44 Scotland Street - Bookspiral
7 journalers for this copy...
Alexander Mccall Smith''s Scotland Stree occupies a busy, bohemian corner of edinburgh''s New Town, where the old haute bourgeoisie finds itself having to rub shoulders with students, poets and portraitists.
And number 44 has more than its fair share of the street''s eccentrics and failures.
Here you''ll meet them all for the first time.
Pat who is on her second gap year her flatmate Bruce a rugby playing chartered surveyor.
The protentious Irene who''s 5 year old son Bertie is in therapy and then shrewd intellectual Domenica MacDonald.
And number 44 has more than its fair share of the street''s eccentrics and failures.
Here you''ll meet them all for the first time.
Pat who is on her second gap year her flatmate Bruce a rugby playing chartered surveyor.
The protentious Irene who''s 5 year old son Bertie is in therapy and then shrewd intellectual Domenica MacDonald.
Okay it's taken me a wee while to get this organised for which I appoligise but anyway it's ready to go now.
The order of the Sipral is as follows:-
NMReader - USA (US Shipping prefered)
cardamom-wolfe - USA (Ship within US/Canada)
GrannyAnn - USA (US Ship)
Charomyces - Canada
boomda181 - Canada (will ship Intl)
Snufkin81 - South Africa (will ship Intl)
Then home to me Smurphie in the UK.
I've included an envelope in the package for each of you with a postcard and bookmark that I have made. I hope you enjoy the books and if you have any problems please PM me.
The order of the Sipral is as follows:-
NMReader - USA (US Shipping prefered)
cardamom-wolfe - USA (Ship within US/Canada)
GrannyAnn - USA (US Ship)
Charomyces - Canada
boomda181 - Canada (will ship Intl)
Snufkin81 - South Africa (will ship Intl)
Then home to me Smurphie in the UK.
I've included an envelope in the package for each of you with a postcard and bookmark that I have made. I hope you enjoy the books and if you have any problems please PM me.
Journal Entry 3 by smurphie at -- By Post or by Hand/ in Person RABCK , bookring/ray in --By Post or by Hand ✋ , Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (12/6/2007 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand/ in Person RABCK , bookring/ray in --By Post or by Hand ✋ , Scotland United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Heading off to the USA on the first part of it's travels.
Heading off to the USA on the first part of it's travels.
Found in my mailbox today. I will add to mount TBR and send on its way asap.
It was a good story but I kept waiting for a murder. I guess I am too use to Alexander McCall Smith as the writer of mysteries.
It was easy to tell in locations where the breaks were for newspaper serialization.
The character's were wonderfully developed and I was left wanting to know more about what happened to Todd, Sasha, Bruce, etc.
I would love to have Cyril.
I look forward to reading more.
It was easy to tell in locations where the breaks were for newspaper serialization.
The character's were wonderfully developed and I was left wanting to know more about what happened to Todd, Sasha, Bruce, etc.
I would love to have Cyril.
I look forward to reading more.
Released 16 yrs ago (2/1/2008 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
I will release while running errands.
I have used this book as part of the following Challenges:
The Keep Them Moving Challenge
The Ultimate Challenge
The 2008 Pages Read Challenge
The FIRST IRREGULAR BURIED TREASURE Challenge
and The Reduce My TBR Mountain Challenge
Thanks for including me and I hope everyone enjoys as I did.
I will release while running errands.
I have used this book as part of the following Challenges:
The Keep Them Moving Challenge
The Ultimate Challenge
The 2008 Pages Read Challenge
The FIRST IRREGULAR BURIED TREASURE Challenge
and The Reduce My TBR Mountain Challenge
Thanks for including me and I hope everyone enjoys as I did.
Still reading it - part of a book ring organised by smurphie in Scotland. I love Edinburgh and McCall's other series (with Mama Ramotswe), so this is a great book to come home to! My husband is reading it while I'm at work (he's a student) - so thanks smurphie for starting this and NMReader for sending it on to me. I'll post again when we are done and as I'm about to send it on to GrannyAnn!
This book came at a great time for both my husband and myself - we needed something refreshing and light, yet not silly. I really like McCall Smith's writing and this book was a charmer! I'm passing it on to GrannyAnn next and hope she enjoys it as much as we did!
Received today from cardamom-wolfe. I've enjoyed the No 1 Ladies series and I hope I'll like this series as well. I have one ahead to finish, then this is on top of Mt TBR. I can't wait.
Thanks for the postcard and bookmark - I'd love to visit Scotland someday!!!
Thanks for the postcard and bookmark - I'd love to visit Scotland someday!!!
I knew I'd love this book! The characters were very believable and I look forward to meeting them again in the next book.
Mailing to Charomyces tomorrow, I hope he enjoys it as much as I did.
Thanks, Smurphie, for sharing.
Mailing to Charomyces tomorrow, I hope he enjoys it as much as I did.
Thanks, Smurphie, for sharing.
Received safely in Stittsville. Thanks a lot Smurphie & GrannyAnn!
This was definitely a fun read, and cast a much more cheerful light on Edinburgh (one of my favorite cities) than the much darker Ian Rankin novels.
It makes a very interesting contrast to Smith's 'No. 1 Ladies' series. Like the books in that series, the plot of 44 Scotland St. is episodic, the characters engage in self-righteous but deluded interior monologues, and there are lots of funny bits (and I suspect, lots of inside jokes). But many of these characters are annoying, which makes their observations and activities irritating. The 'No. 1 Ladies' series has been criticized by some as naive and racist, which makes me wonder if the characters in that series are as bothersome to the average African as some of the Scotland characters were to me.
It makes a very interesting contrast to Smith's 'No. 1 Ladies' series. Like the books in that series, the plot of 44 Scotland St. is episodic, the characters engage in self-righteous but deluded interior monologues, and there are lots of funny bits (and I suspect, lots of inside jokes). But many of these characters are annoying, which makes their observations and activities irritating. The 'No. 1 Ladies' series has been criticized by some as naive and racist, which makes me wonder if the characters in that series are as bothersome to the average African as some of the Scotland characters were to me.
This arrived in the mail today full of goodies! Thanks very much Smurfie! I am moving this to the top of the TBR. Will be reading and journaling more soon.
Thanks for letting me be a part of this ring! I liked the characters in the book very much. I found I had to remind myself while I was reading that the book is a compilation of McCall-Smith's serial, I think that is what took a little away from the story for me.
Journal Entry 15 by boomda181 at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (8/13/2008 UTC) at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to South Africa for Snufkin81!
On its way to South Africa for Snufkin81!
Yay, this arrived safely! Thanks boomda181, and thank you smurphie for the lovely bookmark and postcard. I'll try to read this and pass it on as soon as possible.
Journal Entry 17 by snufkin81 from Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Saturday, February 7, 2009
I finished this last night. Sorry for keeping it so long!
I really enjoyed this one. The characters are believable and engaging, and especially enjoyed reading about Bertie, Angus and Cyril. I liked that the chapters were so short and episodic. I think I would have enjoyed reading the original serial, what a nice change from all the doom and gloom of the rest of the newspaper!
I'll send this back to Smurphie this week, and I'll start on the second book in the ring once I've read one or two other rings that are waiting for me.
I really enjoyed this one. The characters are believable and engaging, and especially enjoyed reading about Bertie, Angus and Cyril. I liked that the chapters were so short and episodic. I think I would have enjoyed reading the original serial, what a nice change from all the doom and gloom of the rest of the newspaper!
I'll send this back to Smurphie this week, and I'll start on the second book in the ring once I've read one or two other rings that are waiting for me.
Journal Entry 18 by snufkin81 at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 13, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/13/2009 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I sent this back to Smurphie by airmail this afternoon. I hope it arrives safely!
I sent this back to Smurphie by airmail this afternoon. I hope it arrives safely!
Arrived home safe and well this morning.
Thank you all for taking part and thank you to those generous bookcrossers that put in pressies for me. I love them all :o)
Thank you all for taking part and thank you to those generous bookcrossers that put in pressies for me. I love them all :o)