Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
206th out of 426 books
—
1,470 voters
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones (44 Scotland Street #5)
by
Alexander McCall Smith (Goodreads Author)
The phenomenal acclaim for Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana-set detective series featuring the 'comfortably built' Precious Ramotswe took the publishing world by storm, notably because the gentle, unforced humour of the books was such a contrast with the far grittier fare on offer from most publishers and crime authors. Of course, it's probably true that readers were read...more
Hardcover, 344 pages
Published
2008
by Polygon
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
The format of this series of novels – continuing episodes for serial publication – determines that the story will bounce among the various plot lines. The reader can follow suit by picking up and setting down these books, reading casually. This lovely quality is what keeps me coming back for comic relief.
Occasionally I am suspicious that McCall Smith creates a plot turn which he can’t quite resolve. Things seemed fragmented in Book 5.
Some people endure: Angus, Big Lou, Domenica, Matthew, Bruce,...more
Occasionally I am suspicious that McCall Smith creates a plot turn which he can’t quite resolve. Things seemed fragmented in Book 5.
Some people endure: Angus, Big Lou, Domenica, Matthew, Bruce,...more
Jul 25, 2011
Adriane Devries
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
book-clubbish-novels,
summer-read-novels
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones is a lovely little novel by the bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, perfect for a summertime read. You will be transported by delightfully quirky characters and their everyday interconnectedness among the halls and streets surrounding 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh. A newly married couple has a brush with death on their honeymoon. A missing Spode teacup and saucer show up in a friend’s cupboard. A notorious gangster brings a painting to p...more
2 likes · like · see review
There's nothing more enjoyable to a voracious reader than a prolific author!
I've just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Scones. In the past I would have said that the "44 Scotland Road" series wasn't one of the best, but I found this book to be quite a treat. The plot has always been a bit complex, weaving strands of characters' lives in and out throughout the books. This book adds characters who have started to come into their own. Young Bertie is of an age when his insights are quite astou...more
I've just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Scones. In the past I would have said that the "44 Scotland Road" series wasn't one of the best, but I found this book to be quite a treat. The plot has always been a bit complex, weaving strands of characters' lives in and out throughout the books. This book adds characters who have started to come into their own. Young Bertie is of an age when his insights are quite astou...more
1 like · like · see review
"We talk, but do I actually listen, or is our conversation mainly a question of my waiting for him to stop and for it to by my turn to say something? For how many of us is that what conversation means - the setting up of our lines?"
There is the common conception that sequels fail to live up to the high standards of the original book. While this is true in some cases, I would certainly disagree when it comes to Alexander McCall Smith's novels based on the lives of fictional characters in the New...more
There is the common conception that sequels fail to live up to the high standards of the original book. While this is true in some cases, I would certainly disagree when it comes to Alexander McCall Smith's novels based on the lives of fictional characters in the New...more
So much to love in this 5th installment. What I love about this is the depth mixed with humor.
From the pithy:
"Old friends, like old shoes, are comfortable. But old shoes, unlike old friends, tend not to be supportive."
To the meaningful:
"Every small wrong, every minor act of cruelty, every act of petty bullying was symbolic of a greater wrong. And if we ignored these small things, then did it not blunt our outrage over the larger wrongs?"
To the hilarious:
[Angus] "Mind you, I did once, years ago,...more
From the pithy:
"Old friends, like old shoes, are comfortable. But old shoes, unlike old friends, tend not to be supportive."
To the meaningful:
"Every small wrong, every minor act of cruelty, every act of petty bullying was symbolic of a greater wrong. And if we ignored these small things, then did it not blunt our outrage over the larger wrongs?"
To the hilarious:
[Angus] "Mind you, I did once, years ago,...more
Story wise, at times I felt it went off on too many tangents, though often these seemingly unrelated tangents, Alexander McCall Smith style, end up interweaving themselves in the end somehow; so unexpectedly and subtly.
At times too I felt that I couldn't even put the book down (risking missing my train stop a few times in the process). Some characters from the prequels were back with a vengeance, and a few were gone. But my favourite ones, Angus and Domenica, where pleasantly there, bringing a r...more
At times too I felt that I couldn't even put the book down (risking missing my train stop a few times in the process). Some characters from the prequels were back with a vengeance, and a few were gone. But my favourite ones, Angus and Domenica, where pleasantly there, bringing a r...more
Alexander McCall-Smith has created a host of wonderful characters. I continue to care about them and their adventures, even after 5 books in this series. I listened to the audio version, deftly narrated by Robert Ian Mackenzie. Of course, he could read the phone book and it would be entertaining!
Book description from Amazon:
The witty and utterly delightful new novel in the national bestselling 44 Scotland Street series.
Featuring all the quirky characters we have come to know and love, The Unbear...more
Book description from Amazon:
The witty and utterly delightful new novel in the national bestselling 44 Scotland Street series.
Featuring all the quirky characters we have come to know and love, The Unbear...more
Who could resist a title like "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones", but if you haven't read the other books in the 44 Scotland Street Series, perhaps you should start at the beginning.
All of Alexander McCall Smith's books are what I think of as "pleasant books", but don't think of that as faint praise, I just mean that the characters are so well drawn that they seem like old friends. Old friends that ponder the philosophical questions of everyday life.
In this book, Angus Lordie's dog Cyril, with...more
All of Alexander McCall Smith's books are what I think of as "pleasant books", but don't think of that as faint praise, I just mean that the characters are so well drawn that they seem like old friends. Old friends that ponder the philosophical questions of everyday life.
In this book, Angus Lordie's dog Cyril, with...more
3 likes · like · see review
Aug 09, 2011
Lorna
added it
Another classic in the 44 Scotland Street series. Even the departure of Dr Fairbairn brings no end to poor Bertie's psychotherapy sessions, but at least Stuart has overruled Irene and allowed him to join the Cubs - though this isn't perhaps going to go as well as Bertie hopes.
The saga of Domenica's stolen Spode cup develops a fresh twist, with the suggestion that her friend and neighbour's criminal tendencies might not have stopped there.
The owner of the bitch inseminated by Angus Lordie's dog i...more
The saga of Domenica's stolen Spode cup develops a fresh twist, with the suggestion that her friend and neighbour's criminal tendencies might not have stopped there.
The owner of the bitch inseminated by Angus Lordie's dog i...more
I was delighted when this fifth in the 44 Scotland Street series came out because I had thought that maybe # 4 was all there would be since some of the multiple intertwined stories of life in present day Edinburgh seemed to have come to some sort of resolution. In # 5 much more is revealed! Needless to say, little Bertie has some minor triumphs combined with the inevitable setbacks (Someday I hope to see his awful mother get her comeuppance..) A major character who was loathsome right from the s...more
Another "44 Scotland Street" book. If you don't know what these are, stop reading now. If you do and have read the previous four, you'll like this one. I don't know how Mr. McCall Smith manages to stay so prolific at such a high quality, but I don't care.
This is a series about nothing -- just characters and what happens to them. Matthew and Elspeth get married and honeymoon in Perth; Angus is given puppies; Domenica covets a lost teacup; Bruce finally grows up; and Bertie, poor, poor Bertie, con...more
This is a series about nothing -- just characters and what happens to them. Matthew and Elspeth get married and honeymoon in Perth; Angus is given puppies; Domenica covets a lost teacup; Bruce finally grows up; and Bertie, poor, poor Bertie, con...more
Feb 02, 2010
Barbara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those already fans of Scotland Street.
Shelves:
general-fiction
I always enjoy picking up something from Alexander McCall Smith. This new installment from the Scotland Street collection was a pleasant read, moving ahead familiar characters and ambling through their lives. A cozy read, nothing earth-shattering, but enjoyable.
This one focused a bit more on Angus and his dog Cyril, the now-newly married Matthew, Big Lou's trial of a boyfriend (and pathetic revolutionary) and the narcissist Bruce. I liked Bertie's attempts at more boyish pursuits, the small sli...more
This one focused a bit more on Angus and his dog Cyril, the now-newly married Matthew, Big Lou's trial of a boyfriend (and pathetic revolutionary) and the narcissist Bruce. I liked Bertie's attempts at more boyish pursuits, the small sli...more
This is a continuation of the 44 Scotland Street series set in Scotland. As usual, Smith presents many, many endearing characters. My favorite character is Bertie, and his adventures are limited in this story. In this story, egoistic Bruce has decided the change himself, but I for one do not believe this is possible. Elspeth and Matthew marry and honeymoon in Australia, only to see Matther washed out to sea and miraclously saved by a dolphin. I miss Pat, who has gone back to live with her parent...more
I really enjoyed this fifth installment of the Scotland street series. Mathew gets married to Elspeth Harmony, and has a narrow escape whilst on honymoon. Bertie wants to join the cubs. His mother of course is still dreadful, as is classmate Olive - who looks as if she may well turn into a carbon copy of Bertie's mother. Lard O'Conner turns up with what may be a valuble painting. Domenica determines to get to the bottom of the missing blue spode cup. While Bruce looks like he may be changing for...more
Matthew and Elspeth get married and almost become widowed. Bertie wants to join the Boy Scouts, and Bruce goes through a transformation.
We are once again treated to daily essays of life among selected individuals living at or near 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Angus Lordie, and his dog, Cyril are among my personal favorites. Angus becomes quite a central character in this volume. He is quite more than we saw previously. His dog, Cyril has an affair and must face his responsibilities....more
We are once again treated to daily essays of life among selected individuals living at or near 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Angus Lordie, and his dog, Cyril are among my personal favorites. Angus becomes quite a central character in this volume. He is quite more than we saw previously. His dog, Cyril has an affair and must face his responsibilities....more
This is the fifth installment in the 44 Scotland Street series set in Edinburgh. If you haven't read books 1-4 I don't reccomend that you read this one yet. They really need to be read in order. This book (audio version ) was pretty much as I expected. A very gentle but pleasant story where Nothing very much happens. The author does go down a few more philosophical rabbit trails than usual but that was okay with me. I like the way this man thinks and his musings on Edinburgh are so true they mad...more
This series is not my favorite...too many characters and thus, too episodic. I especially dislike narcissistic Bruce--his every thought is shallow, predictable and boring, not humorous. I'm grateful he is finally maturing in this book, but I dislike him so much I don't care if he has a happy ending!!! One does hope Domenica and Angus will finally link up, and that Bertie's father will continue to assert himself between his son and the monster-mum Irene. Most of the book reads like a sit-com, rid...more
The books in the Scotland Street series are very droll, and the characters likeable and quirky. This particular book features McCall Smith's usual cast: Bertie, and his controlling mother Irene; Domenica and her scruffy painter friend Angus; Matthew, the gentle young art gallery owner, and Elspeth Harmony, the former Steiner School teacher he has just married; Big Lou the kindly owner of the cafe Angus and Matthew frequent. I didn't like this book quite as much as others in the series, though. T...more
I love this Scotland series set in Edinburgh but this one was slow at the beginning, picked up in the middle and was a tad bit boring as it wrapped up. We listened to it on long road trip to Omaha and still had to finish it in the livingroom when we got home! The narrator was great with various takes on scottish accents. For me, the funniest part was the suspected case of drug selling...which wasn't...and it wasn't salmon smuggling either, which Steve soooo thought it was. Bertie, the 6 year old...more
I love this series. I love the broad range of characters, from precocious six-year-old Bertie, who just wishes his overbearing mummy would stop trying to run every aspect of his life, to painter Angus Lordie and his gold-toothed dog, Cyril, whose doggie mind McCall Smith explores with humorous insight. I love the setting, Edinburgh. And most of all, I love the leisurely pace at which the stories unfold. Each book first appeared in serialized form in a newspaper, a la Dickens. So we follow one or...more
The stories of the residents of an apartment building in Edinburgh continue with some major changes for several. Cyril the gold-toothed dog, and companion to Angus the portrait artist, becomes a father of six puppies who make Angus' studio a mess. Lard O'Connor, the Glasgow gangster with a heart mostly made of gold returns with a long-lost portrait of Bobbie Burns. Bruce the Cad seems to get his commupance and have a major change of heart. Bertie, the six year old prodigy with an overbearing mot...more
The 44 Scotland Street books are my favorites of McCall Smith's series (and how does he write so much?). As far as I'm concerned, none of his books are really mysteries, but the Scotland Street series has a gentle, slice of life quality I appreciate. The various characters who live or lived at that address, or who are associated with those who do, meander through the story. Bertie gets to join Cub Scouts; Matthew and Elspeth get married; Domenica suspects her neighbor of various crimes; the narc...more
Feb 23, 2013
Maggie
added it
Alexander McCall Smith writes about Scotland the way Mauve Binchy wrote about Ireland. I adored Mauve and I was sad to learn of her death. I loved the way she sucked her readers right into her stories until I felt I knew her characters and felt they were friends. Alexander McCall Smith charmed me in the same manner, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books from this new series. My favorite characters were Bertie and Angus, from start to finish. I wanted more of the story as I so hope...more
Every book of the 44 Scotland Street series is a winner for me. I relish the observational whimsy of Alexander McCall Smith's writing style.
This installment continues the day to day lives of the wonderful characters of Scotland Street, including Bertie, Bruce, Irene, Angus, Domenica, Matthew and Big Lou. A particular highlight in this installment is the marriage and honeymoon of Matthew and Elspeth Harmony (teacher from Bertie's Steiner School), which includes a memorable "event" in the sea off...more
This installment continues the day to day lives of the wonderful characters of Scotland Street, including Bertie, Bruce, Irene, Angus, Domenica, Matthew and Big Lou. A particular highlight in this installment is the marriage and honeymoon of Matthew and Elspeth Harmony (teacher from Bertie's Steiner School), which includes a memorable "event" in the sea off...more
Great storytelling about an over the top cast of characters in Scotland street in Edinburgh, Scotland. Throughout the books, the same problems come up, without apparently needing to be solved. An example is the forgetfulness of Bertie's parents where they parked the car. As a result, they travel by bus and foot. Even though there have been five books so far, Bertie is still six years old. However, others have had multiple relationships and grown in other areas: Cerill, a dog longing to bite Matt...more
The Pretender and Spode teacup storylines were frightfully boring. Also, what happened to Pat? And what was up with Elspeth just throwing away Matthew's clothes like that? And Bruce's conversion is just plain not believable. If any more books come out in the series, I'll probably read them, just to follow all of the different characters, but this series is seriously lacking in the interesting stories and the charm of the Ladies #1 series. The serial format does make it very easy to pick up and p...more
I always look forward to finding out how Bertie is faring. And things may be looking up for Bertie, now that he has a new psychotherapist and his father has managed to take a stand against Irene. The problem with the blue Spode teacup is finally resolved, Lard O'Connor makes one more appearance and Bruce has an awakening. Big Lou and the Pretender was a humorous bit, and Angus Lordie makes a once-in-a-lifetime find. It's a comfortable book, different from the #1 Ladies' Detective series, which w...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book isn't available yet in the US, so I was pleased to find it in an International bookshop here in Rome. Alexandar McCall Smith is the author of a remarkable number of books--over 60--including several series. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is probably the best known here in the U.S., but he has also written two series set in Scotland, where he resides. The Isabel Dalhousie series includes five books. (This series focuses on Isabel Dalhousie and her circle of interesting friends. She e...more
This USA publication of this book is a few months away, but I picked up a copy in London recently. As with the other books in this series, it's a touching collection of glimpses into the lives of neighbors and friends from a neighborhood in Edinburgh, Scotland. The characters have come to feel like personal friends of mine, even the ones I love to hate. :-) The author employs some very subtle humor, making a bit of fun of human nature. I really hated the book to end, and eagerly await the next i...more
1 like · like · see review
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
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
More about Alexander McCall Smith...
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
“Moisturiser and a good cry: two things for modern men to think about.”
—
1 person liked it
“How often have I noticed or, indeed, listened to him? We talk, but do I actually listen, or is our conversation mainly a question of my waiting for him to stop and for it to be my turn to say something? For how many of us is that what conversation means - the setting up of our lines?”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
Mar 03, 2013 05:17am
Mar 03, 2013 11:32am