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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Audio book read by Robert Ian MacKenzie
I love Alexander McCall Smith. I love the way he puts together an ensemble of characters and slowly reveals their everyday lives and the little (and big) dramas hidden in plain sight.
In this novel – not part of any series – four strangers meet on a train bound for London from Edinburgh. As they get acquainted their stories come out. David, a middle-aged American businessman, sees two men saying good-bye at the station, and is reminded of the young man he met in his own youth. A young Scot, Andrew, reveals how he captured the attention of a co-worker when he noticed a problem with a painting that’s been credited to an early-seventeenth century artist. Kay relates how her parents met, married and ran a train station in the Australian Outback. Hugh missed his stop one day on the train, and met a woman he let into his life.
Each story offers some insight into the many ways that love finds us, enriches us, or disappoints us. For some of these characters the love is in the past, for others it shows promise of continuing into the future.
The audio book is masterfully performed by Robert Ian MacKenzie. He has clear diction, a good pace and is a skilled voice artist, able to differentiate the many characters.
I love Alexander McCall Smith. I love the way he puts together an ensemble of characters and slowly reveals their everyday lives and the little (and big) dramas hidden in plain sight.
In this novel – not part of any series – four strangers meet on a train bound for London from Edinburgh. As they get acquainted their stories come out. David, a middle-aged American businessman, sees two men saying good-bye at the station, and is reminded of the young man he met in his own youth. A young Scot, Andrew, reveals how he captured the attention of a co-worker when he noticed a problem with a painting that’s been credited to an early-seventeenth century artist. Kay relates how her parents met, married and ran a train station in the Australian Outback. Hugh missed his stop one day on the train, and met a woman he let into his life.
Each story offers some insight into the many ways that love finds us, enriches us, or disappoints us. For some of these characters the love is in the past, for others it shows promise of continuing into the future.
The audio book is masterfully performed by Robert Ian MacKenzie. He has clear diction, a good pace and is a skilled voice artist, able to differentiate the many characters.
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
Quick read--not as good as his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, but I don't think any of his other writing is! I liked it as much though as I enjoy the 44 Scotland Street series.
jackster62's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wordienerd's review against another edition
5.0
This is a relatively short read but it is chock full o'story. Narrated by several of the people on the train, Smith's book gives you a sneak peak into the lives of these passengers who are on this train ride and is woven together like a tapestry of humanity, love and love lost. The typography and typesetting of this book is really lovely and the details of the pagination is superb. A lovely looking book and a lovely book to read.
tigerkin310's review against another edition
5.0
As always, McCall Smith is delightful and a keen observer of human interaction.
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
Trains and Lovers by Alexander Smith
This 4 hour, depending on how many stops the train makes, is on its way from Edinburgh, Scotland to London, England.
There are 4 men and one woman and they get to talking. All kinds of subjects but also about love. Some tell of their grand love story when they meet their spouse or
a fond memory they have. Takes you all over the world as that is where they are all from to begin with.
Loved the travel each had described and loved the jobs of a few of them: fisherman who lost his oar and the one who had picked up the steam train in a art setting where trains had not even been invented when the painting had been finished.
I have done both things and felt a bond. Didn't care much for the travel to and in Australia, just no bond for me there, seems like such a foreign country with the culture.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
This 4 hour, depending on how many stops the train makes, is on its way from Edinburgh, Scotland to London, England.
There are 4 men and one woman and they get to talking. All kinds of subjects but also about love. Some tell of their grand love story when they meet their spouse or
a fond memory they have. Takes you all over the world as that is where they are all from to begin with.
Loved the travel each had described and loved the jobs of a few of them: fisherman who lost his oar and the one who had picked up the steam train in a art setting where trains had not even been invented when the painting had been finished.
I have done both things and felt a bond. Didn't care much for the travel to and in Australia, just no bond for me there, seems like such a foreign country with the culture.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
carolineroche's review against another edition
5.0
A book with the light touch that characterises all of McCall Smiths work. The book is about love, the stories that four travellers exchange on a train from Edinburgh to London. Each of the stories is a gem and in a dew words tells us much about the human heart. I loved it.
laura_m_j's review against another edition
5.0
My mom always gets the newest Alexander McCall Smith books from the public library, reads it in a couple of days then passes it on to me.
Sitting down with one of his novels on a rainy afternoon totally takes me away into his Scottish world for a delightful few hours.
Sitting down with one of his novels on a rainy afternoon totally takes me away into his Scottish world for a delightful few hours.
kyrieboll's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was both charming and intriguing. I've never read Alexander McCall Smith before but now I think I will because I really like his way of story telling. The whole novel is supposed to take place between a one to two hour train ride. Because I suppose trains are more romantic that stuffy planes. I especially like the way that is it written, in second person, because the four main characters (Andrew, David, Hugh and Kay) are having a conversation and telling each other their life stories of love and trains. The conversation-like story telling is realistic, because between or even in the middle of stories there are interruptions; because who really tells a long story to their friends without being interrupted at least once or twice. The stories being told are full and detailed. They are not sappy cliches that have been over told, as most love stories are. There's a summer internship romance, a secret unrequited love, an old-fashioned heartfelt tale, and a modern mysterious (and maybe creepy) affair. Some stories end happily and some ambiguous, and that is what keeps you reading. One of my favorite quotes from the novel that perfectly emulates chance encounters between strangers is thought by Kay,
"Each of us has his or her reasons, for making this journey, for being as we are, for continuing with the lives we lead; ordinary lives, of course, but touched here and there with moments of understanding and insights, and sheer marvel."
and another favorite...
"Loving others, she thought, is the good thing we do in our lives."
A book like this makes you remember that every stranger you see on a train or in a grocery store, or anywhere has a story. And kindness is of universal importance.
"Each of us has his or her reasons, for making this journey, for being as we are, for continuing with the lives we lead; ordinary lives, of course, but touched here and there with moments of understanding and insights, and sheer marvel."
and another favorite...
"Loving others, she thought, is the good thing we do in our lives."
A book like this makes you remember that every stranger you see on a train or in a grocery store, or anywhere has a story. And kindness is of universal importance.
woomom's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful. Clean. Quick read.
I found it a little hard to remember who the characters were and who was talking, but still a very enjoyable read.
I found it a little hard to remember who the characters were and who was talking, but still a very enjoyable read.