As you would expect from the title of the book it’s the six year old character Bertie who is concentrated on in this one. The poor wee soul is still very much under the thumb of his mother, the dreadful Irene, although Stuart, Bertie’s father, is pushed around by Irene even more than Bertie is. You just long for Stuart to ‘man up’. Thankfully they get a wee respite from her overbearing bossiness in this book, bliss for both of them!
At one point some of the Scotland Street residents jet off to Italy, including Angus Lordie and his dog Cyril. Some time ago I was asked which fictional dog was my favourite and I couldn’t think of any dogs at all except Nana in Peter Pan, but now I think that Cyril would be my choice as best fictional dog. He’s a great character and what with his ability to wink and being in possession of a gold tooth, he’s what I would call a gallus dog. I’m sure he must have been born in Glasgow, rather than Edinburgh!
As you would expect from this series of books, it’s a quick and enjoyable read, possibly knowing Edinburgh is an advantage. McCall Smith enjoys educating non Scots in Scots words and early on in the book he comes up with: bidey-in, trauchle and various others – and I’m all for spreading the words.
Mind you, I’m beginning to think that he gets a discount at Valvona and Crolla which is a delicatessen/restaurant in Edinburgh. He certainly should get something because he never misses a chance to give them a name check!
In the past I’ve read one of McCall Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie books which was okay-ish but I wouldn’t rush to read another one, but when I was at the library I saw one of the Corduroy Mansion books. Has anybody read any of these ones, if so, what do you think of them?
I must get a hold of this soon! Yes, I read a couple of Corduroy Mansions books! They’re just like Scotland Street set in London. There’s even a dog, Freddie de la Hay, a Pimlico terrier – cross between an Airedale and a collie? Bertie hasn’t shown up yet in London form though. Now I enjoy the Isobel Dalhousie books too, and yes, maybe that IS because they like the Scotland Streets are set in Edinburgh where I grew up. I know what you mean about Valvona and Crolla! Maybe they pay HIM to put them in his books?
Evee,
I’ll give the Corduroy Mansion books a go then! I think I read the third book in the Dalhousie series (Philosophy Club) I might start them from the beginning. I’ve only been in Valvona and Crolla inadvertently when I was expecting to be in the Jenners Food Hall – which of course was gone, so I was very disappointed, it wasn’t nearly as interesting as the old food hall!
I’ve been waiting for the audio version because I love listening to this series. I agree, Cyril is my favorite fictional dog.
And I am a proud member of Team Bertie!
Haven’t any of Courduroy Mansions but they sound good.
My next trip to Edinburgh will definitely include a visit to Valvona and Crolla. đŸ™‚
Jane GS,
They must make good listening, I take it that they are read by someone with a decent voice then! Poor Bertie, at least he struck lucky when he was named, unlike his wee brother Ulysses!
I hope you won’t be disappointed when you visit Valvona and Crolla!
The Isabel Dalhousie books are the only ones by McCall Smith that I’ve read and I really like them, and I don’t know Edinburgh (have been there twice, once to the zoo and then on a Horrible Histories bus tour, with the grandkids!) I wasn’t keen on the TV series of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, so haven’t read any of those – have you?
Maybe I should read more of his books – the Scotland Street and Corduroy Mansions ones do sound good.
Margaret,
I will start the Dalhousie books from the beginning sometime as I’ve only read The Right Attitude to Rain. I haven’t read any of the Detective Agency books. I watched the first one on TV and it didn’t really appeal to me. It’s daft but I have to have my arm twisted to read books which are set somewhere hot!
I think you’d enjoy the Scotland Street books anyway.
I am a fan of the No 1 Ladies Detective, gentle reads if you like with a moral undercurrent a lot of the time, but not so it is shoved on your face if that makes sense.
Looking back through my book I have read up to The World According to Bertie, but I was getting rather irritated by them, perhaps I need to revisit.
I have only read the first ‘Philosophy’ one and think I should perhaps try out the next, just to see if it was me in a funny reading mood when I read it.
Jo,
You’re right, it does very much depend on your reading mood, sometimes a book just doesn’t hit the right spot but another time it will.
Maybe I should give the No1 Ladies Detective a go, I do like characters in books to get their come-uppance and for things to be fair, just because in real life they so often are unfair. If they have a moral undercurrent then they might appeal to me. I’ll ignore the heat!