Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of several popular series including the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the Isabel Dalhousie books, and 44 Scotland Street stories. I think of his novels as gentle, humorous books that demonstrate the breadth of human nature, from selfish to saintly.
Pianos and Flowers is a compendium of short stories, each tale inspired by a photo from the archives of The Sunday Times newspaper. The pictures prompted Smith to pen anecdotes that range from slices of life to mini-biographies, and the narratives are touching, humorous, and surprising.
The collection is composed of 14 stories, some short and some long. I'll give examples of a few narratives, to provide a feel for the book. 🙂
⦿ Pianos and Flowers
A British brother and three sisters spend their childhood in Malaysia, then go home with mom, leaving dad behind to work. We see the unfortunate fate of British expats in Malaysia during WWII, and observe the youngsters growing up and getting on with their lives. The brother is expected to provide for his single sisters, so of course he'd like them to get married....and tries to help things along.
*****
⦿ Sphinx
A young woman called Margaret meets a nice gentleman, and they discover they both like to visit London's attraction, the Sphinx.
The couple have a strong attraction and plan to meet again, but things go wrong. Margaret subsequently drifts into another relationship that's only lukewarm (for her), and expects to get a proposal. What happens next is a surprise.
****
⦿ Maternal Designs
An architect named Richard is at odds with his mother, who wanted him to go into a different - and more prestigious - line of work. Mom thinks architects just draw pictures, and doesn't understand the structural/engineering elements of construction. This has consequences that are both funny and unfortunate.
*****
⦿ Pogo Sticks and Man with Bicycle
Francis Crick and James Watson are struggling to understand the structure of DNA until boys having fun on pogo sticks provide a clue.
*****
⦿ Duty
Claire and Dotty are identical twins but Claire, being two minutes older, considers herself the boss of the siblings. As young adults Claire acquires a beau, and chivvies Dotty into meeting his friend. Things take an unexpected turn from there.
*****
⦿ Blackmail
Nell and Harry had good jobs until bad behavior got them fired without references. They're now streetsweepers, and like to chat about people they see during the workday. Nell is especially observant and notices a blackmailer who targets men who cheat on their wives. Nell and Harry take action, and it's hilarious.
*****
Other stories deal with two boys who have an attraction to one another; a 'before and after' commercial where a scrawny little fellow is paired with a pretty girl; an anthropologist who studies headhunters; an English professor who likes figures of speech called zeugmas; poor boys who have different experiences growing up; a woman concerned about her anxious husband; and more.
The book is entertaining and fun, highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Pantheon for a copy of the book.
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of several popular series including the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the Isabel Dalhousie books, and 44 Scotland Street stories. I think of his novels as gentle, humorous books that demonstrate the breadth of human nature, from selfish to saintly.
Pianos and Flowers is a compendium of short stories, each tale inspired by a photo from the archives of The Sunday Times newspaper. The pictures prompted Smith to pen anecdotes that range from slices of life to mini-biographies, and the narratives are touching, humorous, and surprising.
The collection is composed of 14 stories, some short and some long. I'll give examples of a few narratives, to provide a feel for the book. 🙂
⦿ Pianos and Flowers
A British brother and three sisters spend their childhood in Malaysia, then go home with mom, leaving dad behind to work. We see the unfortunate fate of British expats in Malaysia during WWII, and observe the youngsters growing up and getting on with their lives. The brother is expected to provide for his single sisters, so of course he'd like them to get married....and tries to help things along.
*****
⦿ Sphinx
A young woman called Margaret meets a nice gentleman, and they discover they both like to visit London's attraction, the Sphinx.
The couple have a strong attraction and plan to meet again, but things go wrong. Margaret subsequently drifts into another relationship that's only lukewarm (for her), and expects to get a proposal. What happens next is a surprise.
****
⦿ Maternal Designs
An architect named Richard is at odds with his mother, who wanted him to go into a different - and more prestigious - line of work. Mom thinks architects just draw pictures, and doesn't understand the structural/engineering elements of construction. This has consequences that are both funny and unfortunate.
*****
⦿ Pogo Sticks and Man with Bicycle
Francis Crick and James Watson are struggling to understand the structure of DNA until boys having fun on pogo sticks provide a clue.
*****
⦿ Duty
Claire and Dotty are identical twins but Claire, being two minutes older, considers herself the boss of the siblings. As young adults Claire acquires a beau, and chivvies Dotty into meeting his friend. Things take an unexpected turn from there.
*****
⦿ Blackmail
Nell and Harry had good jobs until bad behavior got them fired without references. They're now streetsweepers, and like to chat about people they see during the workday. Nell is especially observant and notices a blackmailer who targets men who cheat on their wives. Nell and Harry take action, and it's hilarious.
*****
Other stories deal with two boys who have an attraction to one another; a 'before and after' commercial where a scrawny little fellow is paired with a pretty girl; an anthropologist who studies headhunters; an English professor who likes figures of speech called zeugmas; poor boys who have different experiences growing up; a woman concerned about her anxious husband; and more.
The book is entertaining and fun, highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Pantheon for a copy of the book.
Rating: 4 stars
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