La's Orchestra Saves the World
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** 'The evocation of war-torn England, with its palpable mood of defiance, determination and survival, is beautifully caught (SCOTSMAN )
** 'Alexander McCall Smith writes about the enduring, patient qualities of love . . . the novel pays heed to our natural yearning for a story to chew on (THE TIMES )
** 'A gentle and uplifting read (DAILY MAIL Books of the Year )
** 'Beautifully precise and psychologically acute (INDEPENDENT )
** 'Alexander McCall Smith writes about the enduring, patient qualities of love . . . the novel pays heed to our natural yearning for a story to chew on (THE TIMES )
** 'A gentle and uplifting read (DAILY MAIL Books of the Year )
** 'Beautifully precise and psychologically acute (INDEPENDENT )
Book Description
** 'The evocation of war-torn England, with its palpable mood of defiance, determination and survival, is beautifully caught' SCOTSMAN
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Finding a new Alexander McCall Smith book in my local book shop is always a pleasure. He is almost the only current writer whose books I will buy in hardback without any misgiving and without knowing anything about the book first. But, lately, he seems to be getting ever more prolific.
Mostly set in my favourite county, Suffolk, with most of the action (such as it is) during the World War II, this is the kind of book that would make an excellent short TV period drama series (or maybe just a single long drama). It's nice to have a one off novel from this writer for a change, as Precious Ramotswe and Isabel Dalhousie will soon need a bookshelf all to themselves in my house. I enjoyed the story this book tells, but like the other reviewer I found the ending somewhat underdone and unsatisfactory. None of the characters in this book really stand out: the charm definitely lies more in the evocation of a lost time and way of life. This is not really vivid enough to make the book unmissable, but overall I'm happy enough to have this book and will probably enjoy reading it again some time.
Mostly set in my favourite county, Suffolk, with most of the action (such as it is) during the World War II, this is the kind of book that would make an excellent short TV period drama series (or maybe just a single long drama). It's nice to have a one off novel from this writer for a change, as Precious Ramotswe and Isabel Dalhousie will soon need a bookshelf all to themselves in my house. I enjoyed the story this book tells, but like the other reviewer I found the ending somewhat underdone and unsatisfactory. None of the characters in this book really stand out: the charm definitely lies more in the evocation of a lost time and way of life. This is not really vivid enough to make the book unmissable, but overall I'm happy enough to have this book and will probably enjoy reading it again some time.
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a sweetly old fashioned story set in Suffolk during the Second World War. The heroine, La (it's short for Lavender), moves to the country after her marriage ends. Initially she's very lonely, but gradually she builds relationships and then she has the idea of forming an orchestra for members of the nearby air base as well as for the local villagers. At the same time, the book is about her relationship with a Polish worker (Feliks), for whom she has an unrequited love while also harbouring doubts about his background.
The book starts slowly, spending a lot of time on La's back story. The orchestra is only formed at the half way mark. I found the central part (during the war) very involving, but then it slows right down again after the war ends. McCall Smith does a good job of building suspense about Feliks, but then he lets it dissipate so that when we do eventually find out the truth, we're past caring. There is also one chapter towards the end when the narrative switches to La's point of view and which pre-empts any tension about what might happen when she meets up with her Pole in the next chapter. I felt that there should have been a better way to integrate La's thoughts into the book.
La is a curiously bland and passive character - neither as engaging nor as pro-active as Precious Ramotswe or Isabel Dalhousie. In fact, none of the characters ever came alive for me, although I did really enjoy the way that it captured life in the English countryside at that time. It's an enjoyable story, but it needed to be tightened and it badly needed a better structure. It pains me to be critical because I do love Alexander McCall Smith's writing, but this one felt like it was rushed out for Christmas rather than going back for another re-write.
The book starts slowly, spending a lot of time on La's back story. The orchestra is only formed at the half way mark. I found the central part (during the war) very involving, but then it slows right down again after the war ends. McCall Smith does a good job of building suspense about Feliks, but then he lets it dissipate so that when we do eventually find out the truth, we're past caring. There is also one chapter towards the end when the narrative switches to La's point of view and which pre-empts any tension about what might happen when she meets up with her Pole in the next chapter. I felt that there should have been a better way to integrate La's thoughts into the book.
La is a curiously bland and passive character - neither as engaging nor as pro-active as Precious Ramotswe or Isabel Dalhousie. In fact, none of the characters ever came alive for me, although I did really enjoy the way that it captured life in the English countryside at that time. It's an enjoyable story, but it needed to be tightened and it badly needed a better structure. It pains me to be critical because I do love Alexander McCall Smith's writing, but this one felt like it was rushed out for Christmas rather than going back for another re-write.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
La - short for Lavender - retreats to rural Suffolk after a failed marriage. It is shortly before the outbreak of World War II. She settles into rural life and domesticity until she feels she needs to make some sort of contribution to the war effort even though she has enough money not to need to work after the death of her husband. She agrees to work without pay for a local farmer - the cantankerous Henry - looking after his hens. Then she meets Feliks - a Polish pilot who is grounded because he lost the sight in one eye during a mission - who also goes to work for Henry. As a result of talking to Feliks La hits upon the idea of starting an orchestra made up of local people and members of the RAF from a nearby base. It is this orchestra which keeps the community going. How La's relationships develop and what happens to the orchestra makes for an interesting plot. It is a gentle moral story with Alexander McCall Smith's customary light touch. I enjoyed it even though it is not in quite the same class as 44 Scotland Street or the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A pleasant read
I am a fan of Alexander McCall Smith having every one of No 1 Ladies and most of the Isabel Dalhousie books. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Annie
An interesting and light read.
A well written story following the 'little history' of one woman in a small Suffolk village during World War II. Read more
Published 4 months ago by PJ
Sweet and sad
I enjoyed this book; the story is sad and kind of inspiring at the same time. I followed on over from the No1 Ladies Detective Agency stories and liked it, although it's nothing... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Henara
Technical tour de force...
...and an exceedingly good read. I thoroughly enjoyed the deceptively low-key plot, the excellent evocation of rural England during WW2, and the author's characteristic apercus on... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. M. J. Fisher
heartwarming
La's Orchestra Saves the World is a stand-alone novel by Alexander McCall-Smith. It is set around the time of the Second World War in England. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Cloggie Downunder
Sweet but Possibly Disappointing
This is a lovely novel, but I can't help agreeing with some of the other reviewers in that it isn't as engaging as many of McCall Smith's other books. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Annabelle
IN NEED OF TUNING?
A curious one, this. The first half of the novel greatly appeals, it easy to identify with La and to savour the evocative descriptions of England at war. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. D. L. Rees
A departure for McCall Smith but a pleasant novel
This novel is about a woman who, though she is living in relative isolation at teh start of the book, eventually becomes part of a complex country community through her involvement... Read more
Published 24 months ago by J. Southern
Pleasant but rather bland - a disappointment when judged along side...
I'm a great fan of the Botswana series, the 88 Scotland Street books, and the von Igelfeld trilogy, which is frankly superb. Thus this book was a great disappointment. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by John M
A pleasure to read from start to finish
As a musician and a McCall Smith fan, every moment spent reading this book was a pleasure. Each time I picked up the book I felt myself lost in another rather wonderful world.
Published on 1 Sep 2009 by C. Rubinstein
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