The Sunday Philosophy Club
6 journalers for this copy...
Can't say that I have read this, but we have two copies of this on our bookshelf!
Back cover mentions Edinburgh's genteel homes, ladies who lunch and the nasty desires of the regimented Georgian facade. Hmm... I think I might have to read this after all!
Back cover mentions Edinburgh's genteel homes, ladies who lunch and the nasty desires of the regimented Georgian facade. Hmm... I think I might have to read this after all!
Journal Entry 2 by jubby at Pyrmont Community Centre Book Exchange in Pyrmont, New South Wales Australia on Friday, September 29, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (9/29/2006 UTC) at Pyrmont Community Centre Book Exchange in Pyrmont, New South Wales Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Plan to release during the mini-meetup at The Community Centre Book Exchange.
Plan to release during the mini-meetup at The Community Centre Book Exchange.
I've already read one in this series (Friends, Lovers, Chocolate) and I rather liked it. Nothing earth shattering, but rather sweet (and less cloying than his No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series). So I thought I'd better grab this one (it being the first in the series) while I had the chance!
Thanks jubby!
Thanks jubby!
Have to say, I do like this series better than the Mme Precious Ramotswe one. But it is still not one of my favourite reads.
Isabel Dalhousie is an older [although, I calculated, not much older than me, so I might have to revise my definition of "older" now!] spinster, once unhappy in love, now quietly content in her job of editing the Review of Applied Ethics in Edinburgh and sticking her nose in other people's business.
A lot of the book is taken up with descriptions of Edinburgh, Edinburgians, and life in Edinburgh (especially for an independantly wealthy forty-something well education spinster). I probably would have liked that more if I'd ever been to Edinburgh! :)
The best bits are her constant musing on the applied ethics of everything she does - does she have an ethical obligation to find out the truth about a young man's death, since she was one of the last to see him alive (as he fell past her in the concert hall, from the gods to the stalls)? She reckons yes, I reckon she thinks too much.
But as someone who does think too much (and who did study Philosophy back at Uni as and undergrad), I did rather enjoy her musings. Although somewhere along the way I did want to say "just get on with it, woman!".
The most annoying bits of the book was the narrowness of the attitudes - possibly because Isabel is in a fairly narrow social circle, but I do think some of the blame might be laid at McCall Smith's feet. I found it fairly conservative in attitude, and that's not a good thing in my books.
And I did find her being half in love with a man half her age a bit ick. (Hey, there's my narrow attitude!)
I have popped this in the post today to frangipani08, as they are the recipient of the Happy Crazy Smile RABCK contest. Happy reading!
Isabel Dalhousie is an older [although, I calculated, not much older than me, so I might have to revise my definition of "older" now!] spinster, once unhappy in love, now quietly content in her job of editing the Review of Applied Ethics in Edinburgh and sticking her nose in other people's business.
A lot of the book is taken up with descriptions of Edinburgh, Edinburgians, and life in Edinburgh (especially for an independantly wealthy forty-something well education spinster). I probably would have liked that more if I'd ever been to Edinburgh! :)
The best bits are her constant musing on the applied ethics of everything she does - does she have an ethical obligation to find out the truth about a young man's death, since she was one of the last to see him alive (as he fell past her in the concert hall, from the gods to the stalls)? She reckons yes, I reckon she thinks too much.
But as someone who does think too much (and who did study Philosophy back at Uni as and undergrad), I did rather enjoy her musings. Although somewhere along the way I did want to say "just get on with it, woman!".
The most annoying bits of the book was the narrowness of the attitudes - possibly because Isabel is in a fairly narrow social circle, but I do think some of the blame might be laid at McCall Smith's feet. I found it fairly conservative in attitude, and that's not a good thing in my books.
And I did find her being half in love with a man half her age a bit ick. (Hey, there's my narrow attitude!)
I have popped this in the post today to frangipani08, as they are the recipient of the Happy Crazy Smile RABCK contest. Happy reading!
One of the books on my wish list - thanks tqd! The 44 Scotland St books were quite different to his No 1 Ladies Detective agency so I am curious to check out this series.
After I have read this one, I am sending it out on an international bookring.-LastMango (Canada)
- sejent (US) mail in US
-starbrightxx (US)in US #Book is here#
-nynjagrrrl (US)anywhere
-snufkin81 (Sth Africa) anywhere
-penelopewanders(Switzerland) prefers Europe
-InPhantasien (Germany or England)
-jaffacake (UK)
-k2005 (UK)
-lilifin (Germany probably)
-Elphaba71 (UK)- to be skipped
-shewhowearsred (Phillipines)
-livrecache (AUST)
Missing in action! Snufkin81 is continuing the ring - address of the new copy below.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5768580
A gentle stroll through Isabel's simple life in Edinburgh. Both this book and the 44 Scotland St ones, make me wish I could visit there. This book has a bit much philosophising for me and the end was a bit indecisive. However, I will have to read the next one to see what happens to Jamie and Cat! Thanks tqd for sharing this book which will leave shortly on a journey!
In the mail today to LastMango - surface mail though so won't hold my breath for the next journal entry!
Received in the mail sometime earlier this week while we were away on a few days vacation. I''m in the middle of a book and will read this next.
Just can''t get into this one. Will pass along to sejent asap.
Mailed (surface) today to sejent.
Received in today''s mail. I will start reading as soon as I finish my current book and will journal again when I have finished.
I enjoyed this, but not as much as No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency. Sending on to starbrightxx in Ohio.
Received today. Will read as quick as possible but I have a few rings/rays before this.
Snufkin81 has offered up her copy of this book to continue the bookring as it is missing in action. Thanks Snufkin81! The link for the new copy is below
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5768580
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5768580
