| 44 Scotland Street | 
 enlarge | Author: Alexander Mccall Smith
Publisher: Abacus
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £5.49
You Save: £2.50 (31%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 3644
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 4.7 x 0.9
ISBN: 0349118973
EAN: 9780349118970
ASIN: 0349118973
Publication Date: August 11, 2005
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 On the dull side July 29, 2006
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
I found the book to be long-winded with little substance. Some of the dialogue and the storyline were faintly interesting, but most of the time, I found myself checking how many pages were left. It's OK for commute-time reading, or some light reading for when you don't want something that will stimulate your mind too much.
Creditable experiment in serialised novel July 26, 2006
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I enjoyed 44 Scotland Street (eventually) and 3.5 stars is possibly a fairer evaluation. The story is a sort of soap opera set in Edinburgh and is gently satiric in the author's droll style. I really warmed to some of the characters, mainly the obnoxious, arrogant narcissus Bruce (brilliant) and the lovelorn Pat. Irene is also a funny creation, the new age parent whose life (and that of her poor son Bertie) is ruled by an educational psychology book. Others I found less convincing eg Domenica - were they just ciphers to move the plot on? and Bertie is not a realistic portrayal. Other things that prevented me giving this a higher rating were:
- some passages are obvious filler, and some episodes go on too long - eg the Conservative Dance Ball
- there were some loose ends that I presume WILL be resolved but wasted time in this volume - Lizzie and her parents, Domenica's complex history, the "borrowed" underpants, the underground tunnel, the painting that Pat buys in the Charity Shop, Matthew's friends at Big Lou's, Big Lou etc.....
- it is very slow to get going
- there are lots of in jokes and topical references about Scottish manners, places and people - Ian Rankin, The Braids etc
So, don't expect a Dickens, this is a pleasantly entertaining, middle class soap opera with potential. I will read Espresso Tales to see if it is realised.
 Fabulous book! May 16, 2006
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
As someone from Edinburgh, I found this book fascinating. The characters are wonderfully observed and very "Edinburgh". The choices of names are particularly good (Cristobel MacFadzean - the nursery teacher - wonderful).
I can't wait to read volume two...
A wee gem April 18, 2006
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
As someone who comes from Edinburgh but who now lives abroad, this book captures the city and many of its people perfectly. 44 Scotland Street is so accurate it made me cringe at times. Read it and contrast it with the view of the city in 'Trainspotting'!!
 Awful book April 12, 2006
10 out of 24 found this review helpful
It is hard to believe that the Ladies Detective Agency series and this drivel were penned by the same author. I should have followed my instincts and quite the book as soon as I became thoroughly bored - instead I carried on as I was curious to know how the various disparate strands of the story would pull together in the end. The answer is that most don't.
Why bother creating all this extra material, and punishing the reader with some excruciating dialogue, for no purpose? I was left feeling deeply annoyed that I had invested my time on these characters only to be left wondering what purpose they served in the book. Bertie's mother was a prime example. I was hoping something (preferably unpleasant) would happen to her, but no, nothing.
The very worst thing about the book was the sheer number of implausible events; the tunnel expedition, Pat's forays into Bruce's room, the winking dog - to name just a few. And all unnecessary for the story. Why?
I don't want to encourage anyone else to waste their time with this book - but I would like to know if anyone else thought it was as appalling as I did.
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