Well, it's finally happened. I'm a little disappointed in one of Alexander McCall Smith's books. I've read every one of his 44 Scotland Street series, one of the No. 1 Ladies Detective series (there are just too many for me to get started on these!), and all of the The Sunday Philosophy Club series. Up until this point, I've loved them all. They're always funny, witty, insightful and just plain fun. However, this last installment of the Sunday Philosophy Club, The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday, fell a little flat for me. Isabel Dalhousie just didn't seem to be herself at all in this installment. The mystery portion of the book, which is never the focus of the novels, was pretty much nonexistent. It could have been left out altogether. I can't really put my finger on it, but she wasn't her normal, witty self. I didn't seem to enjoy those interior monologues of hers in which she struggles with herself over seemingly minor events. I usually find myself smiling quite often while reading these books, but it just didn't happen this time. Maybe it was just me. I'll continue to read these books, but I hope the Isabel I know and love makes a return.
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday
Well, it's finally happened. I'm a little disappointed in one of Alexander McCall Smith's books. I've read every one of his 44 Scotland Street series, one of the No. 1 Ladies Detective series (there are just too many for me to get started on these!), and all of the The Sunday Philosophy Club series. Up until this point, I've loved them all. They're always funny, witty, insightful and just plain fun. However, this last installment of the Sunday Philosophy Club, The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday, fell a little flat for me. Isabel Dalhousie just didn't seem to be herself at all in this installment. The mystery portion of the book, which is never the focus of the novels, was pretty much nonexistent. It could have been left out altogether. I can't really put my finger on it, but she wasn't her normal, witty self. I didn't seem to enjoy those interior monologues of hers in which she struggles with herself over seemingly minor events. I usually find myself smiling quite often while reading these books, but it just didn't happen this time. Maybe it was just me. I'll continue to read these books, but I hope the Isabel I know and love makes a return.
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5 comments:
That's too bad. Ah well, even the best authors let us down every once in a while. Hopefully his next one will be better!
nymeth, it's weird -- sometimes I'm actually afraid to read books by favorite authors because I'm always afraid that they won't live up to my expectations. It was still an enjoyable read, but just not up to the standards I'm used to. Of course, it could just be me.
I admit I've been a bit of a chicken when it comes to trying any of Alexander McCall Smith's other books, outside of the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency series which I am quite fond of.
Hopefully with this particular book you just read, it was an off one for the author and the rest will be better.
I love McCall-Smith too. Actually, I love Scotland Street and no. 1 Ladies.
That's really too bad you didn't like it. I haven't really like most of the Isabel Dalhousie stories -- just the first. I feel they just keep getting worse. I guess I just don't really like Isabel.
But
literary feline, I loved the first book in the detective series, but I came to it late and am intimidated by the sheer number of the books in the series. I hope this one was just a little off, because I've really enjoyed all the other ones.
rebecca, he's a great author, isn't he? I have always loved Isabel until this book. But, she just wasn't the same at all. I'll definitely read the next one when it comes out. I'm not ready to give up on the series, yet.
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