Customer Reviews:
 The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs September 22, 2005
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This second installment in Alexander McCall-Smith's new series (which began with 'Portuguese Irregular Verbs') is a thoroughly satisfying satire of German academic life. Through the eyes of oblivious Professor von Igelfeld, we are led through a fascinating series of even more bizzare events than before. With a comedic use of ignorant point-of-view narration (almost reminiscent of Kazuo Ishiguro's psychological novels, but wonderfully light), McCall-Smith delivers a much-needed soft-touch to the new century's bookshelves. His style is, as with the 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' series, pleasantly simple, even seemingly puerile at times, but always bursting with dry-humour and ridiculous social observations. If you ever enjoyed P.G. Woodhouse or Richmal Crompton, then you'll probably love this.
 Strangely memorable incidents.... July 4, 2005
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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....although not that enjoyable a read. After greatly enjoying The "Ladies' Detective Agency" books, this came as a bit of a let-down. Very different. But my wife liked it!
The protagonist, an unlikeable German academic is totally unable to see his own serious social blunders. Comedy of embarassment, I suppose, but mostly cringe-makng for me.
Somehow, the odd incident does linger in the mind, months later.
By all means read it, a very clever and well written book, but one that may not entertain you in the same way as other books by this excellent author.
Curiously memorable..... July 4, 2005
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
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....although not that enjoyable a read, in my view. After greatly enjoying The "Ladies Detective Agency" books, this came as a bit of a let-down for me. Very different. But my wife liked it!
The protagonist is an unlikeable German academic, who is totally unable to see his own serious social blunders. Comedy of embarassment, I suppose, but mostly cringe-makng for me.
Somehow, the odd incident does linger in the mind, months later.
By all means read it, a very clever and well written book that may not entertain you in the same way as other books by this excellent author.
 A must read for all students... June 3, 2004
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Ever wondered what your professors get up to when they’re not teaching? This series gives a wonderful insight in the trivial trails and tribulations of an egocentric professor and his colleagues. The fate of the unfortunate dog had me in stitches and so did the professor’s lecture series in the Mediterranean. It’s well worth a read.
Great for a Good Laugh January 25, 2004
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
McCall Smith promotes The Finer Points of Sausage dogs as an 'entertainment' rather than as a novel and entertaining it is. I came to it after reading the first and third books in the series (this is the second) and I was dubious as to whether McCall Smith could come up with a sufficient number of fresh scrapes, embarassments, and misunderstandings for the hapless Professor Dr Maria Moritz von Igelfeld. But he does. This book like all the other light entertainments of McCall Smith, had me chuckling out loud. In both this series and in his No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series, McCall Smith displays excellent characterisation and a fine ear for the cadences of language. This is an ideal book for anyone familiar with, or even aquainted with, life in the academy. The series provides a light counter to David Lodge's equally excellent amusing books on university life. Well worth the evening it takes to read.
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