A little light reading 2 - scones and servants

  I'm delighted to be back in Edinburgh's Scotland Street with Alexander McCall Smith's latest "44, Scotland Street" novel, The Unbearable Lightness of Scones (and how about that for a title?). Poor young Bertie, forever six, wants to join the cub scouts, but his dreadful mother Irene classes them as a para-military organisation and won't hear of her son's involvement. Bertie's friend Tofu thinks the way round this would be to tell Irene that they're actually joining the Young Liberal Democrats, but I fear they're on a sticky wicket even there.   Meanwhile, Matthew and Elspeth are on an eventful honeymoon, the put-upon Big Lou is obliged to give hospitality to Jacobites, and Angus must find homes for Cyril's six puppies. Needless to say, I'm laughing out loud.

   And being read at a more sedate pace alongside the contemporary novel is Richardson's eighteenth century bestseller Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. I must say that I am enjoying it, from its elements of farce and broad comedy to its serious issues of freedom and the misuse of power, and although thus far it is much of a muchness, I shall carry on quite happily.

And later from the book mountain: cooks and chickens.
 

Comments

[Mary]

Before he wrote _Pamela_ Richardson was writing and publishing etiquette books for the emerging middle class. It's interesting to watch him segue into what is regarded (at least by me) as the world's first real novel.

I try to read it as if it were the first novel I had ever encountered, which lends a bit of excitement to an otherwise less than convincing narrative.

md

[Danielle]

I recently bought my first McCall Smith novel (the Edinburgh series) and am looking forward to reading it. I'd like to read something by Richardson some time--perhaps Pamela better than Clarissa (much shorter).

[Lisa]

I love both the 44 Scotland Street series and his Sunday Philosophy Club series. I don't believe this one is out yet in the U.S., but I'll be looking for it.