Chargement...

The Charming Quirks of Others (Isabel Dalhousie Series) (édition 2010)

par Alexander McCall Smith (Auteur)

Séries: Isabel Dalhousie (7)

Membres	Critiques	Popularité	Évaluation moyenne	Mentions
805	33	27,685	(3.63)	45

Critique de Bookish59

This novel is, as most of McCall-Smith's books are, about morality, love, kindness, modesty, communication, intent, respect and gratitude. The Charming Quirks of Others once again features Isabel being asked to 'help' someone with what I have named 'social investigations'. Isabel is intelligent, kind, contemplative and a very curious, open-minded philosopher and agrees to help, if not enthusiastically, with a feeling of responsibility. Personally I think she sees these cases as a necessary avocation, providing her stimulus, as well as a distraction from the often tedious work as owner and editor of The Review of Applied Ethics. She takes both responsibilties seriously.

Her social investigations lead to her meet with people to ask questions. She is successful at this because she is an intuitve listener, and knows the right questions to ask. But, and this is McCall-Smith's key point, she is human, and like all of us, makes assumptions and mistakes but... recognizing the truth, she, incredibly aware of what she must do or not do, quickly corrects and makes amends for any errors. We, the readers, can learn much from each of her investigations and each of McCall-Smith's books. About human strengths in making difficult choices, caring about others which build us up. And human weaknesses like infidelity, greed, lying and bullying which harm us all.

Isabel Dalhousie is the means with which McCall Smith illustrates how the subject of philosophy, which most of us consider ancient and of little importance, has actual and meaningfull applications in the real world. Using bits of history, nature, art and poetry, and music add balance to each book to make us see just some of the depth of the world's beauty.

Please do read these uniquely special books.

Bookish59 | Mar 28, 2021 |

Toutes les critiques des utilisateurs

date ▼ | votes

Affichage de 1-25 de 33 (suivant | tout afficher)

Perhaps this book suffered from being read close after the latest in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, which I enjoyed soooo much more. This seemed to be a weak addition to the Dalhousie series; certainly none of the characters was made more attractive in it. The beautiful Jamie sounded like a weepy wimp and Isabel was making a lot of overly quick & incorrect judgements. 2-1/2 stars (

)

Abcdarian | May 18, 2024 |

If you love Edinburgh you will love this book. (

)

louisste | Jun 24, 2023 |

25 "She thought of the studies of conversions that showed how people turned to a new faith or a new ideology to get rid of the burden of the past. They became new people, they thought, and could forget about what they had done before. She was not sure whether that was self-forgiveness or self-invention; they were different things, really, and she could not help but feel that self-invention was an easy way out. Not me, it said, a different person did that. Which could be quite true. We did become different people as we grew; the child is not the same person as the man." -- ask: What were you like as a little boy?
38 "People with matrimonial difficulties usually wanted allies, not advisors."
156 "...may I become like you - which unrealistic wish, to become the other, is such a true and revealing symptom of love, it's most obvious clue, it's unmistakable calling card."
166 "We clung to the straws of identity; these, at least, made us feel a little more permanent."

ahovde01 | Apr 1, 2023 |

3.99 stars. A lovely use of my leisure time. I enjoy spending time in Isabel's head. And I am sure I would enjoy visiting Scotland. But as described here, lordy, these Scots are a tongue-tied bunch. Makes me realize I am happy to be an oversharing American. Once I laughed out loud which is not an experience I expect to have while reading these books. Unfortunately I can't remember what prompted the laughter. (

)

Je9 | Aug 10, 2021 |

Bookish59 | Mar 28, 2021 |

Another good time spent with my friends Isabele, Jamie and Charlie in Edinburgh. As usual Isabele gets involved unraveling a mystery. (

)

GeoffSC | Jul 25, 2020 |

Charmingly written, a comfort book which leads one gently to reflect on several topics, one of which is forgiveness. "There are so many grudges we can hold against the pst and for the love and approval that we did not get from it. But if we forgive, then the past can lost its power to hurt." (p.134). But less you think that Pollyanna had a hand in writing this, Mr. Smith also writes "then it is because somewhere within ourselves we have an outrageous part: a dark twin in whose mind thoughts of infidelity, carnal excess, selfishness dwell with ease and naturalness."
(

)

MaryHeleneMele | May 6, 2019 |

)

Siubhan | Feb 28, 2018 |

Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie Series are in a word; amazing! They are cleverly written, humorous and always follow a positive moral code. Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher, editor, mother and wife-to-be. She also has a fox called Brother Fox living in her back garden in the heart of Edinburgh. Each story follows a line of mystery in which Isabel plays the amateur detective, usually with heart-warming and hilarious conclusions.

This particular story follows Isabel's insights into being a mother of a young boy, the troubles of having a persistent woman attempting to steal her husband-to-be and a group of prospective headteachers each keeping potentially risky secrets into which she is asked to 'look into'. Or do they?

Alexander McCall Smith is a clever, FANTASTIC writer and I'd recommend any and all of his books!

(Also, just to clarify - this is not the first book of the Isabel Dalhousie Novels, the first is called The Sunday Philosophy Club.)

http://feelingslightlybookish.blogspot.co.uk/ (

)

Charlotte1162 | Nov 29, 2017 |

Isabel did some uncharacteristic things in this novel. Also, lots of coincidences. (

)

Virginia-A | Dec 21, 2016 |

Interesting. This was the first book I've read in this mystery series (it's the seventh). I really enjoyed the writing style - the protagonist is a philosophical ethicist, and the main point of the book is really to allow her to muse on whatever topic happens to cross her mind. Occasionally she comes across as a bit overly saintly, but overall her thoughts are both witty and enjoyable, and make for an unusually convincing representation of an extremely smart character. (Too often, in fiction, a reader is merely told that a character is very intelligent, but they don't do anything to prove it.)
That said, the plot is very thin. The pretext for the protagonist to be doing the investigation is rather flimsy, and the investigation itself isn't that exciting (a background check on a number of candidates for a school administrator's position). A subplot about the worry that her fiancee might be cheating on her wasn't of that much interest, either, and was a little unconvincing... maybe it would have made more sense if I'd read the previous books, but she seemed to be acting like a much more inexperienced woman than a fifty-ish divorcee.
I'll read more of this series if I come across them, but won't go out of my way to hunt them down. (

)

AltheaAnn | Feb 9, 2016 |

If you enjoy the previous novels in this series you will like this one too, slightly more plot than usual so one of the better ones. (

)

Superenigmatix | Jan 16, 2016 |

This book was another good addition to the story. Jamie and Isabel are still not married, but for all the non-fuss they want to put into it, they're still too busy to plan it. I am beginning to think the author is putting it off on purpose. The mystery part of it was a little more interesting than some, but ended up totally different than Isabel or I expected. (

)

eliorajoy | Aug 10, 2014 |

This series of books I find very warm and comforting. I always feel like my life has received a little "up tick" when I read Alexander McCall Smith.

I would advise starting with the first in this series. And I highly recommend the Audible.com read-out-load version of Smith's books. (

)

Benedict8 | Jul 16, 2014 |

When the chairman of the board of governors of a school receives an anonymous poison pen letter about the candidates for the headmastership, his wife asks Isabel Dalhousie to investigate discreetly.

I felt myself relaxing more and more as Alexander McCall Smith's Edinburgh atmosphere worked its magic again. The first chapter had me giggling all the way through and then just basked in the minutiae of Isabel's life and gentle, kind, musings. (

)

Robertgreaves | Jun 7, 2014 |

Very entertaining... good light reading

Crossman | Aug 23, 2013 |

I've finally had enough of Isabel Dalhousie, a moral philosopher who, in spite of her knowledge of and love for philosophy has an overflowing cauldron of personal guilt, an infinitesimal conviction of self worth, and a complete ability to give the benefit of the doubt to everyone except those she loves. If philosophy does no more for one than that, perhaps ignorance would be preferable. (

)

Citizenjoyce | Dec 4, 2012 |

Nothing much ever happens in these books, but they draw you in nevertheless. The mystery, as usual, is not central to the story and not taken very seriously. The heart of the story is Isabel's relationship with young Jamie and her new baby and her delightfully reflective and usual take on the ordinary things people do. A very unusual style, but an appealing one. In this particular entry in the series, I found the mystery to be a bit more forced and Isabel's involvement more awkward than usual, so I docked the rating a bit. I still will continue to read the next one! (

)

hjjugovic | May 17, 2012 |

The Charming Quirks of Others is the 7th in the Isabel Dalhousie series by Alexander McCall Smith. Isabel has quite a bit on her plate: getting another edition of the Review of Applied Ethics published; looking into a poison-pen letter making accusations about applicants for the principal’s position of an illustrious boys’ school; dealing with a pretty cellist who has taken a fancy to Jamie; deciding whether to publish an unsolicited review by Professor Lettuce of Professor Dove’s latest book; and, not the least, organising her own wedding. As always, Isabel manages to jump to unfounded conclusions whilst being her unpredictable, clever, kind and occasionally exasperating self. On the way, she touches on book reviewers, verb tenses, forgiveness of oneself, politics, punishment, hatred, skateboarders, gossip magazines and ancestors, and gives us an excellent definition of vulgar curiosity. Isabel manages to show some insight into her tendency to misunderstand situations, and towards the end of this novel, has a Mma Ramotswe moment when she reflects on her love for her country. McCall Smith has an uncanny ability to write from a woman’s perspective, and many of the conversations his characters have are filled with wisdom and humour. Another thoroughly enjoyable instalment in the Isabel Dalhousie story. (

)

CloggieDownunder | Mar 16, 2012 |

A new Isabel Dalhousie novel which brings Isabel into her most enlightening investigation yet. A local boys school is looking for their next headmaster, but has received an anonymous letter that says that one of the final candidates has a serious skeleton in their closet. Isabel is asked to investigate this allegation, and in the process of unearthing the dirt on the candidates, Isabel unearths much more about herself and her son's father than she ever expected to.

SalemAthenaeum | Jun 24, 2011 |

Some may find the way this novel meanders as Isabel takes on the investigative challenge set for her, but that's the way life happens. She certainly has a lot of life happening to her, particularly as the investigation gets fairly close to home. Charming. (

)

paulmorriss | May 9, 2011 |

I seem to like the Isabel Dalhousie series better with every book...I love the charming quirks of Isabel, her fiance Jaimie, son Charlie, somewhat dour housekeeper/friend Grace and the small, ordered world of Edinburgh. This book, which deals mostly with what people's characters are like, is,like the others in the series, as much for ruminating as for reading. Isabel is an ethical philosopher and very good company. (

)

MarthaHuntley | Mar 17, 2011 |

Those who are familiar with McCall Smith's Sunday Philosophy Club books will find this a pleasant, even if not outstanding, addition to the series. In typical fashion, Isabel is asked to solve a problem, in this case to look into an anonymous letter sent about a candidate for headmaster at a local school. That situations are not what they seem is the thread that ties this situation with those in her personal life, her relationship with Jamie in particular. All of which she faces with her usual philosophical musings.

lilithcat | Feb 27, 2011 |

Isabel is as enjoyable as ever. Interestingly, in this book, we get a few half glimpses into Jamie's mind. (

)

SandiLee | Feb 26, 2011 |

In this latest addition to the Isabel Dalhousie series, Isabel has discovered many flaws in others, and in herself. Having been asked to determine which of three final candidates for a headmaster position at the local boys' school, she discovers many skeletons in closets and ambition issues, but also charity, forgiveness and humility. A very fast, insightful reading into the quirks of human nature. A must read which will set you to examining your own heart and motives with others. (

)

bakersfieldbarbara | Feb 11, 2011 |

date ▼ | votes

Affichage de 1-25 de 33 (suivant | tout afficher)