Friends, Lovers, Chocolate

I love McCall-Smith, I find his books soothing and wise and feminine yet balanced (this probably comes from their being written by a man!). I always get involved in his characters\’ lives, care bout them and can\’t wait to read more about them. Plots are not the point; human interaction and thoughts are, and they are presented with such a light hand, and such an obvious love for life and people and places that I always feel better after spending time with these books. Do not buy the Dalhousie or the Precious Ramotswe series (which I also love) if you want a proper detective story, but do buy them and enjoy them all, possibly in chronological order, if you want to be reconciled with life. Sounds like a lot to ask from books, but read them and you will see what I mean!

The second book in the Sunday Philosophy Club finds Isabel covering for Cat in her deli shop. On a break, Isabel encounters a man who has a curious philosophical dilemma; he is the recipient of a heart transplant and believes that he may be experiencing memories from the donor. Most disturbingly the memories portend of the possible hit and run driver that killed the donor. Isabel becomes quite intrigued by the notion and begins delving into the situation. In discussing the situation with her housekeeper, Grace, she is convinced by Grace to go to a spiritualist meeting with her, where Grace has taken a fancy to a man who regularly attends the meetings. Cat returns from her trip with an older Italian man, who after Cat tries to politely brush him off, tries to attach himself to Isabel. Isabel\’s other friend and confidante, Jamie, is still trying to get over Cat, and has gotten involved with a married woman. The story of the heart\’s memory is interwoven with these relationships surrounding Isabel. As in the prior book, the mystery is more philosophical than dramatic, and once again the actual Philosophy Club never meets. It was a tale enjoyable on several levels.

McCall Smith has outdone himself in this latest tale of the \”Sunday Philosophy Club.\” Very precisely, Ms. Dalhousie applies her ethical background to the real life of people in Edinburgh. Not surprisingly, her theoretical ethics comes up against real world situations where ethics have to be modified to suit the situation. In the book, such things as older women marrying younger men is covered, along with a host of other ethical issues; which in isolation seem relatively easy to work out, but in combination with real life events, need a bit of adjusting. Additionally interesting in this story is that his detective makes a huge error. She in fact finds herself chasing her own ethical tail, as she goes off on a hunt for the completely wrong person. The book makes it clear to readers, that things can go wrong; people can make false assumptions; assumptions that lead one to actions that are totally unjustified. With wonderful command of the scene and setting, this book is one of McCall Smith\’s greatest creations. It allows the reader to apply his/her own set of ethics to the various situations. It allows the reader to attempt to figure out which ethical positions work for them, and what they would do in the same situation. The book is highly recommended for all readers of McCall Smith. It should not be passed up, as it is one of the most transitional and interesting books in his recent publications.

Fascinating first book in the series – not for everyone because it is a thinking person\’s book. Lots of concepts, ideas and speculation by the main character – who is a philosopher – with, sometimes,funny conclusions – subtle humor. Certainly a change from the usual and becomes addictive. All takes place in Edinburgh in Scotland.

Here Isabel comes again, in the second installment of her series. The ostensible plot is that, while tending her niece Cat\’s gourmet deli in Edinburgh, she meets a psychologist named Ian who received a heart transplant from a donor thought to have been killed in a hit-and-run traffic accident. Periodically since then, Ian would experience jolts of pain in his body always accompanied by a sinister vision of a man\’s face. Was the heart passing on a cellular memory of the killer? Isabel has to investigate. But this book is more notable for the growing relationship between Isabel and Jamie, a much younger man who had once been Cat\’s beau. She rejected him unceremoniously, but he still carries a torch for her. Meanwhile, he has become Isabel\’s confidante and friend, and she has started to develop feelings for him–which she disclaims to herself under the circumstances. The other plot gets resolved, in McCall Smith\’s typically convoluted way, but this is the plot to keep your eye on in future volumes.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member