The Right Attitude to Rain (Sunday Philosophy Club)
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Review
** 'Delightful ... McCall Smith is a writer who celebrates kindness, in short supply in the world today (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
** 'Isabel is an appealing character, always trying to work out the right thing to do, and McCall Smith presents her with a series of dilemmas. One is personal, the ethics of beginning an affair with a younger man who used to be her niece's boyfriend, and (SUNDAY TIMES )
** 'Isabel is an appealing character, always trying to work out the right thing to do, and McCall Smith presents her with a series of dilemmas. One is personal, the ethics of beginning an affair with a younger man who used to be her niece's boyfriend, and (SUNDAY TIMES )
Sunday Times
'Shot through with a gentle humanism that will delight McCall
Smith's admirers'
Smith's admirers'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The first time EVER I have written a review before finishing a book...
I absolutely love this series. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is superb but Elizabeth Dalhousie is beyond superb. I find it incredibly difficult to explain what it is about this series I like so much. I have lent The Sunday Philosphy Club to a couple of friends but they have been singularly unimpressed. 'OK' was about the level of their total enthusiasm.
Well... nothing much really happens. I am not going to attempt to write a synopsis of the plot here (why do reviewers do that when I just want to know what they thought?).The plot isn't exactly what you would descibe as 'gritty' but this book was certainly page turning for me. How Alexander McCall Smith descibes another persons life and thought in such minute detail and makes it so fascinating is a mystery to me. It almost feels like voyeurism.
If you are an intelligent, thoughtful person who likes to give careful consideration to the routine incidents of daily life and keep many of your personal thoughts innermost, then give her a go. You may be surprised to find you are not alone.
I absolutely love this series. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is superb but Elizabeth Dalhousie is beyond superb. I find it incredibly difficult to explain what it is about this series I like so much. I have lent The Sunday Philosphy Club to a couple of friends but they have been singularly unimpressed. 'OK' was about the level of their total enthusiasm.
Well... nothing much really happens. I am not going to attempt to write a synopsis of the plot here (why do reviewers do that when I just want to know what they thought?).The plot isn't exactly what you would descibe as 'gritty' but this book was certainly page turning for me. How Alexander McCall Smith descibes another persons life and thought in such minute detail and makes it so fascinating is a mystery to me. It almost feels like voyeurism.
If you are an intelligent, thoughtful person who likes to give careful consideration to the routine incidents of daily life and keep many of your personal thoughts innermost, then give her a go. You may be surprised to find you are not alone.
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Once upon a time philosophers dealt with practical questions of ethics: When is it appropriate to lie? When can you take another life? When may you be silent while another makes a mistake? Alexander McCall Smith returns us to those musings, dressed up in the clothing of a divorced woman, Isabel Dalhousie, dealing with her personal life and her profession as the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. For those who like some intellectual depth with their stories, this series will be most rewarding. For those who want big laughs and ironies that make you instantly smile, go back to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
This is the third book in the series. In the prior books, Isabel shows herself to be a woman who likes to take her time to examine her behavior . . . before acting . . . and usually kicks herself when she doesn't let her intellect lead her. While being concerned about her niece, Cat, Isabel mostly is disappointed that Cat has rejected the handsome and worthy Jamie for a series of less good marital candidates. But Isabel has taken solace in keeping Jamie for a friend, while Jamie pines for the uninterested Cat.
When it rains, is that a blessing . . . or bad luck? In Scotland where it usually rains, you'd better take the former attitude. That's the theme of this story: How should you handle the unexpected?
The story moves forward on a number of fronts: Isabel develops an interest in an odd couple of Americans who turn out to be friends of her cousin; Cat has a new man in her life; Isabel and Jamie seem to drift closer together than either expected; Isabel helps Cat find some new help; and Isabel sets out to buy a home for Grace, her housekeeper. Each story element turns on the nature of male-female relations and examines those relations in different ways.
While there are the usual conundrums (What if someone misunderstands your purpose and offers you a bargain? What should you do if you think someone is in bad relationship? What's the right reaction when love offers itself?), there is actually more plot development in this story than in the previous two combined. I also liked the way that this book points out the limits of trying to lead with one's mental faculties. There is, after all, a strong emotional side to all of us.
I found my interest in the series to be greatly increased by this book. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Bravo!
This is the third book in the series. In the prior books, Isabel shows herself to be a woman who likes to take her time to examine her behavior . . . before acting . . . and usually kicks herself when she doesn't let her intellect lead her. While being concerned about her niece, Cat, Isabel mostly is disappointed that Cat has rejected the handsome and worthy Jamie for a series of less good marital candidates. But Isabel has taken solace in keeping Jamie for a friend, while Jamie pines for the uninterested Cat.
When it rains, is that a blessing . . . or bad luck? In Scotland where it usually rains, you'd better take the former attitude. That's the theme of this story: How should you handle the unexpected?
The story moves forward on a number of fronts: Isabel develops an interest in an odd couple of Americans who turn out to be friends of her cousin; Cat has a new man in her life; Isabel and Jamie seem to drift closer together than either expected; Isabel helps Cat find some new help; and Isabel sets out to buy a home for Grace, her housekeeper. Each story element turns on the nature of male-female relations and examines those relations in different ways.
While there are the usual conundrums (What if someone misunderstands your purpose and offers you a bargain? What should you do if you think someone is in bad relationship? What's the right reaction when love offers itself?), there is actually more plot development in this story than in the previous two combined. I also liked the way that this book points out the limits of trying to lead with one's mental faculties. There is, after all, a strong emotional side to all of us.
I found my interest in the series to be greatly increased by this book. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Bravo!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I adored the previous Isobel Dalhousie books, and could not wait to get my hands on this one as I was anicipating some fireworks in the on-going romances of the niece, not to mention lots of words of wisdom from the strong-minded housekeeper. I feel it turned out to be a 'nice story', easy to read but equally easy to put down, unlike the previous ones. Would prefer a little more mystery to add some excitement and a little less of the soppy romantic side, which although gentle and pleasant, did go on a bit. Aside from that, Cat could do with a good shaking, her choice of boyfriends is lousy, surely there is a good looking but honest young man of the right age somewhere in Edinburgh !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A gentle story
In Alexander McCall Smith's third Isabel Dalhousie book human nature and love are gently reflected on. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jo Bennie
Morals and ethics discussed in a cozy way
I found this book on sale and did not know whether to buy it and read or not since it is the 3rd in a series and it always feel strange to jump in to a series not starting with the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Luthien Arnatuile
set now complete!
I love Alexander McCall Smith, and I had read all of his Sunday Philosophy series books except this one, so it filled in the gap nicely, and it was very reasonably priced -... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mrs. P. M. Falconer
The right attitude to McCal Smith
A superior soap I suppose but I'm as hooked as any East Ender fiend with the Isabel Dalhousie saga. The moral problems and attitudes of the lady and the family and friends we meet... Read more
Published 22 months ago by J. B. Swingler
Challenging the System
This book has in fact received 3, not 9, five-star reviews to date, as one - very lengthy - review has inexplicably been printed randomly several times. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2009 by Ann Owen
The Right Attitude to Rain
I am glad that Alexander McCall Smith is writing books which remind us
of ethics and morals and are a delight to read. Read more
of ethics and morals and are a delight to read. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by Marjorie Lanham
Awful
The Right Attitude to Rain (Sunday Philosophy Club)
As a fan of Alexander McCall Smith, primarily from his No. Read more
As a fan of Alexander McCall Smith, primarily from his No. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2009 by Rachel Johnson
Always have hated rain...now really like Isabel
I LOVE McCall Smith's No 1 Ladies's Detective Agency series and so looked forward to this series as well. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by MayGoodComeToUs
A comfortable book to read at bedtime
I started with book 4 of the series and then read 1, 2 and this one (no 3). I'm hooked and will have to order number 5! These books are perfect for bed-time reading. Read more
Published on 25 July 2008 by Bluebell
Evening Cocoa
This book is very pleasant and undemanding stuff.
The plot inches along and any pretense at investigating crime has been abandoned. Read more
The plot inches along and any pretense at investigating crime has been abandoned. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2007 by A. I. Mackenzie
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