Love in the Time of Bertie: A 44 Scotland Street Novel

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I suppose we should all remind ourselves of our view. things may get bad and then we say to ourselves remember your view and then everything looks better.” The author's army of fans won't need us to recommend this book to them: but for anyone just returning Bruce, Antonia, and Sister Maria...finding their hopes, dreams intersecting in a profound and life changing way.

Affable Big Lou has taken a shine to a strongman called Fat Bob, who stopped into Big Lou's Coffee Shop one morning. When Fat Bob includes Big Lou's adopted son Finlay in a dinner date, it clinches the attraction. The story ends with the annual neighborhood party thrown by Angus and Domenica, where Angus reads his original poem about love.

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There is so much to adore about these gentle books. In my opinion they are treasures. Not only are they homey but also refreshing and written with great beauty. Fans of this author ought to find this required reading. If you have not read any of his works, do not miss this and his other series. This series is perfection in my opinion. I love everything about it. There little point in giving a plot synopsis because I’m not sure there is a plot, nothing in particular happens. The pacing is set by character development and conversations and the passage of time in these novels is arbitrary. It seems to occur at a different pace for some than others. Bertie for example has aged maybe one year in 14 books while others have married and now have toddlers. There is astute social observances and deep philosophical musings on a range of topics from the mundane to the deep. It’s quotidian in the best way. Is romance blossoming in Big Lou’s café? The aptly named but surprisingly couth Fat Bob is a professional strongman who raises the tax-deductibility of bacon rolls for his occupation. His history prompts discussion about acts of kindness and concern for others. Now Irene insists her son must visit her for three months, to the dismay of Bertie, his father Stuart and his grandmother Nicola.

Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna continues to offer aphorisms, some more enigmatic than others: “Two snails do not argue about whose shell is the more attractive.” Angus compares conceptual art to the emperor’s new clothes, there is a marriage proposal, Highland Games are organised for the Drummond Street Gardens and, as always, Angus bestows a poem on the gathered company. As always, many topics are mulled over or discussed: expert knowledge vs pretentiousness; the Dunbar Number of close friends; social climbers; guilt over the amount of water needed to produce coffee. Domenica MacDonald cultivates a friendship with Tarquin, one of the downstairs student neighbours, and they have some stimulating conversations. Despite the fact that little happens in the way of plot, this book made me laugh out loud many times, boil with fury and frustration.and also shed many tears both happy and sad. My only explanation is that Alexander McCall Smith is probably the worlds greatest writer right now. Love in the Time of Bertie is the fifteenth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street series by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith, and in it, the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street and those of their friends are, once again, updated for the continuing enjoyment of series fans. The audio version is narrated by David Rintoul.The author's "44 Scotland Street" novels began life as a serial published in The Scotsman newspaper It was the beauty of the country before them that had done it. Scotland was a place of attenuated light, of fragility, of a beauty that broke the heart.”