Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 "Bertie wanted...to be the average boy, but he knew that this would forever be beyond his reach--[because of] his mother." November 11, 2008
(4.5 stars) Alexander McCall Smith always succeeds in charming his readers with warm and humorous tales of almost normal life, lived by people who care about each other and share the values that make life worth living. Like the other novels in this series, the "plot" here consists of episodes in the lives of several loosely connected characters from 44 Scotland Street as they face separate problems in their everyday lives. In real life, real people live their own lives and deal with their own problems, and for McCall Smith and his millions of devoted readers, that is plot enough.
Little Bertie Pollock, six years old, "just wants to be normal." Forced by his domineering mother Irene to go to advanced music classes, yoga, and psychotherapy once a week, he cannot be a rough-and-tumble boy. Irene has even enlisted his help when she pumps breast milk for the baby. In the past Bertie has found some comfort from Cyril, a dog with one gold tooth, who belongs to Angus Lordie, a painter who lives in the building, but Cyril is in the pound, and Angus is in the midst of legal proceedings to reclaim him.
Other characters at 44 Scotland Street and its neighborhood are also dealing with problems. Matthew, a quiet young man who runs an art gallery, hopes that Pat, who works in his gallery, may become fond of him--and he with her--given enough time. Bruce, a devastatingly handsome narcissist with few financial resources, takes advantage of Julia by moving in with her. Big Lou Brown, who runs the local coffee shop, falls in love with a construction worker who wants to return the Stuarts to the throne, and Antonia, who has previously rented Dominica's flat, buys her own place in the building and finds new "love."
McCall Smith's "ordinary" characters with almost-ordinary problems are just absurd enough to keep the reader interested in their lives while remaining just "normal" enough that the reader can smile in recognition at their folly. Far too gentle to be considered a satirist, McCall Smith nevertheless pokes fun at Edinburgh life--the clubs, intellectual pretensions, and social activities--placing his characters in the context of the city and using irony to give their problems perspective and humor. Occasionally, he shares wry asides with the reader so subtly they feel like "throwaways." A guest at the home of an art "connoisseur" suggests, for example, that "Perhaps there are minimalist things here already--it's just that we can't see them."
Ultimately, the characters' domestic problems are resolved--for now--and the reader is left to reflect on the comfortable "old-shoeness" of McCall Smith's novels with their gentle good humor. As one resident of 44 Scotland Street says, "Every so often, in a moment of insight that can be very nearly mystical in its intensity, we see others...in a way which makes us want to cherish them as joint pilgrims on a perilous journey." McCall Smith's characters feel like joint pilgrims with the reader. n Mary Whipple
The Miracle at Speedy Motors (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency), 2008.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs, first of the Dr. von Igelfeld Entertainments, 2003
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel, 2008
Love Over Scotland (44 Scotland Street), 2006
Wonderful book - buy the series and enjoy October 26, 2008
This is a delightful book. Alexander McCall Smiths writing is wonderfully observant and you feel that he genuinely cares about his characters. If you are familiar with the No 1 ladies detective series novels and enjoy his writing and obvious love for Botwswana, then you will enjoy his thoughts on his home town of Edinburgh and the superb characters he has created. Start at the first novel 44 Scotland street and work forward to the latest. The characters are all recognisable for those familiar with Edinburgh society. I love the way in which the author can portray what Bertie is thinking as he tries to make sense of his mother Irene with her desire to treat Bertie as a project. From painting his room pink to avoid gender stereotyping, his visits to the psychologist Dr Fairbairn and Irene's attempts to explain his behaviour in Klenian terms, and his friends at the Rudolph Steiner school; the naughty Tofu, Bossy Olive and Larch and Hiawatha. All Bertie wants is to join the cubs and own a penknife!
Bertie and Irene are just two finely drawn characters in this series - whether it is Cyril the dog, Bruce the surveyor or the Glasgow Gangster Lard, all are perfect observations. Read and enjoy!
 Gentle satire on self-absorption October 1, 2008
This series has been criticised elsewhere for the characters being too self-absorbed, but for me that is half the pleasure. A lot of people are self-absorbed, and it is fascinating to see that people are often really thinking about themselves and their own concerns when they appear to be thinking something completely different - perhaps most clearly seen in the clash of egos of Bruce and Julia, where Bruce is so caught up in his own self-centred plans that it doesn't occur to him that Julia, in pursuit of 'good stock', is just as single-minded.
My only criticism is that although this is called 'The World According to Bertie' there isn't quite enough of Bertie in it for me, though his essay, from which the title is taken, is well worth waiting for. I would have liked more of Irene and Bertie because Irene is so awful that reading about her always makes me feel that maybe I'm not doing such a bad job as a mother after all!
Better than any soap opera! July 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the first book I have read of the series, and I found it did not matter that I had not read the others (although it has left me very eager to do so!) It is easy to be drawn into the lives of the characters who are thoroughly believable and far more entertaining than any soap opera!Some of the remarks little Bertie comes out with are absolutely priceless and made me laugh out loud!!
You will enjoy this wherever you come from, but if you have ever lived in or known Edinburgh well (I grew up there) this is a delightful bonus and makes it all the more entertaining and amusing, it captures the 'essence' of Edinburgh life superbly well,and in a gently amusing way.
I would highly recommend this book for its' ability to portray characters and its' pure entertainment value, we all need a bit of light relief these days, and this book certainly gives us that!
The Bertie Subplot June 25, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Am I the only one who feels uncomfortable reading about Bertie? Here is this sweet kid with an overbearing mother and a passive lout of a father. I feel that the author is bordering on cruelty with the way the child is treated. It might have been funny in Volume 1 but not so anymore. The way the mother treats him is dangerous and I wait for some sort of pay-off that is not happening. Does Mr. Smith think this is cute in an 'aw, shucks' sort of way? I do give the books 5 stars because all of the plots are compelling and touching but there needs to be some sort of comeuppance to Bertie's mother: does Bertie become gay at 13, dye his hair blue, and form a punk rock band?
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