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The Importance of Being Seven: 44 Scotland Street, Book 6
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Product Description
Book Description
* The sixth volume of Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful serial novels set in Edinburgh's New Town
Product Description
Despite inhabiting a great city renowned for its impeccable restraint, the extended family of 44 Scotland Street is trembling on the brink of reckless self-indulgence. Matthew and Elspeth receive startling - and expensive - news on a visit to the Infirmary, Angus and Domenica are contemplating an Italian ménage a trois, and even Big Lou is overheard discussing cosmetic surgery. But when Bertie Pollock - six years old and impatient to be seven - mislays his meddling mother Irene one afternoon, a valuable lesson is learned: that wish-fulfilment is a dangerous business. Warm-hearted, wise and very funny, The Importance of Being Seven brings us a fresh and delightful set of insights into philosophy and fraternity among Edinburgh's most loveable residents.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's very difficult for me to write a review of this, for a number of reasons. First of all, for a review to make any sense to you, you will need to have read the previous books in the utterly delightful 44 Scotland Street series for it to make any sense, and secondly, if that is the case then you already know how completely charming these books are and I'll be preaching to the choir! Seriously though, I can think of few authors who make me think and laugh out loud as much as Alexander McCall-Smith. Reading his latest book is like catching up with old friends that you havven't seen for ages but still love to bits. There is a warmth and a humanity and a deep, deep vein of rich humour that runs through all of these books, and I just love them. I wish I could restrain myself, when I get a new McCall-Smith, to reading only a little at a time, but I can't. I just have to devour it in huge big gulps and then I'm left, bereft, with only the next episode to look forward to.
This book carries on several of the story themes from the previous novels, but concentrates particularly on the delightful Bertie and his struggles with his mother, the idiotic and self-obsessesed Irene. The final chapters are bitter-sweet in the extreme and only the hardest-hearted would not feel a little lump in their throat when reading about Bertie's latest adventures. If you haven't read any of this series, please do. The books are a complete joy.
This book carries on several of the story themes from the previous novels, but concentrates particularly on the delightful Bertie and his struggles with his mother, the idiotic and self-obsessesed Irene. The final chapters are bitter-sweet in the extreme and only the hardest-hearted would not feel a little lump in their throat when reading about Bertie's latest adventures. If you haven't read any of this series, please do. The books are a complete joy.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The latest volume in the ongoing Scotland Street saga. Bertie continues to charm, his Mother to infuriate the reader and all the other characters continue to delight and surprise. Will the reformed Bruce Anderson continue to be a good boy? As always, McCall Smith's prosaic style is excellent, mixed with Edinburgh slang. When I have finished, I will wait number 7 with some patience.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While the 44 Scotland Street series is a gentle and witty soap opera on the surface, McCall Smith's ability to explore the underbelly of society that surrounds us all gives it depth and purpose. Originally published as a serial in The Scotsman it is provided in quick soundbites that merge all too easily to keep you reading section after section.
This serial style of writing will inevitably bring comparisons to Dickens, yet the difference is that the writing is incredibly succinct. Dickens' beautiful prose and outlandish characters will always charm but McCall Smith gets straight to the point. Other authors such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez or John Irving provide similar levels of detail about their characters, but with McCall Smith you scarcely know you are absorbing the information.
The importance of being seven features a number of key characters, the most heart-warming of which is six year old genius Bertie who longs to be seven and to be given freedom from Irene, his overbearing mother. It is simply impossible not to side with Bertie, even his baby brother Ulysses is sick whenever he sees his mother.
Bertie also has to deal with caustic school `friends' and the fact that cub scouts not only let girls in, but ban their members from carrying a knife. His mother doesn't want him to go anyway, and there is not much time for such boyish activities with his Italian lessons, yoga and totally unnecessary psychotherapy sessions.
Artist Angus Lordie and his ever present dog Cyril are travelling to Italy to look for inspiration for a master painting. He is currently painting portraits of bank managers who have since left the bank with golden handshakes after playing their part in the recent financial crisis. Angus and Cyril travel to Italy with two women, one of whom is scheming to seduce him.
Big Lou provides coffee, cake and wise advice from her cafe while gallery owner Matthew is trying to find out just how much cotton wool he can wrap his pregnant wife up in while battling with the property market in the exclusive areas of Edinburgh.
If you haven't taken a trip down 44 Scotland Street it's about time you did. It's the kind of heart-warming literary soap opera that would probably cut crime figures by half if it was shown instead of Eastenders!
This serial style of writing will inevitably bring comparisons to Dickens, yet the difference is that the writing is incredibly succinct. Dickens' beautiful prose and outlandish characters will always charm but McCall Smith gets straight to the point. Other authors such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez or John Irving provide similar levels of detail about their characters, but with McCall Smith you scarcely know you are absorbing the information.
The importance of being seven features a number of key characters, the most heart-warming of which is six year old genius Bertie who longs to be seven and to be given freedom from Irene, his overbearing mother. It is simply impossible not to side with Bertie, even his baby brother Ulysses is sick whenever he sees his mother.
Bertie also has to deal with caustic school `friends' and the fact that cub scouts not only let girls in, but ban their members from carrying a knife. His mother doesn't want him to go anyway, and there is not much time for such boyish activities with his Italian lessons, yoga and totally unnecessary psychotherapy sessions.
Artist Angus Lordie and his ever present dog Cyril are travelling to Italy to look for inspiration for a master painting. He is currently painting portraits of bank managers who have since left the bank with golden handshakes after playing their part in the recent financial crisis. Angus and Cyril travel to Italy with two women, one of whom is scheming to seduce him.
Big Lou provides coffee, cake and wise advice from her cafe while gallery owner Matthew is trying to find out just how much cotton wool he can wrap his pregnant wife up in while battling with the property market in the exclusive areas of Edinburgh.
If you haven't taken a trip down 44 Scotland Street it's about time you did. It's the kind of heart-warming literary soap opera that would probably cut crime figures by half if it was shown instead of Eastenders!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Alexander McCall Smith - Scotland street series
"Easy reading" material! I enjoy the Scotland street series . It is best to read them in the correct sequence. The interspersing of the characters stories is very enjoyable. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maq
Good Book
I myself have not as yet read this book however my wife has, and she really enjoyed it, I'm looking forward to doing so when I've finished my current book
Published 2 months ago by BigG
Lots of Bertie, Family Matters, and Artistic Reflections
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -- John 8:32 (NKJV)
You have a great treat ahead of you in this book. Read more
You have a great treat ahead of you in this book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Donald Mitchell
I Love Bertie
He can't be seven, keep him at 6.
He's a great little character and his mother is a nightmare.
AMS really writes well, I love these scottish stories even better than the... Read more
He's a great little character and his mother is a nightmare.
AMS really writes well, I love these scottish stories even better than the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by helonwheels
a delight to read
The Importance of Being Seven is the sixth in the Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. Once again we join the residents and friends of 44 Scotland Street. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cloggie Downunder
The same book over and over again
The first couple of the Scotland books were a pleasant read, but McCall Smith has a spun out a few good ideas into a whole raft of books. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jack
Another Bertie classic
Of all the characters, I love Bertie most. He is just great. He already runs rings around all the adults but in such an engaging way that you can't wait to read more and you are... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Miss K. Wilshaw
Availability
I always enjoy Alexander McCall Smith. I was having trouble finding this book in America although it has been out awhile. Read more
Published 9 months ago by lindabee
For the missus
Got this for the missus as part of the 3 sets that AMS has written. The Scotland street, No1 Ladies Detective Agency and Coudroy Mansions. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dave
another easy read
The Bertie series is one of my favourites of AMS; Bertie is just so endearing. His mother is becoming more and more deranged and his father tries to stand his ground with a lovely... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Yvonne Moore
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