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stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this one as well as others in the Isabel Dalhousie series. I tend to lose interest with the frequent philosophical musings of Isabel and the detailed descriptions of Scotland.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book. Isabel Dalhousie is negotiating her time between her son Charlie, her soon-to-be fiance Jaime, her niece's deli, and her work as an editor of a philosophy journal. Soon this is complicated by the ask by an acquaintance to look into three candidates who are applying to be headmaster at a local boys school -- prompted by an anonymous letter suggesting that something isn't right with one of them. Also, she has a worry about the journal, a clash of personalities that annoys her. On top of that, a young woman is pursuing Jaime -- wanting one chance at love before she dies tragically of some dread disease.
It is a drowsy, comfortable book, filled with Isabel's musings on philosophy, human nature, and how to solve her problems in an ethical manner. It's set in Scotland, and filled with a sense of place and the people who live there (well, perhaps some of the people who live there). The mystery is not of a life-or-death nature, no one dies, but yet it retains interest as Isabel negotiates between what is known as fact and what she feels to be true.
It is a drowsy, comfortable book, filled with Isabel's musings on philosophy, human nature, and how to solve her problems in an ethical manner. It's set in Scotland, and filled with a sense of place and the people who live there (well, perhaps some of the people who live there). The mystery is not of a life-or-death nature, no one dies, but yet it retains interest as Isabel negotiates between what is known as fact and what she feels to be true.
festival_maven_m's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
This is the latest in Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series. More stream-of-consciousness philosophizing while advancing the story. It's cute - but I'll admit that I sometimes skim the philosophy and focus on the story.
soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
Although I liked this installment better than the last, I still have mixed feelings about the series. Why don't Isabel and Jamie just get married? They've been together for over a year. Does she really love Jamie or does she just love the idea of having a young, attractive boyfriend? And does he love her or just love her house and income?
Do they feel stuck with each other because of Charlie?
I'd like it better if they just got married and the storyline returned Isabel's mystery-solving.
Do they feel stuck with each other because of Charlie?
I'd like it better if they just got married and the storyline returned Isabel's mystery-solving.
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
This is the seventh installment in the series about Isabel Dalhousie, philosopher and occasional amateur sleuth and I feel like the series is starting to slowly run out of steam. It's a charming novel but it suffers badly from an absence of momentum. The plot is even slighter than usual. A large portion of the book is about Isabel's relationship with Jamie and they seem to have many philosophical conversations, which are pleasant enough but don't really go anywhere. Otherwise the main storyline is about Isabel being asked to look into the backgrounds of three applicants for a school principal position, one of whom happens to be Cat's new boyfriend. An anonymous letter has been sent to the Board of Governors alleging that one of the candidates has a dark secret.
I can't shake the feeling that Isabel and Jamie just aren't right for each other - despite the fact that their wedding is apparently imminent. Before Jamie, Isabel was a strong woman, but now she spends so much time worrying about whether she's worthy of him. At one point she hears that he has been seen at a movie, which she didn't know he'd gone to. She immediately leaps to the assumption that he is having an affair and tells him she hates him. This didn't feel like the Isabel I know and love. One of her friends says to her: "Occasionally we've asked ourselves if the real threat to your relationship with Jamie might be your finding out that apart from the physical attraction, Jamie did not bring enough to the relationship to keep you interested". Isabel gets all huffy and indignant at this, but I tended to agree.
McCall Smith's Edinburgh is a small town where everyone is connected and even taxi drivers are philosophers. People have no major failings, just "charming quirks". It's the kind of book that leaves you feeling a little lighter in spirit, musing about topics such as the relative merits of Mozart vs the dinosaurs. However if you are new to the series, this is not the place to begin.
I can't shake the feeling that Isabel and Jamie just aren't right for each other - despite the fact that their wedding is apparently imminent. Before Jamie, Isabel was a strong woman, but now she spends so much time worrying about whether she's worthy of him. At one point she hears that he has been seen at a movie, which she didn't know he'd gone to. She immediately leaps to the assumption that he is having an affair and tells him she hates him. This didn't feel like the Isabel I know and love. One of her friends says to her: "Occasionally we've asked ourselves if the real threat to your relationship with Jamie might be your finding out that apart from the physical attraction, Jamie did not bring enough to the relationship to keep you interested". Isabel gets all huffy and indignant at this, but I tended to agree.
McCall Smith's Edinburgh is a small town where everyone is connected and even taxi drivers are philosophers. People have no major failings, just "charming quirks". It's the kind of book that leaves you feeling a little lighter in spirit, musing about topics such as the relative merits of Mozart vs the dinosaurs. However if you are new to the series, this is not the place to begin.
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
Another excellently written, feel good book, just wish the wedding would have been included in this volume :(
lavoiture's review against another edition
3.0
It seems that Isabelle is just a reincarnation of Mma Ramotse. Still, an enjoyable, quick read.
melissa_427's review against another edition
3.0
"Anger disfigured...We are disfigured by anger and must avoid it, we must, no matter how much we seethe."
"The line between having an adequate view of oneself and smugness was a thin one."
"The line between having an adequate view of oneself and smugness was a thin one."