{"id":24675,"date":"2014-07-23T20:53:38","date_gmt":"2014-07-24T00:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24675"},"modified":"2014-07-23T20:53:38","modified_gmt":"2014-07-24T00:53:38","slug":"review-of-the-careful-use-of-compliments-by-alexander-mccall-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24675","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Careful Use of Compliments, by Alexander McCall Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"careful_use_of_compliments_large\"<\/a>The Careful Use of Compliments<\/em><\/p>\n

by Alexander McCall Smith
\nperformed by Davina Porter<\/p>\n

Recorded Books, 2007. 8 hours on 7 compact discs.<\/p>\n

This is the fourth novel about Isabel Dalhousie by Alexander McCall Smith. I\u2019m finding them much more enjoyable via audiobook. Isabel is a philosopher. She muses and thinks about everything that she comes across. In other words, the plots of these books are extremely slow moving. This is fine when you are in the car anyway, and delightful Scottish accents add to the fun.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be disappointed if you expect a traditional mystery from these books, but Isabel does slowly encounter a puzzle about a painting she\u2019s thinking of buying. Also in the book she explores questions about motherhood, as she has a newborn son, and about her relationship with Jamie, so much younger than she is, and her relationship with her niece Kat. She\u2019s being cut out of her job with the Review of Applied Ethics,<\/em> and has to deal with the plotters responsible.<\/p>\n

If you want an action-packed thriller, don\u2019t pick up these books. But if you want to explore some musings about life and love with a deep thinker, and encounter some interesting situations at the same time, these books are a delight.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Fiction\/careful_use_of_compliments.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library audiobook from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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