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Bertie Plays the Blues
(44 Scotland Street #7)
by
Domestic bliss seems in short supply at 44 Scotland Street. Over at the Pollocks, dad, Stuart, is harbouring a secret about a secret society and Bertie is feeling kind of blue. Having had enough of his neurotic hot-housing mother, he puts himself up for adoption on eBay. Will he go to the highest bidder or will he have to take matters into his own hands? Will the lovelorn
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Paperback, 336 pages
Published
October 8th 2013
by Anchor
(first published 2011)
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I just read this part too and was definitely scratching my head as I clearly recalled Matthew's re-connection with Pat in the last book.
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Start your review of Bertie Plays the Blues (44 Scotland Street, #7)
The 44 Scotland Street novels are not fluff. They humorous and humane. The characters--except for Bruce--are not coercive. And Bruce gets what he deserves in this book--lots of money and no love. This book is fantasy. But the fantasy is an appealing one: that good, though imperfect, people might get what they deserve. Elspeth, Matthew and the triplets get the best au pair in the world. Big Lou finds a kind widower, a contemporary from Arbroath. Pat finds an uncomplicated man to love. And Domenic
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This is my 3rd Scotland Street novel and I have to say, this series is fast becoming my favourite. As much as I love Mma Ramotswe, I find I am forming a greater bond with Bertie. For me, Bertie is pretty much the best character in modern literature. I know I am never going to be a traditionally built lady from Botswana, driving around in my little white car, solving problems, but I do know the angst of being young and not knowing how to verbalise what *you* want from life in the face of what you
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4.5-4.75 stars. Oh I wish I could buy all of AMS's books and give them to everyone in the world to read. These books are humorous and entertaining but most of all, they are lessons in small kindnesses, and how much of a difference they make in the world.
His The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series will probably always be my favorite, and it's the only series I've ever read completely twice over. But this one is a close second. And it keeps getting better. These last two volumes are my favorite ...more
His The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series will probably always be my favorite, and it's the only series I've ever read completely twice over. But this one is a close second. And it keeps getting better. These last two volumes are my favorite ...more
So much happened!
Triplets were born and the poor dears were named horrible things! And they got an adorable au pair!
Big Lou has found love! (I hope!)
Bruce was an asshole!
Bertie might have a real friend! And Irene might finally be seeing the light!
These books are so fun! Every chapter makes me think: why don’t I move to Edinburgh?!
Triplets were born and the poor dears were named horrible things! And they got an adorable au pair!
Big Lou has found love! (I hope!)
Bruce was an asshole!
Bertie might have a real friend! And Irene might finally be seeing the light!
These books are so fun! Every chapter makes me think: why don’t I move to Edinburgh?!
I love Alexander McCall Smith. He Tweets short stories, always has interesting things to say and write, and is the author of one of my favourite series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency featuring my favourite detective Ma Ramotswe.
His other two series, The Sunday Philosophy Club and 44 Scotland Street (of which this book is part of) are set in Edinburgh. The characters that populate these series are thoughtful and philosophical (the give away is in that series title right!) and many words are l ...more
His other two series, The Sunday Philosophy Club and 44 Scotland Street (of which this book is part of) are set in Edinburgh. The characters that populate these series are thoughtful and philosophical (the give away is in that series title right!) and many words are l ...more
The Scotland Street series is funny, clever, and endearing. The Edinburgh of these books is a place we'd all love to live. I'd add, except for July and August when the city is crammed with tourists who traverse the city in large packs, oblivious to all other humanity, and the obstruction they create. Despite trying visitors, Edinburgh residents couldn't be friendlier. I was pleased that there's a reference to the Belfast poet Michael Longley in this book. Smith includes so many interesting comme
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Bertie Plays the Blues is the 7th novel in Alexander McCall Smith’s popular 44 Scotland Street series. Once again we join our favourite Edinburgh characters in their daily lives. Matthew and Elspeth are delighted to now have three sons, whom they have ambitiously named, but are finding them difficult to tell apart, and exhausting to care for, until help arrives from Denmark; Angus Lordie and Domenica McDonald discuss living arrangements for their marriage, but the appearance of a former boyfrien
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This series continues to make me smile. The characters are charming and adorable (even the annoying ones like Bruce and Bertie's mom) and I want to have a drink with them at the Cumberland Bar. I love the way this series was written, chapter by chapter as a serial publication. Bertie is his usual brilliant and cute self who is truly a good person deep down inside. Even when everyone seems to be struggling with a dilema, these books always have an upbeat quality to them which I love and keeps me
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It looks like Bertie might finally get some peace to be the little boy he is and not a moment too soon. But I really do hate Bruce with an all consuming passion. He had better get his comeuppance by the end of this series. For everyone else, life in Edinburgh is ticking along nicely. A truly inspired set of books.
This one could be one of my favorite installments (despite two small hiccups where the author seemed to have forgotten Bertie's trip to Paris a few installments ago and what happened with Pat in the last installment), because so many delightful events happened to and for the characters. The ending - with the requisite poem from Angus - had the most tender twist that I had tears in my eyes (especially because my three favorite characters were all sitting together). The delightful, but so very bri
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Alternated between the audiobook and the ebook. The audiobook is really well read; it made some of the funny stuff even funnier.
See the beautiful city of Edinburgh through the eyes of the current and former inhabitants of 44 Scotland Street and its surroundings as Alexander McCall Smith catches up with them once again in this splendid new novel. Matthew and Elsbeth, the new parents of triplets, see it through the tired eyes that are hungry for sleep and desperate for a little peace in their lives, despite their enormous love for their three tiny little boys (even if they can't tell them apart!) Angus and Domenica, so rec
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"Ranald stroked his chin. 'How about eBay, Bertie? Have you heard of eBay? You could put yourself on it, you know'. Not having a computer, Bertie was unsure what eBay was, and listened attentively as Ranald explained it to him. 'You can get anything on eBay, Bertie. I'm telling you. Trucks, model railways, even swords. Everything. If you've got something to sell, you put it on eBay and they have a sort of auction. You could choose two weeks maybe. That gives people time to decide how much they w
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I mean this entirely as praise (and decidedly not as "damning with faint..."): Alexander McCall Smith is a king of the middlebrow novel. I've read a few of these serialized novels (an extraordinary feat of execution, by the way), and finally understand his appeal: He offers novels of ideas that are also novels of about domestic drama, about people who are enormously appealing to middlebrow readers (of whom I am one). We like life rendered in fictional form, with drama, scandal, gossip, and tidbi
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It is a testament to the skill of Alexander McCall Smith that he can consistently dash off such thoroughly enjoyable middle class... soap opera? pap?drivel?
I am not quite sure at what point his failure to waste any time whatsoever on checking the factual underpinnings is going to stop me reserving each new volume from the library before it is available. I know Bertie is a precocious child but he is too young for Cub Scouts, Elspeth Harmony is a remarkable woman but I doubt she could secure such ...more
I am not quite sure at what point his failure to waste any time whatsoever on checking the factual underpinnings is going to stop me reserving each new volume from the library before it is available. I know Bertie is a precocious child but he is too young for Cub Scouts, Elspeth Harmony is a remarkable woman but I doubt she could secure such ...more
Once more, Mr McCall Smith weaves his magic. This series just gets better. The characterisation goes from strength to strength and Bertie at last shows a few weaknesses and gaps in his thought processes which you would expect from one not yet seven years old. This makes him all the more lovable and real. It also raises more than a few chuckles and even the odd belly laugh. His mother is still the brittle super-bitch she always was but even that is beginning to change, albeit ever so slightly and
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"An antidote to grimness, greyness and meanness" - according to "The Scotsman" review on the back cover. Thus the perfect book to read after 2 unpleasant books - Gone Girl and Chronicle of a Death Foretold
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This was another great offering in the 44 Scotland Street Series. I liked the focus on the trials and tribulations of the long suffering Bertie and also on Matthew and Elspeth and they're newborn triplets. I also love how distinctly Scottish these books (in particular this one) are...Rather than being a distraction for an American reader such as myself, they add atmosphere and depth.
I’ve enjoyed this series from the very beginning, and although I’ve had some large gaps between reading them, it’s always nice to return and see how everyone is. I’m pleased to say I have the next already lined up on the shelves so got no excuses for leaving it so long before catching up again.
So after nearly a year since the last book, it was time to sit down with a coffee and enjoy. I’d like to think Berties mum is lightening up, although I don’t hold out to much hope, his story line did make ...more
So after nearly a year since the last book, it was time to sit down with a coffee and enjoy. I’d like to think Berties mum is lightening up, although I don’t hold out to much hope, his story line did make ...more
Charming and joyous episode in the 44 Scotland Street series. Domenica and Angus are about to get married, Matthew and Elspeth try to adjust to life with their baby triplets, vain Bruce reappears in Pat's life.
All the characters have a place in my heart, but the star of them all is Bertie Pollock. His attempts to get himself adopted are both touching and comic, from his carefully crafted advertisement on EBay to the journey to a children's home in Glasgow that doesn't quite go as planned.
This ...more
All the characters have a place in my heart, but the star of them all is Bertie Pollock. His attempts to get himself adopted are both touching and comic, from his carefully crafted advertisement on EBay to the journey to a children's home in Glasgow that doesn't quite go as planned.
This ...more
Enjoyed another read off 44 Scotland Street . Nice light read
Recommended by the "Someone Else Is Reading It" Club.
Couldn't even finish it.
Couldn't even finish it.
I love listening to this series. They take you away from your life to theirs and always make me feel good. I will really miss all the character's lives when I finish the series.
This is such a charming series. I would love for them to become a sitcom.
My favorite book of the series so far...
Thoroughly enjoy all the books in the 44 Scotland Street series. I've been reading them out of order but it doesn't seem to matter. They are so funny and good for light bedtime reading.
To me this series gives the reader a humorous, tongue-in-cheek, slice of Edinburgh life among a rather arty and cultured set of people. In this episode, Matthew and Elspeth are exhausted when they bring home their triplets from hospital and finding it quite difficult telling them apart. Lou has started internet da ...more
To me this series gives the reader a humorous, tongue-in-cheek, slice of Edinburgh life among a rather arty and cultured set of people. In this episode, Matthew and Elspeth are exhausted when they bring home their triplets from hospital and finding it quite difficult telling them apart. Lou has started internet da ...more
This volume is number 7 in the 44 Scotland Street Series.
Elspeth and Mathew bring home triplets but are having trouble telling them apart and are absolutely exhausted from the sleepless nights and the care the three babies require. They find a solution by hiring Anna a Danish au paire who soon helps them organize themselves and develop a routine. But Elspeth is not comfortable in their new India Street location and longs for the comfort of their former residence on Scotland Street. But alas, tha ...more
Elspeth and Mathew bring home triplets but are having trouble telling them apart and are absolutely exhausted from the sleepless nights and the care the three babies require. They find a solution by hiring Anna a Danish au paire who soon helps them organize themselves and develop a routine. But Elspeth is not comfortable in their new India Street location and longs for the comfort of their former residence on Scotland Street. But alas, tha ...more
Book Review: Bertie Plays The Blues (Alexander McCall Smith)
The seventh book in the ’44 Scotland Street’ series, and McCall Smith does not disappoint. Beyond all logic and reason (unless you are a regular reader of the author), Bertie is still six years old. An infant prodigy, he continues to struggle with the pressure piled on him by his ever-irritating mother. Irene insists that Bertie develop his linguistic and musical skills. Fluent in Italian and Saxophone, the little boy (six going on eigh ...more
The seventh book in the ’44 Scotland Street’ series, and McCall Smith does not disappoint. Beyond all logic and reason (unless you are a regular reader of the author), Bertie is still six years old. An infant prodigy, he continues to struggle with the pressure piled on him by his ever-irritating mother. Irene insists that Bertie develop his linguistic and musical skills. Fluent in Italian and Saxophone, the little boy (six going on eigh ...more
Not the strongest book in this series, but it is still delightful. Poor Bertie - we thought he had gained some ground in the last books with joining the cub scouts, and a fishing trip with his father, but here he is thinking that his problems with his overbearing mother would be solved if he could get himself adopted by another family on eBay. Matthew and Elspeth learn they are going to be the parents of triplets. Matthew is as gullible and ineffectual as always when he tries to be assertive in
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I love a visit to 44 Scotland Street. I set aside some chores this Sunday afternoon to finish off this wonderful trip into the world of Bertie, Angus and Matthew. Each time Alexander McCall Smith publishes another of this series I catch myself wondering what he might think of. I can never imagine him coming up with changes in their lives that he hasn't included before but he does. It keeps me turning the pages and brewing more tea even though I know that sinks need to be cleaned and towels need
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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
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44 Scotland Street
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1 trivia question
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“The trouble with technology is that it’s dehumanised us – it’s removed the restraints of ordinary human interactions. So we lose the notion that the person with whom we’re dealing is a person like us, with failings and feelings. It’s exactly the same as in wartime. When people are engaged in conflict, they very easily lose sight of the humanity of the other. They become capable of doing things that they would never do in their ordinary lives.”
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“You know the best example of sincerity? The absolute gold standard?
Who?
Angus pointed to the door, outside which Cyril was waiting patiently. A dog. Have you ever met an insincere dog - a dog who hides his true feelings?
Domenica looked thoughtful.
And cats?
Dreadfully insincere, said Angus. Psychopaths- every one of them. Show me a cat, Domenica, and I'll show you a psychopath. Textbook examples.”
—
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More quotes…
Who?
Angus pointed to the door, outside which Cyril was waiting patiently. A dog. Have you ever met an insincere dog - a dog who hides his true feelings?
Domenica looked thoughtful.
And cats?
Dreadfully insincere, said Angus. Psychopaths- every one of them. Show me a cat, Domenica, and I'll show you a psychopath. Textbook examples.”
