An escape

Clever observations about people portrayed with humour , I share his love of Scotland. Cleverly and calmly narrated very enjoyable to listen to .

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McCall Smith never disappoints

What did you like most about The Revolving Door of Life: 44 Scotland Street, Book 10?

The always entertaining characters and observations, and the absence of Bertie's dreadful mother Irene, the poor little boy.

What did you like best about this story?

The continuing story of the lives of an eclectic and sometimes eccentric group of people, and yes, and the absence of Bertie's dreadful mother.

What about David Rintoul’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen to his voice.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Occasional laugh out loud moments.

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More of the lovely Scotland St crew

Another great episode of this lovely series - and I could listen to David Rentoul all day.

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1 person found this helpful

Makes me f@&cking glad I don't live in Edinburgh any more

Thanks, Mr Smith for the reminder. Nice books and a nostalgia trip for me but the snottiness, the chauvinism, the small mindedness, the alcohol consumption remind me just how toxic an environment Edinburgh is for anyone who doesn't grow up playing rugby. I feel sure Bertie will run the hell off to San Francisco and become and character in an Armistead Maupin novel. He will if he knows what's good for him. Perhaps if Irene had been allowed to disclose the horrors of her childhood, we'd all understand her desire to protect Bertie from the toxic culture of Edinburgh. I ended up feeling quite sorry for her.

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Great fun and well read

Listened to the first in the series but was disappointing due to narration. (Have read all the books). This was highly enjoyable and well read

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Bertie gets some freedom

Bertie having finally reached his 7th birthday, and with his tyrannical mother sowing discord in a Gulf State seraglio, experiences well deserved happiness for a time, while his paternal grandmother comes to look after the family.
To my mind, he's one of the immortal characters of fiction, both wise beyond his years, and innocent as a dove, Candide with great intelligence and wide knowledge in a child's body, a perfect guileless critic of adult hypocrisy and pretensions.
McCall Smith, though not Scots born, or perhaps because not Scots born, has the measure of our capital city in all its beauty, history, cultural heritage (and snobbishness, particularly directed towards "Weegies" - those wild fried Mars bar eaters from that unmentionable city at the other end of the M8.)
Ian Rankin and others recount the dark criminal Edinburgh- the bleak outer housing schemes, all hope lost since Thatcher cheerfully destroyed Scotland's economy but no city or country is entirely described by its worst aspects.
McCall Smith is an east coast John Galt (Annals of the Parish, The Provost, etc) who can make fine stories without sensational events.
I'm trying not to hope Irene falls under one of those mythical trams...

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3 people found this helpful

Always a happy time

Any time spent in the company of the 44 Scotland Street gang (or, rather, anything written by Alexander McCall Smith) is never wasted time. His writing is so perfect, the characters not so much, but they are a joy to watch unfold. These books do me so much good. Thank you Alexander

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Delicious

Absolutely Scotland Street. There's a time and a place for everything, including these thoughtful, thought provoking, gentle stories. Love 'em.

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The Revolving Door of Life

A delightful portrait of relationships and friendshipness with plenty of funny episodes. Looking forward to read the following one.

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Another triumph

McColl Smith manages to weave a story that feels as if the reader, or listener, in this case feels a part of. David Rintoul's narration and cadence brings it alive. We are all routing for Bertie.

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