The Importance of Being Seven (44 Scotland Street Series)

Once again I am drawn into the delightful lives of the Pollock family and all the surrounding characters. Bertie is such a wonderful little boy, isn't he? Alexander McCall Smith brings out his delightful personality so well. If Bertie stays 7 for a while, I am OK with that.

Bertie is one of Alexander McCall Smith's dearest characters with a mother who is not a good one. She gives poor Bertie little joy in life, but he is a very wise, darling child who manages to love life and go around some of her
strange plans for a little boy who just wants to be seven

I am in love with Bertie, Matthew, Elspeth, Dominica, Angus nd, of course, Cyril, and it is dreadful when I must turn that last page. I miss 44 Scotland Street and Big Lou while waiting for the next book. Thank you, Alexander McCall Smith for sharing these beautiful stories!

I have enjoyed all of AMS's books, especially the Isabelle Dalhousie series, but
after reading this book, I think the 44 Scotland Street series is my new favorite.
There is so much "laugh out loud" humor in it. I highly recommend it! SDukes

A disappointing book in a great series, a light-hearted look at human anture,written with intelligence and charm. A hidden treasure of a series. However, this book seems like writing by request which moves the plot along slightly, but the special sensibility of the earlier volumes is missing. This needed an editor. Go on to the next book. Still a series not to miss.

What a wonderful read. McCall Smith makes you remember being almost seven again. The people on Scotland Street come alive and you feel a part of their lives. You visualize all the characters. Most enjoyable.

I was disappointed that this was not a non-abridged version. Obviously I did not read the description well enough. Also the person who read the book, although fine, was not nearly as good as the reader in previous Scotland St. books.

Another great book about the people who live in Edinburgh - always entertaining, insightful and enjoyable! I can't wait to see if the books continue and Bertie turns 18 and moves to Glasgow! Wouldn't that be something!

I've visited Scotland Street in Edinburgh and that is why I began reading the series. Delightful characters ... the books individually are fun reads but read as a series I hate to have each end in order to find out what next evolves in their lives. Light, quick reads with the flavor of Edinburgh delightfully woven into each character and situation. Other books by the same author highly recommended.

Which is too bad. While the reader does a workmanlike job, the previous reader for McCall's books had all of the characters voices and personalities well defined. Along with the fact this is an abridgement, something I also did not discover until I opened the book--the store's fault, makes this the first bad experience I had with the 44 Scotland Street Series,

Bertie Pollack is the precocious six-year-old son of Irene, who, if she were American, might be called a "helicopter mom" for her constant hovering over Bertie's every move. In the Edinburgh New Town district where Bertie also lives with his father and baby brother, Ulysses, Irene is generally thought of as "that insufferable woman" by one and all. This would include their neighbors, who are fond of Bertie but avoid Irene at all costs, his psychotherapist, (whom no one, including the psychotherapist himself, thinks he needs), his saxophone teacher, his yoga instructor, his school teacher and his exotically named schoolmates: Tofu, Hiawatha and Olive. To round out his education, Bertie is tutored at home after school by his mum as they listen to Dante's Inferno -- in Italian.

Poor Bertie seems trapped in a time-warped construct created nearly 100 years earlier by A.A. Milne's Christopher Robin, who, thrilled to be six, wanted "to be six for ever and ever." Not Bertie, who has probably never heard of Christopher Robin because Irene would find Winnie the Pooh too prosaic and endearing for a brilliant young Scotsman. Bertie feels stuck at six in the bubble of his mother's world where Scouting For Boys is too militaristic an organization what with their Swiss Army knives and silly khaki shorts. A kilts, which Bertie yearns to wear, are banned by Irene as too nationalistic and arcane.

Meanwhile, upstairs neighbor anthropologist Domenica MacDonald is invited, along with her old friend, artist Angus Lordy and his dog Cyril, to spend a month in Italy with Domenica's neighbor, Angelica. Angelica's man-hunting reputation precedes her, and Domenica sees her platonic relationship with Angus threatened by the proposed sleeping arrangements. Even though she escaped from Somali pirate kidnappers and spent months studying the Nuer tribe in Ethiopa, Domenica finds dealing with a manipulative female rival to be a challenge of a different sort. Angus and the adventurous Cyril set off a scene created by Cyril's past as a police dog drug sniffer, attracting a furor upon arrival at the Florence airport. The trio goes on to enjoy their sojourn at the villa, which holds unexpected turns for all.

Matthew, the wealthy owner of a neighborhood art gallery, has recently married Bertie's former teacher, Elspeth, who lost her job for tweaking the ear of one of Bertie's school mates. They are barely moved into their flat when Elspeth learns that she is pregnant --- a fact met with mixed emotions so early in their marriage, especially when she discovers she's carrying triplets. A move to a larger flat is needed, which brings an encounter with the self-absorbed and vain Bruce, the subject of two or three prior books from Scotland Street. Life's lessons have been harsh on Bruce, and he's trying to mend his ways, but there's still work to be done when he creates a serious situation between Matthew and his bride.

Other familiar faces come and go throughout the novel, rounding out the satisfying and amusing circle of friends and family. Because of a wrong turn in the woods, Bertie sees light at the end of his six-year-long tunnel as his birthday approaches.

Bertie's adventures have made him the most popular character in all of the imaginary worlds from the creative mind of Alexander McCall Smith, who professes delighted surprise that Bertie has become a favorite of his many international fans. Smith said that when he is on tour, he is asked more often about Bertie (usually prefaced with "poor" Bertie) than any of his other prodigious stable of fascinating characters.

As in all of Smith's charming and heartwarming tales, all's well that ends well. This edition is perhaps the best one yet.

Reviewed by Roz Shea

There's fuel enough for several novels in this installment of Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series, with a young married couple seeking a larger home, an older unmarried couple seeking commitment, the joys of Italian art and countryside, and, of course, the little boy who isn't yet seven but knows the world will change one day. The author weaves his stories together with swift scene and chapter changes, leaving one set characters hanging, or falling, while another takes the stage and runs with it. Through it all, an omniscient narrator invites the reader to experience the world through many different eyes--even those of a dog--and in doing so to notice what we ignore, remember what we forget to recognize, and just perhaps become a little kinder to each other.

Good-humored, fun, filled with the real and the strange, The Importance of Being Seven brings Scotland's houses, streets and countryside to life, offers insights into the schooling system over cups of tea and plates of biscuits, and even invites the frozen reader to enjoy the warmth of a glorious Italian sun. The narrator's constantly pleasing voice holds disparate stories together, and a book that's easy to pick up after putting down (because of its well-separated chapters) proves seriously hard to put down (because it's just such a smooth, well-measured, good read). Enjoy.

Disclosure: A friend loaned me the book, but I'm sure I'll buy my own copy one day.

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -- John 8:32 (NKJV)

You have a great treat ahead of you in this book.

Alexander McCall Smith did well when he created the characters of the very slowly aging (you could even say, non-aging) six-year-old Bertie Pollock; his domineering, obsessed mother, Irene; his hen-pecked father, Stuart; and his baby brother, Ulysses. There's so much wonderful humor in making Bertie the rational one who tells the truth and creates great discomfort for the adults in his life when he does that I have come to believe that we adults are more in self-denial than we realize. Like the best parts of this series, The Importance of Being Seven has lots of Bertie in it. Yeah!

Matthew and his wife Elspeth aren't normally as interesting, but in this book their marriage is in focus in an unusual way that promises intriguing future surprises and makes this book more enjoyable than you might expect when they are in the spotlight. I won't say more.

The story also details what happens when an unusual foursome plans a holiday: Angus Lordie; his dog, Cyril; Domenica Macdonald; and Antonia (who has her eye on Angus).

Mr. McCall Smith is very good at making situations humorous in a loving way. Although characters may be at odds, they do their best to get along and to do the right thing. Ultimately, some sort of truth wins out, even if only in a momentary fashion for the truth teller (and the reader).

This is the sixth in the 44 SCOTLAND STREET series of novels. These stories were originally published in serial form in a newspaper, much like Maupin's TALES OF THE CITY. There are very strong overall story arcs in this series so anyone new to this series should begin reading the series with 44 SCOTLAND STREET and proceed in order.

When last we saw Bertie he was struggling with the addition of a baby brother, Ulysses to his already overburdened life. His mother, Irene, still found time to deliver Bertie to his progressive school across town each day - it did give them time to practice Bertie's conversational Italian along the way. And of course the weekly yoga class, the saxophone lessons and the trips to the child psychoanalyst were also worked into the schedule as well. Bertie could not quite understand why his mother became so upset when he mentioned how much his little brother resembled his previous analyst, the one who had so abruptly left town a few months ago but since Bertie's father had so recently and uncharacteristically overruled Irene and insisted that Bertie remain in the Cub Scouts, Bertie had other, more important matters on his mind. Foremost of those matters was becoming seven, and being just that much closer to the glorious day when he could move away from Scotland Street and his mother's domination.

On other fronts Matthew and Elspeth are settling into married life in a big way. They are expecting the birth of their first child, an event that they discover will impact their lives so much more than they ever imagined.

Domenica, Angus, Cyril and Antonia are off on an adventure of their own. The group has decided to head to Italy, well the humans decided for a variety of reasons to take the trip, Cyril just found himself being taken along for the ride. Their trip though turned out to have unexpected results for all involved.

This series, as previously mentioned, first appeared as a newspaper series. Each day's section is presented here as a short chapter, sometimes continuing the previous day's story, sometimes picking up a different plot line. This format makes the novel equally suitable for taking along and reading at odd free moments or for settling down and reading in long stretches. After the reader has spent time with these characters in earlier books picking up this volume is like catching up on old friends. The only question remaining after finishing this installment is how soon will McCall Smith get back to us and let us know what happens next.

Part of the 44 Scotland Street series, the author continues the interactions among his delightful characters in this volume. In fact, Edinburgh herself becomes a character with her traits, neighborhoods, architecture and citizens. This series always brings me to chuckle at the antics of the customers of Big Lou's coffee shop who have indeed the same traits of my friends and family members. My sympathy for Bertie has no bounds. This series must give quite a boost to the tourist trade!

Readers who enjoy light fiction but have trouble finding the time to read a novel should consider Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series. Smith created this series in daily installments for The Scotsman and he presents a cast of characters engaged in everyday life in Edinburgh. A reader can enjoy a single installment in a few minutes and come away satisfied. The sixth and latest in the series, The Importance of Being Seven, advances the story for fans who have read the earlier installments. A new reader could start here and still be satisfied. Once in the habit of reading a little bit every day, before one knows it, another book is finished. The characters are endearing, the plot is interesting, and human nature is revealed.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

The Importance of Being Seven is the sixth in the Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. Once again we join the residents and friends of 44 Scotland Street. Domenica and Angus go to Italy with Antonia; Bruce's new leaf seems to have ended as he reverts to type; Matthew and Elspeth get some life-changing news; Bertie longs to be 7, or better still, 18; Elspeth shows she has backbone; Irene gives Bertie a lesson in the meaning of "always"; Pat reappears with some sage advice for Mathew; and Bertie gets some moments of pleasure with Stuart. Throughout, McCall-Smiths gentle philosophy provokes thought and often, laughter. A delight to read.

Alexander McCall Smith is a master of quiet humor. His characters are funny, although they don't necessarily mean to be. Bertie is a 7 year old genius, his mother is difficult. The adult characters are funny in their own way, and Cyril, the dog with the golden tooth, is a jewel of a character, despite his anti-feline disposition. I love the gentle decomposition of famous literary works to be found in so much of McCall Smith's work.

This book is another great story about 44 Scotland Street. Matthew and his new wife get good news. Matthew makes decisions that have to be worked out so that all turns out well. Bertie gets one of his wishes full filled. But sometimes what you wish for comes in strange ways. Dominica and Angus go to Italy. Even Cyril goes to Italy.

Falling in love with Bertie is inevitable once you have been introduced to him by an author whose affection for his characters, however flawed each one may be, is observant, acute, and never mean. The entire collection of people (and dog) who inhabit Mr. McCall Smith's small corner of Edinburgh become like friends you need to catch up with in each book.