I guess this was a poor choice for an introduction to Alexander McCall Smith, who I've meant to try for awhile since he's been a popular author for as long as I've been working in bookstores and libraries. I'm not really a mystery reader (which is his usual genre) though, so when this amusing looking Vintage Short popped up as an ebook available from my library, I thought, "why not give it a try?" Why not? Because Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party is full of the most mean-spirited and hackneyed fat-joke comedy ever, and also manages to insult both the Irish and Americans at the same time before concluding in a very odd way that I think is actually supposed to be sympathetic to and admiring of Fatty (a.k.a. Cornelius). It's hard to say, though, given what a rough time Mr. McCall Smith has given him until then. I suppose that as a rather ample American who often travels to Ireland myself, I could just be hypersensitive about the subject matter, but despite its nomination for a British comic fiction prize, I'm pretty sure that this story is just a dud. ( )

A very likeable main character, Fatty O'leary takes a brief holiday in Ireland and has a very interesting turn of events. Most charming little book. ( )

Delightful little story ( )

Like many generously built people Fatty O'Leary is a most forgiving man. He has very few malicious bones in his body and he quickly forgets indignities once they have been surmounted, most of the time. His trip of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare, and indeed progresses from one nightmare to another, all caused mainly by his generous proportions, but Fatty, an antiques dealer from Arkansas, soars above it all. His wife Betty deserves a medal.

This was a lovely entertaining read, not, I should point out, crime fiction.
Steven Crossley does a wonderful job of the narration. ( )

Absolutely awful. I am used to the excellent writing found in The #1 Ladies Detective Agency and the Elizabeth Dalhousie novels. What happened for this author to produce this piece of nothingness? I found it insulting for the main character to constantly be reminded of his weight, and encountering one mishap after another. I thought the characters were cruel and heartless. I am not sure what the point of this book might be. Deleted it from my Kindle. ( )