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A Conspiracy of Friends: A Corduroy Mansions Novel (Corduroy Mansions #3)
by
Alexander McCall Smith (Goodreads Author)
CORDUROY MANSIONS - Book 3
In the Corduroy Mansions series of novels, set in London’s hip Pimlico neighborhood, we meet a cast of charming eccentrics, including perhaps the world’s most clever terrier, who make their home in a handsome, though slightly dilapidated, apartment block.
It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they...more
In the Corduroy Mansions series of novels, set in London’s hip Pimlico neighborhood, we meet a cast of charming eccentrics, including perhaps the world’s most clever terrier, who make their home in a handsome, though slightly dilapidated, apartment block.
It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they...more
Hardcover, 261 pages
Published
June 12th 2012
by Pantheon
(first published May 1st 2011)
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I hate to admit it, but this serialized string of intertwined plot lines, gently and kindly narrated, is starting to appeal to me. Generally I think McCall Smith writes too much for his own good. I only patiently tolerated the first ones in this series, but I've been listening to the recorded versions and have now begun to feel comfortable with some of the characters. The plots are not as predictable as I had expected, and some of them actually do come to an end. This third volume included the (...more
This book is the third in the series of corduroy mansions, although sometimes spookily similar to other Alexander McCall Smith books. It does address moral issues and causes us to think about the relationships we have in our life. He confirms to some social stereotypes which I found a little disappointing and he also in most/all of his books (even in different series) he has a unfaithful or simply fickle girl although he does sometimes do that with males also I find it sad that he has this view...more
This novel is the latest and third book in the Corduroy series by Alexander McCall Smith and it is outstanding. This whole series is my very favorite of what I've read of his books, which is all but two of the Isabel Dalhousie series and about 1/3 of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series...those series are very wonderful and remarkable in their own rights. Yet, there's just something so incredibly charming about this set, though...maybe because one of the main characters is a quintessentiall...more
A Conspiracy of Friends is the third novel in the Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith. In this instalment: psychotherapist Berthea Snark considers the possibility that she is not really the mother of the least-liked Lib Dem MP, Oedipus Snark; wine merchant William French ponders the purpose of his life; William’s unqualified and unemployed son, Eddie, engages a designer to turn his fiancée, Merle’s house on St Lucia into a hotel; literary agent, Barbara Ragg retracts a promise to...more
Another charmer from Alexander McCall Smith. In the third of his Corduroy Mansions series, Smith revisits the residents of a small apartment building located in the Pimlico neighborhood of London. This time, each member of the ensemble cast is in the midst of a conflict. For example, Berthea Snarke still dislikes her son, Oedipus, a Liberal Democrat MP and she continues to work on her "hostile biography" of him. Barbara Ragg is still at odds with her obnoxious business partner. Friendships are d...more
Thought I would buy this as a quick light read which it was. Alexander McCall Smith's style remains true to himself, covering the lives of the occupants of Corduray Mansions including the dog Freddie de la Hay. In fact the dog for me was the most amusing and appealing of them all, having a dog ourselves I could just envision the thoughts in his head conjured up by the mere expression on his doggie face.
He flits between characters and places keeping you on your toes, or is it because that's the...more
He flits between characters and places keeping you on your toes, or is it because that's the...more
Jan 13, 2013
Joyce
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
set-in-locations-outside-usa
A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith is the 2nd book in his Corduroy Mansions. I was fortunate to have just read the preceding book in the series and having that background greatly added to my enjoyment of this book. Smith makes frequent use of understated dry humor in his writing, and I love the way he gently pokes fun at people through that dry humor. There were many times while reading the book that I found myself chuckling over his descriptions of people's quirks and foibles. On...more
We read books for so many reasons. We read to educate ourselves. We read to challenge ourselves. We read to explore new ideas and feelings. We read to think thoughts we've never thought before. We read to visit places, people, and times we'd otherwise never be able to. We read to escape the present. We read to bask in the beauty of the written word. And sometimes we just want a good story, the sort you tell over dinner with friends or the sort that makes a comforting bedtime story, no matter wha...more
Storyteller Alexander McCall Smith takes readers back for a third visit with the denizens of Corduroy Mansions, a slightly shabby, but cozy, apartment building in London. If you like the author's 'No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency' series, you will enjoy the gentle humor and ruminative narrative style of this series also. The friends and apartment mates in these tales find and lose love, advise and ignore adult children, lose and take in stray dogs, all the while thinking about these everyday occurr...more
The synopsis for A Conspiracy of Friends explains that the character Barbara is shocked by the revelations of her boyfriend and this confession causes her to question her involvement with him. This is one of the first times in a McCall Smith book that I've actually been offended by a character's thoughts or actions. Wait, that's not true at all. There have been plenty of times I've been properly offended by the actions of a clearly bad guy - as most of McCall Smith's bad guys clearly are from th...more
Actually, I did really enjoy this book. It's reliably sharp and funny and human. But I like the Mma Ramotswe mysteries arebetter than the Corduroy Mansions series; they seem deeper and more coherent. In this episode of "Corduroy Mansions", I was interested in all the characters and quite engaged - but I got frustrated in the end, because we didn't see a confrontation I expected to see. I also think the attempt of the literary agency to book the Yeti who's written an autobiography was - well, per...more
Alexander McCall Smith writes book in series. I love "the no. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series.
So, I read one book in the "Portuguese Irregular Verb Series." (Why would anyone write a book about Portuguese irregular verbs and more important why would I read it.....it was just as boring as it sounds !!)
"A Conspiracy of Friends" is the third book in this series. I did not read the other books.
This is a story, actually stories, about 5 people whose connection is that they live in the block of...more
So, I read one book in the "Portuguese Irregular Verb Series." (Why would anyone write a book about Portuguese irregular verbs and more important why would I read it.....it was just as boring as it sounds !!)
"A Conspiracy of Friends" is the third book in this series. I did not read the other books.
This is a story, actually stories, about 5 people whose connection is that they live in the block of...more
Really ended up enjoying this series. I remember finding the first book a bit sad but I enjoyed the second and the last one in this series. I love hot the author seems to realistically see the world through a dogs eyes and mind. The dog is not a big part of the book at all. In fact, he is hardly in this book at all, but when he is, I'm fascinated by his portrayal by the author. Who know what a dog really thinks and feels; but to me, the author's view seems pretty realistic and how I image a dog...more
Have discovered an excellent way to read a series of books - backwards start with the last and work backwards. I discovered this by accident of course as most excellent ways are found. I took two books on holiday and started the wrong one first but it's been intriguing to pick up the development of characters and in my head I'm reading two books! I love the way Alexander MCS gets into the heads of others. I'm with Freddie de la Hay the Plimlico Terrier who came in from the cold at present - anxi...more
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I liked book 3 a bit better than book 2, with a paring down of the number of characters, it seems, and some resolutions. William and Freddie are still the anchor, I think, but both Berthea and Terrance got their shot. The only downstairs roomate this time was Caroline and she seems to have stopped pining for James, thankfully. Dee was kind of resolved in book 2 and gone, so maybe this will be a trend. Oedipus was back, albeit briefly and not in full unpleasantness sail, but I am curious how that...more
What a delightful story. It's a story of the lives of those who live in Corduroy Mansions which is a grouping of apartments in a block in Pimlico, London.
One of the loveable characters is Freddie De La Hay who happens to be a dog. He's a smart dog who can restrain himself with seatbelts in a car. However, he did get lost in the country and went down a rabbit hole. Something he won't ever do again.
There are a lot of characters and the novel goes from one character in a few chapters then switches...more
One of the loveable characters is Freddie De La Hay who happens to be a dog. He's a smart dog who can restrain himself with seatbelts in a car. However, he did get lost in the country and went down a rabbit hole. Something he won't ever do again.
There are a lot of characters and the novel goes from one character in a few chapters then switches...more
Everytime I read a book by Alexander McCall Smith I wish that I could live among his characters and in his locations! This third installment in the Corduroy Mansions series is no exception. The life events of the characters - while (in most cases) not earth-shattering and described so thoroughly and thoughtfully it is like we are experiencing them ourselves, or at least sitting on the sofa and hearing about them from a friend. Freddy de la Hay has an adventure (again) and both William and his so...more
So far I haven't found the characters in the Corduroy Mansions series to be quite as endearing as the ones in Smith's other books. But I still recommend it highly for a completely charming read.
The star of the series is Freddie de la Hay, a Pimlico Terrior. Poor Freddie manages to get lost in this episode and that's just one of his owner, William's problems. It seems his best friend's wife declares her love for William, much to his dismay. William's ne'er-do-well soon is off on a scheme to start...more
The star of the series is Freddie de la Hay, a Pimlico Terrior. Poor Freddie manages to get lost in this episode and that's just one of his owner, William's problems. It seems his best friend's wife declares her love for William, much to his dismay. William's ne'er-do-well soon is off on a scheme to start...more
"The thought of pepper reminded him that he needed to buy some more. Basil refused to accept the black pepper sold in supermarkets. "Dust," he said. "Like the tea they put in teabags. Dust." How different were the fresh peppercorns he sent off for from a mail-order spice business in Sussex. This company imported pepper directly from Kerala and bagged it up for their clients in small linen sacks. These peppercorns, when put in the grinder and broken into fragments, released an aroma that tickled...more
I do not know how Alexander McCall Smith is able to churn out so many books and still have new stories to tell. This is a continuation of his Corduroy Mansions series and features some favorite old characters as well as introducing a few new ones as well. I particularly enjoy the politician, Oedipus Snark and his mother, Berthea. In this novel, Oedipus is just as unlovable as ever. Another character that is central in this book is Caroline, one of the girls who share a flat in Corduroy Mansions....more
A sublime addition to Alexander McCall Smith's CORDUROY MANSIONS series. All of the wonderful characters are here in full force: Oedipus Snark( a name worth the price of the book) is back to his loathsome politicking;Rupert Porter and Barbara Ragg are still battling over the manuscript of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YETI; Caroline Jarvis finds a new love;Terence Moongrove buys a race-car; William French visits old friends in the country where his Plimlico Terrier, Freddie de la Hay, finds a new adven...more
There is a dog on the cover but this is not a dog book. He disappears down a rabbit warren. The book is primarily about people; almost ordinary people with foibles to which at least I can relate. This one is the most entertaining of the series so far. It is almost racy at times but certainly not enough to titillate the fantasies of millions like those Shades of Grey things. The subtle humor continues to delight. Characters interact in unexpected ways. It was intriguing to see how their misadvent...more
Another lovely, lighthearted read fromAlexander McCall Smith, the third in his Corduroy Mansions series. This follows the further adventures of the residents of a small apartment block in the Pimlico district of London, mainly concerning their relationships with friends, lovers, neighbours and pets. Although occasionally veering off into the absurd, these intertwined stories deal mainly in the day-to-day dealings of ordinary people. An enjoyable sequel for all McCall Smith fans.
These are such good, fast, and feel-good reads. They're funny, and surprising things happen, and I like the characters.
This one actually had a scene in it that was extremely difficult to read, it felt so real. It was from the point of view of the dog, and - I don't want to spoil it - but something bad was happening to him - or about to happen to him - and it was so vividly written I almost felt like I was having a little panic attack while reading it.
Very enjoyable. Not at all deep, but still...more
This one actually had a scene in it that was extremely difficult to read, it felt so real. It was from the point of view of the dog, and - I don't want to spoil it - but something bad was happening to him - or about to happen to him - and it was so vividly written I almost felt like I was having a little panic attack while reading it.
Very enjoyable. Not at all deep, but still...more
I like this series--it's been a pleasure to read. Maybe because personally I am not interested in ready anything with a really heavy theme, and because I find the quirks of most of the characters charming--although the resolution between two characters who seemed so destined to be together and were on their way to getting married was not quite satisfying. Am interested to see whether Oedipus Snark's experience will really leave him a changed man. IMHO, this series is not quite as good as the 44...more
Jul 02, 2012
Jennifer
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-fiction,
humor
Third in the Corduroy Mansions series, and another ensemble cast production with the dog Freddie de la Hay front and center. Here's what I like about Freddie: McCall-Smith wisely, in my opinion, does not over think Freddie's inner life. Freddie is keenly interested in rabbits (and doubtless squirrels). Freddie is led by his nose. Freddie is anxious to ascertain that human affection and a nice meal are never far away. And that's about it, which seems strikingly in line with my own close acquainta...more
ABOUT THE BOOK: It’s back to Corduroy Mansions—the slightly dilapidated but well-lived-in mansion block in London’s hip Pimlico neighborhood—for the third installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s latest beloved series.
It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they all find themselves struggling with their nearest and dearest. Oedipus Snark’s mother, Berthea, is still at work on her scathing biography of her son—the only loathsome Liberal Democrat Me...more
It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they all find themselves struggling with their nearest and dearest. Oedipus Snark’s mother, Berthea, is still at work on her scathing biography of her son—the only loathsome Liberal Democrat Me...more
This novel is the latest and third book in the Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith and it is outstanding. This whole series is my very favorite of what I've read of his books, which is all but two of the Isabel Dalhousie series and 1/3 of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series...those sets are very wonderful and remarkable in their own rights. There's just something so incredibly charming about this set, though...Maybe because one of the main characters is a quintessentially do...more
And McCall Smith strikes again! This is another charming collection from this unrivalled king of storytelling, full of funny little observations and tidbits of advice on how to live.
I find it interesting analysing precisely why I enjoy reading these novels. It is not, of course, that anything particularly interesting occurs, or even that, with the swapping between characters, one can develop a great relationship with them. Rather, it is McCall Smith’s remarkable ability to make everyday occurre...more
I find it interesting analysing precisely why I enjoy reading these novels. It is not, of course, that anything particularly interesting occurs, or even that, with the swapping between characters, one can develop a great relationship with them. Rather, it is McCall Smith’s remarkable ability to make everyday occurre...more
I admit that I am addicted to Alexander McCall Smith, a sucker for his gentle universe, a place where really bad things happen in the most human ways (view spoiler), but kindness and wisdom prevails. And in the ultimate test of all fiction, I find meaning and learn to live better.
I do have to admit, however, that he seems to be in production mode, throwing the cast of Corduroy cha...more
I do have to admit, however, that he seems to be in production mode, throwing the cast of Corduroy cha...more
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Alexander 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...more
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“William’s weekend with his friends, Geoffrey and Maggie, was turning out to be neither restful nor enjoyable. Things could have been worse, of course: there must be weekends during which the hosts’ house burns to the ground, one of the guests murders another, the hostess is arrested in extradition proceedings or the guests are all poisoned by the inclusion of death’s cap mushrooms in the stew. Such weekends must be very difficult indeed, not least because of the wording of the thank-you letters that one would have to write. The disaster, whatever it was, could hardly be ignored, but must be referred to tactfully in the letter, and always set in proper perspective. Thus, in the case of the mushroom poisoning, one would comment on how the other courses of the meal were delicious; in the case of the hostess’s arrest, one would say something comforting about the ability of defence lawyers in the jurisdiction to which she was being extradited—and so on, mutatis mutandis, trying at all times to be as positive as possible.”
—
1 person liked it
“Has anyone sen Mr Snark "
"I saw him in the tunnel about 15 minutes ago."
"Oh no " wailed Dr Ferman "he will have been atomised."
"Oh dear" muttered an MP. "Bye-election.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
"I saw him in the tunnel about 15 minutes ago."
"Oh no " wailed Dr Ferman "he will have been atomised."
"Oh dear" muttered an MP. "Bye-election.”
