Love Over Scotland (44 Scotland Street Series)

Everyone with a little power seems to have an exaggerated opinion of himself or herself in Edinburgh. But it must be true elsewhere: Love Over Scotland employs such a kindly look at such pretensions that I was able to see myself quite clearly in some of the satirized characters. It's good for the soul to read this book.

If you haven't read the earlier books in the series (44 Scotland Street and Espresso Tales), I recommend you do so before beginning Love Over Scotland.

Academic pretensions are laid out for all to see in Domenica Macdonald's research into the family life of today's Asian pirates. Parental pretensions continue to be best displayed by Bertie's mother, Irene Pollock. Pretensions in love are characterized by Pat who leans towards a romance with fellow art student, Wolf. Angus Lordie's pretensions as a sophisticated man and devoted dog lover are also exposed. Psychotherapists' pretensions continue to be displayed by the muddle-headed Dr. Fairbairn. Writers' pretensions are explored with a new character, Antonia Collie.

The foils for these pretenders are very sympathetic: Bertie is at his independent best; Matthew's money doesn't go to his head as he continues to treasure Pat; and Big Lou shows that loving others isn't always rewarded in the right way. I'm sure you'll identify with them and cheer them on as they fight off the effects of the pretenders.

I liked this story the best of the three. Alexander McCall Smith seems to have let his humor run wild more than in the earlier books. As a result, each little segment is a romp worthy of consideration separately from the rest. I imagined I could hear him laughing as I finished several sections.

The introduction of more themes about love is also an improvement.

At the book's end, there are several promising situations that should provide for additional delicious humor and loving reflection in the next volume of the series.

Don't miss Love Over Scotland!

There is so much that is wonderful about "Love Over Scotland" (or virtually any other Alexander McCall Smith book) that the reader wants to visit Edinburgh, look up the characters in the book and invite the author to dinner. All fantasy of course, but how many stories make you feel that way?
"Love Over Scotland" is largely the light-hearted, clever and totally entertaining continuation of the sagas of Bertie the precocious and much-put upon six-year old; Matthew, the lovelorn and awkward twenty-something; Angus and Cyril, eccentric artist and faithful dog; and Domenica, the intrepid, field-tripping anthropologist. On the face of it, they don't sound promising as lead characters in a novel, but McCall Smith gives them voices that speak for the practice of love in its various forms--romantic, lustful, misguided, unrequited, etc.
If the previous two books in the "44 Scotland Street" series provided regular chuckles from one page to the next, "Love Over Scotland" delivers frequent belly laughs through the author's gentle satire of modern parents, the perennial misunderstandings that take place between genders and the starchiness of the author's much-loved hometown of Edinburgh. McCall Smith takes a humorous poke at fellow Scot and Edinburgh favorite son, Ian Rankin (by name), which suggests the two writers are good friends (bitter rivals seems unimaginable).
There is unending wit and wisdom in this book which ultimately leaves you hoping that the fourth episode in the series will be published very soon.

To an urban American, the McCall Smith characters of the "44 Scotland Street" - like "The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" - resound in familiarity and honesty, rarely found characteristics in my home town. And like "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency", the characters within these pages infectiously become more and more precious as the serial writer's presentation increases.

The most honest, and most poignant character, is 6-year old Bertie whose constant battles with mother Irene and father Stuart pinnacle when he goes to the police station and tells the police about his parents' business engagement with Lard O'Connor (the Tony Soprano of Scotland). It is all so simple, a carryover from the second novel. But, things in Edinburgh get darker.

Anthropologist Domenica actually goes out to see her Malaysian pirates, and discovers that they are scamming dolts who betray the pirate motto of lore. Even her pirate guide scams her by intruding and interfering with her work, until she bags him near the book's end.

Angus, the artist whose dog Cyril is everyone's friend, also is scammed by a Scot when his beloved mutt is dognapped while he is grocery shopping. Thankfully Cyril returns, but only after walking the streets of Edinburgh with a broken heart and an aching jaw, an injury derived from the dognapper's unsolicited swift kick.

But, Scotland Street's inhabitants - on the whole - are good people. "She has seen candour and honesty and utter transparency. But you had to be a child to be like that today, because all about us was the most pervasive cynicism that eroded everything with its superficiality and its sneers."

Pat, the college student, who encounters hard times with yet another roommate from hell, makes Matthew ask a most poignant question about bathroom etiquette when sharing a one-bathroom flat: "You can assume that if there's somebody in there, then the door will be locked." But, many do not lock doors. And intrusion occurs. So we must ask: "But then why does the person who opens the door feel bad about it?"

Pat remains mainly honest and without ethical fault. Her boss, Matthew, was equally pure, but an encounter with Lard for the benefit of friend Lou may have delivered him "to the dark side" - something that book 4 of this series will obviously focus upon.

Angus continues to mope while best friend Domenica engages in her months-upon-moths research, and tries to amuse her friend and flat watcher, Antonia, but all to no avail. Maybe book 4 will clear this up as well. And Pat seems to need to clear things up (or whatever) with Matthew in book 4 as well.

So goes McCall Smith, again leading the readers to anticipate more from the eccentric but lovable characters of 44 Scotland Street and their friends. After reading so many of his serial novels, I can only ask "How does he do it?" McCall Smith has proven great breadth in his serial writing. Scotland's J.K. Rowling and Alexander McCall Smith are unquestionably two of the premier serial writers of the past decade.

This book was filled with anecdotes of Bertie, which I must admit, is my personal favorite character in this series.

The novel works on daily writings of various persons living on Scotland Street in Edinburgh along with neighbors living closely by.

The book skips from family to family never missing one thread of the stories. It is a gentle look into city life and dreams of it's inhabitants.

Bertie? Well, he is a six year old genius or very near one. His mother considers him "The Bertie Project" which tells you some of his life right there. Bertie is accomplished in playing the Tenor Saxophone but is still required to wear Dungarees, pink ones at that. He speaks fluent Italian but just wants to have some friends.

I highly recommend this entire series.

Love Over Scotland (2006) is the third novel in the 44 Scotland Street series, following Espresso Tales. In the previous volume, Ramsey Dunbarton started writing his memoirs. Matthew learned that Janis was not a golddigger.

Big Lou discovered that Eddie had not been true to her. Domenica decided to study pirates in the Malacca Straits. Bruce sold his flat and moved to London. Pat moved to a shared flat on Spottiswoode Street.

In this novel, Pat Macgregor is the daughter of an Edinburgh psychiatrist. She is now registered for courses in art at the University of Edinburgh. She is also working parttime at Something Special Gallery, the art shop owned by Matthew.

Matthew Duncan is a young business man. His gallery has recently been making a profit. It probably has to do with Pat's knack for selling art.

Domenica MacDonald is an older anthropologist with an eventful past and a lot of friends. She allows her friend Antonia Collie to live in her flat while she is away studying pirates.

Irene Pollock is the wife of Stuart and the mother of Bertie. She knows that her son is quite brilliant, but he also seems quite disturbed. At least, Irene has trouble understanding him. They live on the floor below Domenica at 44 Scotland Street.

Lou Brown is the owner of The Morning After coffee shop. It is near the gallery and Matthew likes to stop in there to talk to Big Lou and his other friends.

Angus Lordie is an Edinburgh artist. He is an older man and a friend of Domenica. Angus has a dog named Cyril, who likes to wink at the ladies.

In this story, Pat is now living with three other females. She is taking a seminar on aesthetics at the university. Her professor is a dull lecturer and seems unable to stir up much discussion.

Another student in the seminar is called Wolf. Pat is intrigued by his name and looks. Then she discovers that he is going with one of her flatmates.

Pat tries to dump Wolf, but he persists in his pursuit of her. Then Tessie -- his girlfriend -- threatens her and Pat decides to move out. She gets Matthew to help her move her stuff. Then he offers her the guest room in his house.

Angus lets Antonia into Domenica's flat. At first, Angus likes her, but then he starts to feel like she is treating him in a condescending manner. She is also not favorably impressed by Angus.

Later, Angus decides to invite Antonia over to his house for dinner. But then Cyril is stolen while Angus is buying food for the meal. Angusis very distraught by the incident, so he postpones the dinner.

Cyril slips free of his collar and runs away from the dognapper. He follows his nose toward a familiar scent and eventually finds a friend from the Cumberland Bar. Angus and Cyril are reunited in that bar and the patrons are delighted at the joy and eagerness of the two friends.

The Pollocks lose their car again. This time it was probably stolen. Irene reports the theft, but has to hurry her candid son out of the police station. He is starting to explain about Lard O'Connor before he is whisked away.

Irene takes Bertie to an audition for the Edinburgh Teenage Orchestra. Bertie points out that he is slightly younger -- by at least seven years -- than the rest of the group, but she is sure that he can handle it. Then Bertie mentions that the saxophone is not an orchestral instrument, but Irene counters with reminders that it is much like some others in the orchestra.

So Bertie ignores the music that he is supposed to play and does "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca. The conductor loves it! Bertie and his saxophone are going to Paris with the orchestra. Bertie is upset at first, but then he learns that his mother will not be coming with them.

In Malaysia, Domenica is guided to the village where she will be staying by a young accountant named Ling. He is also her interpreter, but he tends to disparage and twist the words of her subjects. Then Domenica fires him and discovers that she can speak pidgin with the natives.

Big Lou has money problems with her sweetheart Eddie. Matthew and Stuart find a solution in Glasgow. Eddie doesn't like the results.

This tale widens out the horizons of the series, taking Domenica to the far East and Bertie to France. Pat finally goes back to college, but her love life is getting complicated. The situation with Wolf and Tessie both titillates and frightens her.

These stories continue to amaze and delight us. The next volume is The World According to Bertie. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for McCall Smith fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of ordinary lives, commonplace people, and one brilliant child. For anyone who has not previously read this series, the initial volume is 44 Scotland Street.

-Bill Jordin

Alexander McCall Smith is the Charles Dickens of our day. We forget that Dickens wrote many of his novels as serials in magazines and this McCall Smith book was originally serialised in the Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital where the plot is set.

However, unlike Dickens, McCall Smith is a wonderfully enjoyable read, with none of the depressive quality of a Dickens novel.

Not only that but in this, the third volume, many delightful things take place that bring happy resolution to some of the many fascinating sub-plots that readers have been pondering over the past few years. So for afficianados like me - and, I suspect hundreds of thousands of you - this is an espcially enjoyable novel!

You can also visit Scotland Street! My wife and I recently did a McCall Smith tour of Edinburgh and had a wonderful time.

These really are as good as the Botswana novels - read them with equal pleasure and be sure to tell all your friends. It will be an ideal gift for Christmas - and for Thanksgiving, for that matter, too.

Christopher Catherwood (author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY [Carroll and Graf] and of MAKING WAR IN THE NAME OF GOD [Citadel])

The author has such keen insight into human nature and writes his characters with such charm and humor you tend to overlook their weaknesses. You may recognize some of them in yourselves. The characters stories sometimes bring a chuckle and a shake of the head. A delightful book that makes you smile.

If you loved the other Scotland Street books, you will love this one. If you didn't, why are you reading this review? If you haven't read the earlier books, read their reviews first.

I was introduced to this series by my 85-year-old mother, who is in a nursing home in Nebraska, and is still the world's best reader. She took great pleasure in reading "Espresso Tales" aloud to the only person for many miles who would fall out of her chair laughing at such arcane humor. Melanie Klein jokes, for heaven's sake! I admit it--the snob factor is a big one for me. I may not get the Edinburgh jokes, but I get the intellectual ones.

I adore this series--I even like it better than the other McCall Smith series (I don't particularly like Isabel Dalhousie). I adore this book. My favorite part is written from the POV of Cyril, Angus Lordie's dog. Or maybe it's the bemused discussion of May 1968. Or the moment when the fireworks go off for Matthew. Or what I suspect is a send-up of a classic (and creepy) Melanie Klein transcript. Or... I guess I'll just have to read it again.

Try reading this book aloud to someone simpatico. Or have someone with a great reading style (like my mother) read it to you. It's a lovely experience.

This was by far my favorite of the Scotland Street series. The stories were witty, entertaining and just plain enjoyable to read. While I still cannot help but feel sorry for Bertie I was happy to see him enjoy some part of his childhood with his excursion to Paris, sans Irene, his overbearing mother. I loved the direction Matthew and Pat were headed and that Big Lou will still be around to serve up more coffee and advise. Domenica had a rather interesting anthropological study on her hands in the Malacca Straights and Angus, in her absence, had an unfortunate incident occur when Cyril, his beloved dog, was snatched.

All this and more in the ever entertaining world of those who reside on Scotland Street. A definite read for McCall Smith fans.

The characters are evolving in and around 44 Scotland Street, from the beleaguered 6 year old saxophonist Bertie to the inordinately fat but fair minded crook Lard. An excellent addition to the series, better in fact than the previous entries.

my grandson was born in brechin montrose area...usa navy folk stationed there....visited fiddlehead a castle north of dundee 9th century
peo p le watched for invaders on the north sea...merchants putting out water dishes for dogs...matron midwife for my daughter...wonderful entertaining story...a keeper for me to read again.

This was by far my favorite of the Scotland Street series. The stories were witty, entertaining and just plain enjoyable to read. While I still cannot help but feel sorry for Bertie I was happy to see him enjoy some part of his childhood with his excursion to Paris, sans Irene, his overbearing mother. I loved the direction Matthew and Pat were headed and that Big Lou will still be around to serve up more coffee and advise. Domenica had a rather interesting anthropological study on her hands in the Malacca Straights and Angus, in her absence, had an unfortunate incident occur when Cyril, his beloved dog, was snatched.

All this and more in the ever entertaining world of those who reside on Scotland Street. A definite read for McCall Smith fans.

The characters are evolving in and around 44 Scotland Street, from the beleaguered 6 year old saxophonist Bertie to the inordinately fat but fair minded crook Lard. An excellent addition to the series, better in fact than the previous entries.

my grandson was born in brechin montrose area...usa navy folk stationed there....visited fiddlehead a castle north of dundee 9th century
peo p le watched for invaders on the north sea...merchants putting out water dishes for dogs...matron midwife for my daughter...wonderful entertaining story...a keeper for me to read again.

It's painful to witness everything Bertie suffers at his mother's hands, but I really like him and I can't stop reading about him. I loved his time in Paris, and my favorite part of the book was his (extremely premature) audition for the Edinburgh Teenage Orchestra. Poor Bertie. I hope good things are in store for him, and I hope they happen soon.

I have always been facsinated by cultures (differences), particularly the British. I am curious about people in different societies, what they do, how they live, how they think and how they may differ from other cultures. I also like to observe human nature and various personality traits. The 44 Scotland Street series allowed me to do both at the same time. Smith is a talented observer and I enjoyed this book very much.

I absolutely love Alexander McCall Smith's books. The 44 Scotland Street series are lovely reads. Neither tear jerkers nor nail biters, they nevertheless have wonderful story lines about people who live in our world. Nice books to sit in the sun, or next to the fireplace with.

Alexander McCall Smith invariably serves his readers a ripe set of personalities varied in ages and modern contextual vignettes that gently lead to classical conclusions and observations of what is most dear in life.

After two cancelled flights, I wondered into the book store at O'Hare and picked up this title. I had not heard of the author before. Much to my surprise, it was just the tonic to get through the day and entertaining reading on the flight.