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| Love Over Scotland | 
 enlarge | Author: Alexander Mccall Smith
Creator: Iain Mcintosh
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Category: Book
List Price: CDN$ 21.00
Buy New: CDN$ 15.33
You Save: CDN$ 5.67 (27%)
New (1) Used (3) from CDN$ 15.33
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 30860
Media: Paperback
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0676978207
EAN: 9780676978209
ASIN: 0676978207
Publication Date: November 6, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
A Friendly Kidding Satire of Modern Pretensions December 26, 2007
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!
Excellent book December 10, 2007
I am in the middle of reading this book and I can't seem to put it down. I thought the car being stolen was funny as the idea was done from the last book.
A Story of Warmth and Wit December 8, 2007
Since his last book in the series "44 Scotland Street" series, Alexander McCall Smith's tight little enclave of friends and family is undergoing some major attitude changes. Children are starting to grow up and think for themselves. Friends are breaking up with friends and moving out in an attempt to make a life for themselves. Adults like Matt, Irene, and Angus desperately struggle to retain their control over their little worlds, which is being threatened by other people's desire for freedom. Throughout this process, the author provides some very interesting learning curves for this set and the younger ones like Domenica, Pat and Bertie in their search for greater understanding of the outer world. In the story, there are numerous occasions when both adults and young people have to cope with the deep sense of loneliness that comes from being forced to let each other go. Yet, it is only in this context that true love, friendship, and intellectual growth can be truly realized when people release each other to find their own way through life. This discovery often results in the person coming back to the community with a great feeling of love and commitment to old friends. The true quality of Alexander McCall Smith's writing is the found in the depth of character and plot that he brings to his stories. His renaissance command of ideas brings incredible warmth and originality to what might otherwise be dismissed as mere soap. The author writes both a complex and compelling tale about people breaking out of a community in a way that allows them to return to it with dignity and grace. While true love never changes, relationships do. People should be prepared to love more unconditionally in order to retain a friendship at all costs. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has had to make that kind of personal adjustment to keep from losing what is the most important virtue in life: selfless love.
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