- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown; 1st Edition 1st Printing edition (5 Sep 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0316727806
- ISBN-13: 978-0316727808
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 389,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
If you've got the key to literary success, it is a risky business indeed to make an abrupt change of subject that may lose you some readers. Has Alexander McCall Smith done this with Friends, Lovers, Chocolate? After all, his much-loved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series has won him a legion of admirers, with its vividly evoked African settings, quirky plotting and (most of all) his likeable, 'generously proportioned' sleuth Precious Ramotswe. These gentle, indulgently enjoyable books were quite unlike anything else being published today, and found a ready audience. But McCall Smith, not content to rest on his laurels, produced The Sunday Philosophy Club, with a new female detective, the philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. This was a very different kettle of fish, with an Edinburgh setting replacing sultry Botswana, and more philosophical concerns replacing the homely adages. The book was a success, without seducing readers in quite the numbers that the previous series had done. And now we have the second outing for Isabel Dalhousie -- and Friends, Lovers, Chocolate bids fair to cement McCall Smith's new heroine in readers’ affections – though she’ll never replace Precious. Isabel is trying to deal with her uncertain feelings for an attractive young man, Jamie, who is planning to marry her niece, Cat. Things become even more complicated when Cat takes an Italian vacation and asks Isabel to look after her delicatessen. Isabel finds out that one of the customers has had a heart transplant, and seems to be accessing memories that he is convinced belong to another person. As Isabel digs deeper, things suddenly become dangerous. The appeal of the new book is (like its predecessor) more to the mind than the emotions, but it's none the worse for that. McCall Smith's brittle dialogue and situations are as entertainingly off-kilter as ever, and even fans of the ample Precious should put this on their lists. --Barry Forshaw
Review
A wonderfully ingenious plot. McCall Smith writes with a delightful twinkle in his eye (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
A gem of a novel. Isabel [is] on wickedly intelligent and perceptive form (DAILY MIRROR )
Fascinating digressions, diversions and disputes ... roll on volume three (LITERARY REVIEW )
Another delightful read (WATERSTONES BOOK QUARTERLY )
A gem of a novel. Isabel [is] on wickedly intelligent and perceptive form (DAILY MIRROR )
Fascinating digressions, diversions and disputes ... roll on volume three (LITERARY REVIEW )
Another delightful read (WATERSTONES BOOK QUARTERLY )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A delightful sequel to "The Sunday Philosophy Club". It has an engaging plot and thought-provoking philosophical discussions - a real page-turner! The character of Isabel Dhalousie is further developed - she becomes more real, more human somehow as we read about her weaknesses and inner desires. Having lived in Southern Africa for many years, I became a big fan of the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series because I thought I could recognise many familiar elements in the descriptions of the characters, landscapes and so on. I have never been to Edingurgh or Scotland, and yet I didn't feel left out while reading McCall Smith's (or Isabel's) impressions of the city and the local culture. In fact, it makes me want to go there and experience it first hand. I can't wait for the third book of the series to come out!
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
With The Sunday Philosophy Club some would say McCall Smith has created in Isabel Dalhousie a sort of Scottish Ma Ramotswe. Physically, culturally and geographically they are worlds apart- but at their core is a deep and sensitive morality and an innate curiousity about their fellow humans.
Friends Lovers Chocolate has the slow but satisfying quality of its predecessor and promises an interesting scientific plot thread with a transplant patient haunted by what he thinks may be a consequence of cellular memory. Layered with this strand is the continuing story of Jamie, Isabel's young musician friend who longs for a relationship with her niece, Cat. Infused with this is the hint of an affair for Isabel herself with an Italian visitor called Tomasso. Unfortunately this latter sub-plot seems to be brought to a rather abrupt and slightly unsatisfactory ending.
All in all McCall Smith is still on form but as a chocophile I could have done with a little more reference to chocolate and slightly less of the philosophical musings!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great read!
My reaction to the first book in this series was luke warm, partly because I did not feel that the lead characters had been particularly well developed and partly because the mystery was not sufficiently mysterious! However, this second instalment is a huge improvement and I enjoyed it very much. Isabel was presented as very likeable, honest and intelligent. The way she handles her feelings for Jamie make her seem very real.
There remains a philosophical thread to the story but it was subtle and interesting, as opposed to the rather name-dropping and slightly pretentious style of the first book. The storyline in "Friends, Lovers and Chocolate" is original and reflects recent scientific study into the unexpected effects of transplantation on the recipient. You get a real sense of excitement as the mystery unfolds.
The story moves along quickly enough to satisfy your need to know what happens next yet does not rush along like a cheap crime thriller. It shows intelligence but not affectation. If you are a fan of Mr McCall Smith I recommend that you read this book, regardless of whether you enjoyed "The Sunday Philosophy Club".
My reaction to the first book in this series was luke warm, partly because I did not feel that the lead characters had been particularly well developed and partly because the mystery was not sufficiently mysterious! However, this second instalment is a huge improvement and I enjoyed it very much. Isabel was presented as very likeable, honest and intelligent. The way she handles her feelings for Jamie make her seem very real.
There remains a philosophical thread to the story but it was subtle and interesting, as opposed to the rather name-dropping and slightly pretentious style of the first book. The storyline in "Friends, Lovers and Chocolate" is original and reflects recent scientific study into the unexpected effects of transplantation on the recipient. You get a real sense of excitement as the mystery unfolds.
The story moves along quickly enough to satisfy your need to know what happens next yet does not rush along like a cheap crime thriller. It shows intelligence but not affectation. If you are a fan of Mr McCall Smith I recommend that you read this book, regardless of whether you enjoyed "The Sunday Philosophy Club".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pleasant read
Isabel Dalhousie pursues 'issues', involving herself in the lives of friends and family in the village that is Edinburgh. Read more
Published 7 months ago by JoTownhead
A Lover of Edinburgh
Isabelle Dalhousie is a very good guide to introduce us to Edinburgh. Besides it's very pleasant to follow her train of thoughts.
Published 13 months ago by V. Vouilloz
Painful!
It's hard to believe this book is by the same author as the No1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Where those books are concise and neatly wrought, this is rambling and incoherent. Read more
Published 13 months ago by The Weasel
An enjoyable read
Another enjoyable and easy read from the life of Isabel Dalhousie, Edinburgh resident and editor of the Journal of Applied Ethics. Read more
Published 21 months ago by I. Holder
friends, lovers,chocolate - isabel dalhousie novels
Love this series, love the main character, love the psychological complexity of the characters and the philosophical dilemmas and debates. Can't wait for the next one!
Published on 14 Feb 2010 by elaine
Problematic
I suppose this is going to be what you might call a mixed review: This book is a light read but addresses philosophical issues; it appeals because of the characters, but then again... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2009 by Simon Anstey
oh Isobel
I don't even know what hasn't been said over and over before and in very eloquent words; for me it's just that:
A new book of this series comes out, I buy it ASAP and I don't... Read more
A new book of this series comes out, I buy it ASAP and I don't... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2009 by Kiki
Great!
A.M.S. has come up with another fascinating slice of Edinburgh life. His characters are rounded and interesting, even if some of the situations they find themselves in are a... Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by J. Baxter
Entertaining, charming, interesting
I had missed out on this delightful Isabel Dalhousie series until recently as I hadn't liked my sampling of the No 1 Ladies Detective agency books. Read more
Published on 17 July 2008 by Bluebell
Troubled Feelings Lead to Investigations
Please be aware that this book is about Alexander McCall Smith's other female detective, Isabel Dalhousie, rather than Precious Ramotswe. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2007 by Donald Mitchell
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