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A review by joyfilledwander
At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances by Alexander McCall Smith
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.