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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration is really good. It is a funny book. I've not read a book by Alexander McCall-Smith before but I'm glad I've read my first. This was relatable because my mum doesn't live very far from Poitiers so I know the area well and funny, especially the cats moving in with Gloria.
The humour flowed throughout the book, from the cats to the food tasting. I really enjoyed the pace of this book, it was well written and I hate to admit it but my husband was right about this author, I will be reading more.
The descriptions are great and make you feel as if you are in the places along with all the characters.
The humour flowed throughout the book, from the cats to the food tasting. I really enjoyed the pace of this book, it was well written and I hate to admit it but my husband was right about this author, I will be reading more.
The descriptions are great and make you feel as if you are in the places along with all the characters.
Digital audiobook performed by Timothy Ackroyd
This is the second book featuring Paul Stuart, the “renowned Scottish cookbook writer.” He’s trying to write about the Philosophy of Food but his muse has left him. His home situation isn’t helping, so when his eccentric cousin Chloe suggests he accompany her to France, where she’s rented a cottage in a small village, he agrees.
Much as in the first outing (My Italian Bulldozer), there is not a central plot to move the story along. Rather, Paul just stumbles into situations in the village; he meets new and interesting people among which are the twin-sister owners of the cottage he and Chloe are renting, as well as the local eatery widely known as the second-worst restaurant in France. Paul begins to learn more of Chloe’s colorful (and barely believable) background; he befriends the very pregnant waitress, and gets involved in the lives of several of the local residents.
What I like about this book and several of McCall Smith’s other works are the characters. I enjoy peeping into their lives for a bit and watching the goings on from afar. I’m interested and entertained but can easily drop it for a time and then come back when I start to wonder “whatever happened to …?” Because this is only book two in the series (if I can even call it a series at this point), I have no idea which, if any, of these people will reappear in future installments. But I’d be willing to read more of Paul’s adventures in food.
Timothy Ackroyd does a fine job of performing the audio. There are a lot of characters to handle, and he is up to the task.
This is the second book featuring Paul Stuart, the “renowned Scottish cookbook writer.” He’s trying to write about the Philosophy of Food but his muse has left him. His home situation isn’t helping, so when his eccentric cousin Chloe suggests he accompany her to France, where she’s rented a cottage in a small village, he agrees.
Much as in the first outing (My Italian Bulldozer), there is not a central plot to move the story along. Rather, Paul just stumbles into situations in the village; he meets new and interesting people among which are the twin-sister owners of the cottage he and Chloe are renting, as well as the local eatery widely known as the second-worst restaurant in France. Paul begins to learn more of Chloe’s colorful (and barely believable) background; he befriends the very pregnant waitress, and gets involved in the lives of several of the local residents.
What I like about this book and several of McCall Smith’s other works are the characters. I enjoy peeping into their lives for a bit and watching the goings on from afar. I’m interested and entertained but can easily drop it for a time and then come back when I start to wonder “whatever happened to …?” Because this is only book two in the series (if I can even call it a series at this point), I have no idea which, if any, of these people will reappear in future installments. But I’d be willing to read more of Paul’s adventures in food.
Timothy Ackroyd does a fine job of performing the audio. There are a lot of characters to handle, and he is up to the task.
3 & 1/2 stars
This is a simple story in much the same style as many of his stand alone novels (even though this one goes with the Italian Bulldozer book). Nothing makes it particularly special, but I liked it fine.
This is a simple story in much the same style as many of his stand alone novels (even though this one goes with the Italian Bulldozer book). Nothing makes it particularly special, but I liked it fine.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is an odd book with an odd storyline and a particularly odd character in Chloe. Not sure if I understood everything going on with her. But, I enjoyed everything about the restaurant!
A few moments dragged for me, but overall this was pretty delightful. A nice book for in-between my thrillers and heavy non-fiction titles. I was about halfway through when I realized this was actually the second in a series. It can absolutely be read as a standalone.
"I can't stress this enough, you know: breathing is important. Really important." - Paul's friend
"To be a lover was easy enough; to be a friend required rather more. To be both was something not given to everyone." - Gloria's thoughts about her relationship with Paul
"The worst mistake a parent can make," she said. "Not to love a child for what she is." - Chloe to Paul
"And so I should. If there's one thing one should not talk about, Paul, it is the secrets of the bedroom. That is of no concern to anybody else, and it is very bad taste to disclose what happens there." She paused. "That isn't to say that you can't talk about what other people get up to in that department -- that's a matter of great interest to all of us -- but you shouldn't talk about yourself that way." Chloe to Paul
"I can't stress this enough, you know: breathing is important. Really important." - Paul's friend
"To be a lover was easy enough; to be a friend required rather more. To be both was something not given to everyone." - Gloria's thoughts about her relationship with Paul
"The worst mistake a parent can make," she said. "Not to love a child for what she is." - Chloe to Paul
"And so I should. If there's one thing one should not talk about, Paul, it is the secrets of the bedroom. That is of no concern to anybody else, and it is very bad taste to disclose what happens there." She paused. "That isn't to say that you can't talk about what other people get up to in that department -- that's a matter of great interest to all of us -- but you shouldn't talk about yourself that way." Chloe to Paul