expect that if one lived in Edinburgh this might be better， as I think some of the things were referring to recent politics and famous Scottish people - just not famous in the way people outside of the country know who they are。 Given this is actually a serial story from the newspaper that makes sense。 Still enjoyable and I will contin I'd give this a 3。5 if we could award half stars。 It was entertaining， made me laugh in some spots and had interesting characters in a wide spectrum of classes。 I expect that if one lived in Edinburgh this might be better， as I think some of the things were referring to recent politics and famous Scottish people - just not famous in the way people outside of the country know who they are。 Given this is actually a serial story from the newspaper that makes sense。 Still enjoyable and I will continue the series。 。。。more

Stacey Turner ，

DNF I loved No 1 Ladies Detective Agency， so I was hoping， but I just couldn't get into this。 Too many characters I was having a hard time keeping track of with not much happening。 DNF I loved No 1 Ladies Detective Agency， so I was hoping， but I just couldn't get into this。 Too many characters I was having a hard time keeping track of with not much happening。 。。。more

Denise Kruse ，

A delightful read about a small area in Edinburgh and its very Scottish inhabitants。 Quick-witted， quirky and fun。

Bianca ，

44 scotland street is a wonderful book that explores the perspectives of multiple neighbors， a self obsessed jock，a girl taking her second gap year， a strict mother who forces her son to play the saxophone， and an old lady with lots of stories to tell。Towards the end of the book it kind of lost me with all the characters always going on a tangent。 Originally all those tangants are what make the book so charming but it lost me。 If you persevere you will be very happy with the conclusion it comes 44 scotland street is a wonderful book that explores the perspectives of multiple neighbors， a self obsessed jock，a girl taking her second gap year， a strict mother who forces her son to play the saxophone， and an old lady with lots of stories to tell。Towards the end of the book it kind of lost me with all the characters always going on a tangent。 Originally all those tangants are what make the book so charming but it lost me。 If you persevere you will be very happy with the conclusion it comes to。It's an easy going book with a few plot twists and excitement here and there， and I can't wait to read the next book！ 。。。more

Tag

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Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=44 Scotland Street

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=44 Scotland Street&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,44 Scotland Street&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0