| Love Over Scotland (44 Scotland Street) | 
 enlarge | Author: Alexander Mccall Smith
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $1.48
You Save: $12.47 (89%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 7748
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 0307275981
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780307275981
ASIN: 0307275981
Publication Date: November 6, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Friendly Kidding Satire of Modern Pretensions December 26, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
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!
Best of the series to date December 23, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
There is so much that is wonderful about "Love Over Scotland" (or virtually any other Alexander McCall Smith book) that the reader wants to visit Edinburgh, look up the characters in the book and invite the author to dinner. All fantasy of course, but how many stories make you feel that way?
"Love Over Scotland" is largely the light-hearted, clever and totally entertaining continuation of the sagas of Bertie the precocious and much-put upon six-year old; Matthew, the lovelorn and awkward twenty-something; Angus and Cyril, eccentric artist and faithful dog; and Domenica, the intrepid, field-tripping anthropologist. On the face of it, they don't sound promising as lead characters in a novel, but McCall Smith gives them voices that speak for the practice of love in its various forms--romantic, lustful, misguided, unrequited, etc.
If the previous two books in the "44 Scotland Street" series provided regular chuckles from one page to the next, "Love Over Scotland" delivers frequent belly laughs through the author's gentle satire of modern parents, the perennial misunderstandings that take place between genders and the starchiness of the author's much-loved hometown of Edinburgh. McCall Smith takes a humorous poke at fellow Scot and Edinburgh favorite son, Ian Rankin (by name), which suggests the two writers are good friends (bitter rivals seems unimaginable).
There is unending wit and wisdom in this book which ultimately leaves you hoping that the fourth episode in the series will be published very soon.
Lovely book December 20, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I absolutely love Alexander McCall Smith's books. The 44 Scotland Street series are lovely reads. Neither tear jerkers nor nail biters, they nevertheless have wonderful story lines about people who live in our world. Nice books to sit in the sun, or next to the fireplace with.
Love Over Scotland December 11, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
McCall-Smith is a brilliant author, especially developed in creating real and three dimensional characters with whom you (the reader) become attached. Would love to have all of his characters as neighbors, and especially have them attend a cocktail party--it would be the most intersting party of the year.
 Love over Scottland December 11, 2007
I liked the book especially the story of Bertie and his adventures. Of course I've liked pretty much all of the books by Alexander McCall Smith. This one was definitely entertaining.
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