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The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds (Sunday Philosophy Club #9)
by
Alexander McCall Smith (Goodreads Author)
ISABEL DALHOUSIE - Book 9
Nothing captures the charm of Edinburgh like the bestselling Isabel Dalhousie series of novels featuring the insatiably curious philosopher and woman detective. Whether investigating a case or a problem of philosophy, the indefatigable Isabel Dalhousie, one of fiction’s most richly developed amateur detectives, is always ready to pursue the answe...more
Nothing captures the charm of Edinburgh like the bestselling Isabel Dalhousie series of novels featuring the insatiably curious philosopher and woman detective. Whether investigating a case or a problem of philosophy, the indefatigable Isabel Dalhousie, one of fiction’s most richly developed amateur detectives, is always ready to pursue the answe...more
Hardcover, 259 pages
Published
October 23rd 2012
by Pantheon
(first published September 1st 2012)
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What is happening to Isabel? Her typical adeptness with interactions was totally AWOL in this book, putting her foot in it several times, not just her over-reaction about Grace teaching Charlie math which, instead of looking into the book Grace was using, seemed out of character to her typical balanced approach. And how she ended up deciding who had stolen the painting... I have been through the interactions that are supposed to show that and it doesn't seem so certain to me, not that there were...more
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Alexander McCall Smith writes very internalized novels. In places it is difficult to discern whether philosopher amateur detective Isabel Dalhousie is talking to herself or some other character. In the end, it is of no matter. The result is a pace that makes Old Man River look like a mountain stream. Nor does it matter how clever the plot or how intricate its revelation. The onion has too many layers.
There are going to be fans of Smith's who will say, "this is the whole point; this is why we lov...more
There are going to be fans of Smith's who will say, "this is the whole point; this is why we lov...more
I adore Alex McCall Smith; particularly Ladies No 1 Detective Agency & Corduroy Mansions. It is a testament to his skill that even this series, peopled by utterly annoying and unrealistic characters, is one that I continue to read and ALMOST enjoy. I hate hate hate Isobel Dalhousie, I find her never ending moral pontification, philosophizing, and flat out holier than not just thou but everyone too attitude so aggravating. Frankly, I dont blame her housekeeper for telling her almost every ins...more
It's painful to give anything by Alexander McCall Smith just one star. His No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is vibrant and evocative, plus the mysteries are always interesting. He manages to make Botswana come alive.
The Isabel Dalhousie stories, by contrast, have always been more studied and mannered, but no less interesting. As a moral philosopher, much of the stories are conducted entirely within Isabel's head. If her voice lacks a certain dynamic element, she still approaches life gently...more
The Isabel Dalhousie stories, by contrast, have always been more studied and mannered, but no less interesting. As a moral philosopher, much of the stories are conducted entirely within Isabel's head. If her voice lacks a certain dynamic element, she still approaches life gently...more
In this 9th installment of the Isabel Dalhousie series, she is asked to help in the search of a stolen Poussin painting. Although she is the editor of a small journal devoted to philosophical matters, she has participated in other sleuth like activities. As in other Alexander McCall Smith books, the plot is very thin and not quite the point. It deals with characters and human interactions.
As a philosopher, Isabel is always looking at events from different angles and finding ethical answers. This...more
As a philosopher, Isabel is always looking at events from different angles and finding ethical answers. This...more
Isabel Dalhousie, philospher and amateur sleuth, is once again drawn into a mystery. A wealthy art collector, Duncan Munrowe, has been robbed of only one of his paintings - his favorite - a Poussin that he had bequeathed to the Scottish National Gallery.
Munrowe has been contacted by a lawyer about paying a ransom for the painting. All sorts of moral questions arise about ransom for art, how the art and all wealth was acquired, and one's moral duty. Isabel also gets to know Duncan's son and daugh...more
Munrowe has been contacted by a lawyer about paying a ransom for the painting. All sorts of moral questions arise about ransom for art, how the art and all wealth was acquired, and one's moral duty. Isabel also gets to know Duncan's son and daugh...more
In this ninth installment of the Isabel Dalhousie series, McCall Smith has written another wonderful mystery. The star of the mystery, as always, is the ever-thoughtful and always-engaging Isabel Dalhousie, a philosophical ethicist who seems constantly drawn into other peoples problems and little mysteries. And here again, she is called upon to help a friend of a friend whose valuable and prized painting that is intended for eventual donation to the Scottish National Gallery has been stolen. The...more
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I'd give this 3.5 stars. It's the ninth installment of McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series, set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Isabel is the owner and editor of a journal on moral philosophy and in her spare time, she manages to get involved in various adventures as she tries to help her acquaintances with a host of problems in their lives. Her much younger husband, a classical musician, has mixed feelings about her escapades. He is bothered by what he considers to be her inability to mind her own b...more
This is the first Isabel Dalhousie novel I've read by Alexander McCall Smith, but I imagine it is typical of the kind of delightful and unpretentious pondering this forty-ish editor of a philosophical journal goes through as she relates to others and is "helpful" in solving sundry predicaments, including crimes. What is most satisfying are isabel's take on her surroundings, modern-day Edinburg, her family: husband Jamie, a musician; little son, three and three-quarter year old Charlie; Grace, nu...more
Isabel and Jamie's son Charlie is now walking, talking, and attending nursery school. Grace the housekeeper is as devoted and as pig-headedly difficult as ever. Isabel's niece, Cat, is for once not involved in a disastrously inappropriate relationship.
And the mystery Isabel has been asked to apply her philosophical skills to is a real and genuine mystery, the theft of a valuable work of art, a smaller work by Nicholas Poussin, a leading French Baroque painter.
Duncan Munrowe is a wealthy art coll...more
And the mystery Isabel has been asked to apply her philosophical skills to is a real and genuine mystery, the theft of a valuable work of art, a smaller work by Nicholas Poussin, a leading French Baroque painter.
Duncan Munrowe is a wealthy art coll...more
This is another case where the new reader should begin with the first book in the Isabel Dalhous series rather than this one. This series has some of the gentle mysteries and wisdom of the #1 Ladies Detective series, but it is set in Scotland and the people may be a little more formal. I read these books as much for the story of Isabel's personal life as for the mysteries. As usual, Isabel gets into others' problems against some advice because she feels it an obligation to help people if they as...more
Much Philosophical Musing, Not Much Mystery
A valuable painting has been stolen from Munrowe House. Duncan Munrowe, the owner, asks for Isabels help, not to solve the mystery, but to be supportive and give him someone to talk to. In this book, Isabel goes about her daily life; taking care of Charlie, her son; listening to concerts by her musician husband, Jaime; worrying about what Grace, Charlie's sitter is teaching him; and helping Cal, her cousin, in the deli. During each of these activities s...more
A valuable painting has been stolen from Munrowe House. Duncan Munrowe, the owner, asks for Isabels help, not to solve the mystery, but to be supportive and give him someone to talk to. In this book, Isabel goes about her daily life; taking care of Charlie, her son; listening to concerts by her musician husband, Jaime; worrying about what Grace, Charlie's sitter is teaching him; and helping Cal, her cousin, in the deli. During each of these activities s...more
I had not read McCall Smith's work before, so I had no idea what to expect. This is the ninth book to feature the Isabel Dalhousie character, so I thought I might be lost, but he does a wonderful job of opening up the character and making her easy to follow and understand.
The writing here is quite lovely, and the character is certainly interesting; my simple qualm would be with the plotting. Ostensibly, the main storyline here is about Isabel helping to recover a stolen painting, but that's fair...more
The writing here is quite lovely, and the character is certainly interesting; my simple qualm would be with the plotting. Ostensibly, the main storyline here is about Isabel helping to recover a stolen painting, but that's fair...more
SIGH. I have to agree with the other reviewers on this latest installment in the series. Not only was it a very unsatisfactory ending (which Isobel's comment about not living in a "cut and dry" world barely excuses), but the rest of the book and the story felt wholly undeveloped. Many threads called for much more in-depth dialogue from the characters -- the fight with Grace, Eddie's relationship, Duncan's family members. They scarcely exchange four sentences in any scene! Moreover, Isobel is gro...more
Wow - this has been once of my favorite series for quite a while. What a shock to find I'm a bit disappointed by this book. I have liked and admired Isabelle Dalhousie for a while. But in this book, I was starting to find her irritating. Her perfect life - her wonderful young, handsome husband, her beautiful son, her independent wealth, her constant moral dilemma's and philosophical conversations in her head; which isn't really usual since she is a philosopher. It just seemed too much for some r...more
Another great book by Alexander McCall Smith! I think I now like Isabel Dalhousie seies the best amonst all his books. I love the philosohical dilemmas Isabel finds herself pondering about. When you read this book, it is like you have taken the time to smell the roses. The little pleasures of life that makes life worth living are brought to our notice - like little Charlie's pleasure in having a chocolate pudding and smearing his face and clothes with chocolate; having lunch in Isabel's garden a...more
I picked this book up at the Boston Book Festival, where I heard Mr. McCall speak. He was just a delightful speaker, and the conversation roamed as do Isabel Dalhousie's thoughts.
Isabel is the main character in The Philosoper's Club series, of which The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds is the latest title. As with all these books, Isabel is asked to assist in a local mystery. She uses her deductive reasoning and some ethical questioning to attempt to get to the root of the matter. It's always entertain...more
Isabel is the main character in The Philosoper's Club series, of which The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds is the latest title. As with all these books, Isabel is asked to assist in a local mystery. She uses her deductive reasoning and some ethical questioning to attempt to get to the root of the matter. It's always entertain...more
Alexander McCall Smith once again uses his character Isabel Dalhousie to ponder various philosophical issues surrounding the human condition, leaving series fans with further things to ponder & a little more character development along the way. I have to say, I get a kick out of Isabel's frequent mental meanderings, & how they have a habit of causing her to drift from conversations she's engaged in. It's a thing I think we've all done at least here & there, & I find it very endea...more
I read few book series. I like the concept of book series, but I usually start getting bored with them around the third installment. By then, it's become a "been there, done that" experience, and I move on. That hasn't been the case with Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie novels. There's usually a mystery or, rather, "something that needs to be sorted out," which says something about the style of the series itself: I'd call it quiet and thoughtful. Very much like Isabel Dalhousie herself,...more
This is not my favorite series by Alexander McCall Smith but I still find it totally enjoyable and look forward to each new book. Isabelle DalHousie is a middle aged Philosopher who is cultured and interesting. She gets involved in the case of a museum quality painting that was stolen from a Scottish country house. The thieves are requesting ransom from the insurance company and a legal firm is now involved. It becomes obvious to her that the family complexities make a number of members possible...more
Oct 23, 2012
Duckpondwithoutducks
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
first-reads
I received an advance copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This latest Isabel Dalhousie has, I think, the biggest mystery to be solved yet! A priceless Poussin painting has been stolen, and Isabel is recruited to help recover it - not your typical job for a philosopher. The book raises questions as to what art really means, what is more important - the painting or the money that a painting is worth, and whether you should give in and pay a ransom to get a valuable painting back or doe...more
I read almost all of the books by this author, but I especially enjoy this Isabel Dalhousie series. This book was one of my favorites in this series. There is a bit of a mystery in the story of a painting that disappears and Isabel is asked to help the owner find it.
I especially like the philosophical thoughts and comments about people and how to respond without hurting feelings and causing lasting friendships to change. I find myself thinking about small comments such as the one she makes (in...more
I especially like the philosophical thoughts and comments about people and how to respond without hurting feelings and causing lasting friendships to change. I find myself thinking about small comments such as the one she makes (in...more
At a time when my life is rather upside down, this book was like a cozy window seat with a soft blanket. I have read almost all of the Isabel Dalhousie books. Some I loved, some I found tedious. This one I thoroughly enjoyed, dipping into it whenever I wanted to escape to the slow, measured lifestyle that Isabel leads. I had fun thinking about some of Isabel's life questions and comments. This quote "We imagine our life crises are unlike all other crises . . . But they aren't. There's always bee...more
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Fans of this series will find this installment a disapointment.Isabel is beginning to become annoying in the same way that Jessica Fletcher on "Murder She Wrote" was, butting into everyone's affairs and stirring up trouble. In this installment of the series the crisises that trouble her life, a doting housekeeper teaching her four year old son math, editorial work for a philosophy journal that she owns, an overdue tax bill for her near perfect husband that she can easily and generously pay seem...more
This is the most recent volume in Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie books. I have read all of the previous volumes, and this one is no different. With all of McCall Smith's series, the readers know what to expect, and he uses many of the same comments and thoughts of particular characters in each new book. This one concerns the theft of a valuable painting and the owner asks Isabel to help him negotiate a ransom for it with the thieves.
I read these novels very quickly, much the same way...more
I read these novels very quickly, much the same way...more
In The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Isabel Dalhousie -- philosopher, editor, mother, wife, and conscientious citizen -- explores the limits of honesty. Isabel, approached by a neighbor, agrees to help wealthy farmer Duncan Munrowe recover a stolen painting by 17th century French artist Nicolas Poussin, most famous for his The Abduction of the Sabine Women. Munrowe is a gentleman of the old school: honorable, dedicated to duty, unemotional, a bit hidebound. As Isabel investigates the theft of Munro...more
I always love visiting with Isabel, her family, acquaintances, and her charming Scotland. That said this novel may not have been as strong as some of the others in this series. The mystery at the heart of the novel concerns a stolen painting that is being ransomed. Isabel is called in to see if she can she can shed any light on the matter. Jamie spends a large part of the novel being crabby and Cat is hardly present which is a good thing anyway because she is highly annoying. Baby Charlie is a m...more
I have followed this series about armchair philosopher Isabel Dalousie from its inception. Not really mysteries, like the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency stories, the stories are about people and relationships. I particularly like how Isabel's life has developed to marriage and motherhood, guess I just like happily ever after. Fortunately, McCall Smith does not subscribe to the literary technique of zapping his characters with unexpected misfortune. Both Isabel and Precious (from the No 1 Ladies D...more
It has been awhile since I picked up one of these Isabel Dalhousie books, so to my surprise, Isabel had not only married, she was also blessed with a son! I used to find this series a little dry compared to the author's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books; I also love the Corduroy Mansion series. But Isabel has ripened with age, and this time around I found her philosophical and ethical musings to be entertaining, as was the central concern of a stolen painting. The more minor characters were al...more
What is there about some series that you have to read even when you know you will not be completely captivated. I have followed this protagonist through all her musings and her antics even when they are similar and repetitive. I admit, I like her. I like the characters. I like the comfort of dipping into their life now and then. But, I also admit to thinking, "and why am I reading this?" This particular book was not the best in the series. Nothing really moved the characters or the drama forward...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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“Look at those clouds," said Jamie, gazing up at the sky. "Look at them."
"Yes," said Isabel. "They're very beautiful, aren't they? Clouds are very beautiful and yet so often we fail to appreciate them properly. We should do that. We should look at them and think about how lucky we are to have them."
"Look at the shape of the clouds," she said. "What do you see in those beautiful clouds, Jamie?"
"I see you," he said.”
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"Yes," said Isabel. "They're very beautiful, aren't they? Clouds are very beautiful and yet so often we fail to appreciate them properly. We should do that. We should look at them and think about how lucky we are to have them."
"Look at the shape of the clouds," she said. "What do you see in those beautiful clouds, Jamie?"
"I see you," he said.”
“She imagined what it must be like to have Charlie's mind - to believe that red shoes are faster then other shoes; to believe, as he did, that ducks could drive fire engines and that pigs built houses out of bricks and straw. There were plenty of people who weren't three-and-three-quarters who believed equally implausible things...and when to war over them.”
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