Book Reviews of 44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street, Bk 1)

This is the full length publication of a serialized novel that Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith wrote for his local paper in Edinburgh. There is, or will be, a sequel. The story line follows the interconnected lives of the occupants of the title address, and their various friends, through relationships, jobs, personal problems, and the like. There is narcissistic Bruce and his roommate Pat, a young woman taking her second year off from university to work in an art gallery; the lively older woman Domenica who knows everybody; and little Bertie, a five-year-old whose Mum is pushing him right past childhood into Italian lessons and the saxophone. This is charming, as all Smith's work is, and a light, easy read.

I just loved all of the people in this book. The second book is great too! The second in the series in Expresso Tales, and in Jan 08 there is a third. This book came from small stories in a Scottish paper. The stories became so popular, he decided to put them together into a book. I love all the characters have little quirks and they make for very intersting reads

I like the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, but I find I enjoy the author's other works even more. It's fast-moving, charming, absolutely right on with human foibles and Edinburgh city life and odd roommates.

This book starts slow but the characters are intriguing and you are interested in their outcome. A good read from the author of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

Love triangles, a lost painting, intriguing new friends and an encounter with a famous Scottich crime writer are just a few of the things that add to this delightful and witty portrait of Edinburgh society.

Very different from the Ladies Detective Agency books. Very easy to read with a host of new characters---and characters they are, indeed.

The characters were a bit weak – I will not read book 2.

I loved the 1st Ladies Detective series and was anxious to read more from this author. This book started out okay but took a lot of rabbit trails causing the reader to be able to lay it down and not care if they picked it back up or not. I realize this was originally written for newspaper and in short chapters but it still could have been more interesting and stayed with some of the character more and deleted some of the less interesting characters completely.

I was just beginning to get interested in some of the characters towards the end of this book. Some of them are just not that likable. I'm assuming there is a sequel because it just seemed to need one.

This story was okay, but not nearly as good in my opinion as his series about Precious Ramwotse, although it did get more interesting as it progressed. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and very few of any worth. That's my opinion, anyway.

A book originally written as a daily serial for the Scotsman Journal, AMS chronicles the daily life of Edinburgh residents. The book is whimsical, and full of humor. It does deal with a few mature situations. A fun read, but not at the level of his wonderful No. 1 Ladies Detective series.

Light read, some inside knowledge of Edinburgh and it's community would be helpful.

Not up to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, but not a bad read.

not my cup of tea.

A very fun read!

Unlike Smith's other books, this took me awhile to get through. I really like his style and kind way of bringing his characters to life. This book is very much worth reading.

I only got thru about 1/3 of it. It just didn't hold my attention, but maybe it will hold yours! He's a terrific author.

A gentle read, I enjoyed it. Not as good as Ladies Detctive Agency series, but a start of another series, no doubt.

Delightful reading. Alexander McCall Smith is a real pro.