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pelachick's review against another edition
4.0
Very funny if you understand Germans. I wish McCall Smith had written more books in this series!
emilyexley's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like this one as much as the other two in this series.
thesgtrekkiereads's review against another edition
4.0
talk about a twist in the plot. it is so out there but then again it id von iglefeld.. hugh was brilliant as I read and listened to the audio book simultaneously. . wonder how the unusual uses of olive oil will rate since there is no audio book to accompany me..1.5 stars just for hugh..
june_englit_phd's review against another edition
4.0
"'I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back in Germany. Cambridge is a fine place, but you know the probelem'......'Yes,' said von Igelfeld. 'Everything is so irrational in that country. And the people, quite frankly, are utterly eccentric. You have to analyse their smallest pronouncements to work out what they mean. If it is bad weather they will say things like 'Charming weather we are having!''And yet the weather isn't charming,' said Unterholzer. 'Why then do they say that it's charming?' 'Why indeed?' agreed von Igelfeld. 'They often say the direct opposite of what they mean'".
Of the trilogy of books in the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, this was the one I liked least, although I still found it entertaining reading. Von Igelfeld goes off to Cambridge for a Sabbatical, and meets some interesting characters during his time there, and learns of plots to topple a Fellow of one of the Cambridge University colleges. Then, on his return home to Germany from his Sabbatical, he is convinced his rival Unterholzer has been using his office...but how can he prove it? Finally, our hero von Igelfeld gets the recognition he so rightly deserves from a University in Colombia, where he not only picks up a Fellowship, but takes an active and heroic part in a Revolution, the consequences of which not even he could have predicted!
Loved this trilogy, comic, light-hearted and fun. Well done Mr McCall Smith!
"And he realised then that there were more important things to worry about, and that we must love those with whom we live and work, and love them for all their failings, manifest and manifold though they be".
Of the trilogy of books in the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, this was the one I liked least, although I still found it entertaining reading. Von Igelfeld goes off to Cambridge for a Sabbatical, and meets some interesting characters during his time there, and learns of plots to topple a Fellow of one of the Cambridge University colleges. Then, on his return home to Germany from his Sabbatical, he is convinced his rival Unterholzer has been using his office...but how can he prove it? Finally, our hero von Igelfeld gets the recognition he so rightly deserves from a University in Colombia, where he not only picks up a Fellowship, but takes an active and heroic part in a Revolution, the consequences of which not even he could have predicted!
Loved this trilogy, comic, light-hearted and fun. Well done Mr McCall Smith!
"And he realised then that there were more important things to worry about, and that we must love those with whom we live and work, and love them for all their failings, manifest and manifold though they be".
joyfilledwander's review against another edition
4.0
This book was read for my 2016 Reading Challenge Around the World in 80 Books
How delightfully quirky! This quick tale of Professor Dr. von Igelfeld’s misadventures around the world is just so fun. As a celebrated professor & author of what I can only imagine is a bestseller entitled Portuguese Irregular Verbs, Professor Dr. von Igelfeld decides one day he’d love to guest lecture at Cambridge in England, having never been before. Cambridge, and England, are nothing like von Igelfeld imagined, and his inability to adapt culturally is almost comical. After returning to his home university in Germany, von Igelfeld finds himself with an invitation to receive an award in Colombia, which naturally seems like a good idea to accept. Hilarity & misfortune ensues.
I love that in under 200 pages, I have a full picture of who Professor Dr. von Igelfeld is, as well as his strengths and weaknesses. I love that this story contrasted a mundane excursion to England with an absurd adventure in Colombia. And just when I thought I could predict Professor Dr. von Igelfeld’s behavior & character, I was surprisingly wrong. I would totally read more in this series.
How delightfully quirky! This quick tale of Professor Dr. von Igelfeld’s misadventures around the world is just so fun. As a celebrated professor & author of what I can only imagine is a bestseller entitled Portuguese Irregular Verbs, Professor Dr. von Igelfeld decides one day he’d love to guest lecture at Cambridge in England, having never been before. Cambridge, and England, are nothing like von Igelfeld imagined, and his inability to adapt culturally is almost comical. After returning to his home university in Germany, von Igelfeld finds himself with an invitation to receive an award in Colombia, which naturally seems like a good idea to accept. Hilarity & misfortune ensues.
I love that in under 200 pages, I have a full picture of who Professor Dr. von Igelfeld is, as well as his strengths and weaknesses. I love that this story contrasted a mundane excursion to England with an absurd adventure in Colombia. And just when I thought I could predict Professor Dr. von Igelfeld’s behavior & character, I was surprisingly wrong. I would totally read more in this series.
sathyasekar's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun, breezy read!! I thoroughly enjoyed this short take on the escapades of Dr Von Igelfield who travels to Cambridge for research on some Renaissance papers and then to Columbia for a special honour. I found to my great pleasure that this is a series and there are further anecdotes to enjoy. The book is pure escapist fare, a trifle over the top at times, but guaranteed to always put a smile on your face. The Cambridge half was definitely the superior one where the professor gets embroiled in college politics. The passages around the toilet in particular are really hilarious!! The Colombian half is more an outlandish farce. But thoroughly good fun!!
michaeldennis's review against another edition
3.0
Not as compelling a story as the first two volumes of this series.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
4.0
Fun fun fun reading. Short too! You can read in a day. This is #3 in the series
ginn's review against another edition
3.0
The second volume in this series was funnier, but this one was still amusing.