Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams (Myths, The) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am not all that familiar with Celtic mythology and had actually never heard of Angus (god of dreams and love), so I was a bit worried that some bits of the story would be lost on me...but I need not have worried. Dream Angus is a quite a wonderful retelling of this myth. After doing a bit of research, I find that McCall Smith has kept the bones from source material and dressed them up in contemporary garments and he has, I believe, done it a very likeable and compelling way! Like a couple of others in this series, we are presented with vignettes which weave back and forth between ancient mythological settings and more contemporary ones; giving us the opportunity to hear Angus tale from birth to finding his own true love while also being given a glimpse of how he is still relevant in the modern world...for Angus, it seems still bestows upon us his precious and wonderful dreams! We find that Angus touches the lives of someone in each little story, and each is compelling and beautiful in its own way. I was particularly amused to see Angus cast as a psychotherapist using lucid dreaming to help his patients...a nice little twist! I would definitely recommend this as a light, but amusing retelling of Angus, Celtic God of Dreams, I don't think you'll be disappointed! I'm certainly glad to have read this and I'm looking forward to seeing more in this series!

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The Lost Art of Gratitude: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)You have to believe that author Alexander McCall Smith has a special fondness for his main character in "The Sunday Philosophy Club" series, Isabel Dalhousie, for he has created for her a seamlessly agreeable life. She is intelligent, well-educated, well-to-do and beautiful. She has a handsome, sensitive and younger fiance, who has fathered her beautiful and well-behaved son. Isabel loves her "job" as a moral philosopher and editor of a scholarly journal and lives in a historic mansion in Edinburgh, a city that fits her like a glove.
So without the frisson and stress, how does "The Lost Art of Gratitude" (and others in the series) grab the reader's attention and hold it? It may well be that the very stresslessness of living is what makes her story so interesting and enjoyable to the reader. You know that nothing terrible will ever really happen to Isabel and to the ones she loves. Who doesn't fantasize about a world where we are surrounded by beauty and intelligence that will never end? Where babies don't ever have to have their diapers changed nor do they ever get colic or throw tantrums. Where your SO, in addition to being beautiful/handsome and talented, respects you and intuitively connects with your every thought and impulse. And is always yin to your yang.
McCall Smith does provide a few gray clouds for his heroine in "The Lost Art..." in the form of a couple of Isabel's old adversaries--Minty Aucterlonie and Christopher Dove, but they have both been vanquished by Isabel in the past, and there is no doubt that she will prevail against them again.
Ultimately, the greatest pleasure from the book for this reader, was the time and space that Isabel Dalhousie is given to ruminate about the human condition and the interactions of people in ordinary day-to-day situations. This isn't peace in the Middle East or the answer to world poverty, but it is important reflection on how we behave toward each other as residents of shared communities. Hypocrisy and greed are two of the main identified enemies for Isabel, but all human folly is grist for her consideration. Respect and charity are always her goals.
McCall Smith's paragon does have interesting flaws--she is overly considerate and reasonable and therefore unable, at times, to correctly read the baser actions of others. These misunderstandings and her occasional outright cluelessness give the story needed zing and interest.
"The Lost Art of Gratitude" is another gentle and sweet installment in a series that you have to hope will hold McCall Smith's interest and enterprise for many years to come.


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The Charming Quirks of Others: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're a fan of Alexander McCall Smith, as I am, you may notice in The Charming Quirks of Others that Isabel Dalhousie is turning into an insecure, lighter-weight, Scottish sketch of Mme Ramotswe (of his Ladies' Detective Agency series). The "detective" work she does has become a much smaller part of the novel. The story lines in general are less developed and detailed than previous books in the series as well as by the author in general. There also are significant parts of stories that are treated with back of the envelope resolutions by the end of the book (such as the one with Lettuce) -- an unwelcome inconsistency with his previous works. And, well, while I hate to say it, Isabel comes off as whiny in this one.
I'm glad that Isabel is with Jamie full-time now, her interactions with him in this novel make her seem less of the independent woman she has been in the previous books. McCall Smith also has cut Jamie a bit thin as a character. I was dismayed to discover that the relationship Isabel has with her niece has deteriorated into jealous sniping as well. The bits about Charlie are satisfying and realistic.
There are the customary nods to artists of Edinburgh and a few key locals tossed in, but not as many as you would expect of an Alexander McCall Smith novel. Usually, there are lengthy discussions of the country's gorgeous landscape, and of the islands, but there were few mentions of it in this book.
Overall, I was disappointed with this one, as I have of his latest books. Sadly, he set the bar very high in his earlier novels and is now falling a bit short.

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Friends, Lovers, Chocolate: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)Isabel Dalhousie, philosopher and editor of Edinburgh's highly esteemed Review of Applied Ethics, is a single woman in her early forties (of independent means), whose sense of duty and moral obligation to her fellow man keeps her busy pondering what the right thing to do is in almost every aspect of life. These musings cause her to get involved in the lives of others, sometimes finding it necessary later to apologize to one person or another for real or imagined missteps on her part. (One of the more pleasurable aspects in the Sunday Philosophy Club series is the relationship between Isabel and her housekeeper, Grace, with whom she often discusses this or that moral or social issue. In FLC, Grace finally gets Isabel to attend a séance. Quite an accomplishment on her part.)
In this book, Isabel meets Ian (it frustrates Isabel that people often only offer their first names) who has recently had a heart transplant. Ian is having some strange and unnerving experiences, which he attributes to his new heart; and the subject of cellular memory arises. He asks for Isabel's help, and, once again, she's off and running to find the answers to Ian's concerns. In the meantime, an attractive Italian arrives in Edinburgh to pursue Isabel's niece, Cat (she met him at a wedding in Italy). Cat is not interested and tries to get Tomasso and her aunt together.
In addition to her usual escapades, Isabel continues her friendship with handsome young musician, Jamie. Jamie and Cat were once an item. He still loves her, but she has moved on. Isabel battles with her own feelings toward Jamie...feelings that border on love. She finds herself jealous of people or situations that she fears will "take him away" from her.
I greatly admire Alexander McCall Smith's writing talent and what must be a vast store of personal knowledge (he must also do some research in order to impart so many snippets of knowledge along the way). I found myself a little disappointed at the outcome of a couple plotlines in this book, but I also realize that the main thrust of these Sunday Philosopher's Club stories is what goes on in Isabel Dalhousie's mind, the actions she takes as a result, and how her thoughts and actions match up with typical human behavior.
Carolyn Rowe Hill


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