A quirky, enjoyable read. I really enjoy Alexander McCall Smith's books and I will definitely be reading more in the series. Interested to see what the character's get up to next.

An enjoyable read with a cast of quirky characters and their ridiculous stories to keep you amused. Will be reading the rest of the series to see what they all get up to next.

An enjoyable read with interesting characters and some quiet humour. It didn't drag, but it certainly wasn't a page turner either.

Alexander McCall-Smith navigates middle-class life in Edinburgh in this first in his popular 44 Scotland Street series. It is an easy, funny read that introduces a community of amusing characters and gently pokes fun at them.

44 Scotland Street was a great book. It draws you into the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street which is a Georgian house that has been developed into several flats. Have a read I'm sure you'll be taken into their lives.

I've avoided Alexander McCall Smith for a long time.

The company I work for had an IT technician called Mike, and he used to come and fix IT issues every couple of months. He was a wonderful guy- caring, and always full of jokes - he used to be about 25 maybe 30 stone? - a big lad. Anyway, I hadn't seen him for a few months and when he came back I didn't recognise him. He'd dyed his hair red (for a laugh), and he'd dropped a huge amount of weight. He'd taken up running, and he'd started entering to be a contestant on TV quiz shows. He'd tell me when his next appearance was and what channel, and i'd get home, switch on, and there he would be! Apparently people do circuits on them and the TV companies ring up regulars and ask them to be on an upcoming quiz. He'd see people over and over again. I guess you'd have to watch a lot of them to ever notice....Anyway, one day I had an email from the IT boss saying Mike was leaving (I think it was voluntary redundancy), we then found out he had pancreatic cancer, but he'd passed out his linked-in account for people to contact him. I sent him a message telling him to be strong, and he could fight it - he replied a few days later saying he was trying but it was hard. He died not long after.

The whole point of this story was that Mike and I often didn't get along book-wise. We both absolutely adored Terry Pratchett, but he loved Kate Mosse (I hated Labyrinth), and I hated Wicked (he loved it!). He went on and on at me about Alexender McCall Smith and how I MUST read his books, and I never did. I've been putting them off ever since Mike died as it was such a strong memory of him, and I didn't want to hate the books he loved so much.

However, it popped up on Netgalley and decided it was time to read. I have to say Mike - you were right. What have I been missing....

44 Scotland Street is a big hug of a book accompanied by a hot mug of chocolate - the author takes you straight into Scotland, and straight into that house - the wonderful house of larger than life characters - all different, but all bound by the same walls, sharing noises and accidental encounters on the stairs. Of gossip, and nosing, of love and friendship, and warmth, and humour.

Pat is our main character, in her second gap year of university, who turns up for an interview with Bruce to see if she is suitable for a room he has to rent. She is (as you can probably guess), successful. With this as our setting, we find out about the other occupants of 44 Scotland Street - the hilarious (but frighteningly realistic) Irene and Bernie Pollock, the wonderful, kind Domenica MacDonald, and the intriguing Angus Lordie - not forgetting the housemate Bruce of course.

I loved this book so much - the author instantly transports you into the story, and you feel so much compassion and warmth for the characters - it feels like you know them almost instantly. In all honestly, I want to live in 44 Scotland Street - I've actually driven along the street before - but I really can't afford to live there.....I mean, wow, they're expensive! Beautiful street mind. I think I'll let Mr McCall Smith let me live there via his books instead....

PS I can spy another book of his in the bookshelf which was given to my other half as a xmas present last year. I'm grabbing it next time we take a short break away!

My thanks to Netgalley and Abacus (and to of course, Mike)

This was an easy, charming read about the inhabitants of 44 Scotland Street (and thereabouts). The sort of thing you read to cheer yourself up, to feel safe and cosy in between tricksy books or difficult days.

It reminds me in tone of MC Beaton's Hamish MacBeth books (which are not as well written), which makes me think I shall have to look up the rest of the series now!

The characters are largely sympathetic (although I could not for the life of me imagine finding Bruce attractive) and the world they inhabit feels very real.

Though it was written as a serial, it's a slow-paced book in the sense that the plots are quite gentle and you can easily pick it up, read a quick chapter, then put it down to return to later, without ever losing the threads of said plots. There is no one single arc to tie everything together. No especially climactic moment. Just lives being lived out on the page.

This book tells the story of an eccentric cast of characters who live in the multiple-occupancy flats that make up 44 Scotland Street, a fictional house on a real street in Edinburgh. It begins with Pat MacGregor, who is on her second gap year and is reluctant to move away from her parents, moving in with the narcissistic Bruce Anderson. We soon meet their neighbours and their social circle, from Irene Pollock, the pushy mother of a child prodigy, to Domenica Macdonald, who is full of never-ending stories and sees herself as part of the Edinburgh intelligentsia.

Rather than being plot-driven, this book is really all about the personalities. It was my first dip into Alexander McCall Smith’s writing and I was struck by how vivid and animated his characters are. They are all flawed, and yet endearing in their own individual ways.

Alexander McCall Smith also has a real ease with comedy. It appears to come naturally and I found myself suppressing a few laughs in silent tube carriages during my commute. I particularly loved the South Edinburgh Conservative Association Ball, which goes ahead with a mere six guests. Better that than to possibly face the embarrassment of cancelling it!

Edinburgh is one of my favourite places, so it was a real treat to read a book set on the streets of this well-loved city and featuring some of the capital’s well-known literary figures, such as Ian Rankin. Originally serialised in The Scotsman, the book is made up of short chapters, so it’s perfect for dipping in and out of or reading alongside other books. There is also a highly praised Radio 4 recording of the book, which I imagine would be great fun if you can get your hands on it.

The book concluded nicely, but I was reluctant to leave the residents of 44 Scotland Street. I almost feel as if I’ve had a brief trip to Edinburgh and left them behind, but they are still very much alive and living their (slightly bizarre) lives without me.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fab can't wait to read the next one! Really enjoyed it

All I can say is...fabulous. I can never put his books down until the last page. Then wonder how long to wait before I reread.

Really sorry but I couldn't get to grips with the writing style. I'm not going to write a negative review so will pass on this.

Easy reading and lighthearted book about a collection of people living in a house in Scotland Street. The reader meets a variety of characters, from the ambitious mother whose 5 year old is learning Italian, to the pompous Conservative stalwart. Amusing escapades abound. Easy to pick up and put down. A fun read.

This is a serial novel that was published in the Scotsman paper in episodes. Serial novels were popular in the past, some of Dickens books were serial novels, but it is a tradition that is found rarely these days. However the short chapters. The book is about Pat a young girl who is looking for a flatshare to start her independent life and a few other interesting characters.

While you are reading this book you feel like you are spying in other people's flats like you do when the lights are on and people have forgotten to close the curtains. Beside Pat the main characters in the book are Bruce who is her flatmate and a serial womaniser, Matthew her boss who is struggling to keep his art gallery open. . Domenica who is a writer and knows everything about everyone. Erica a sort of Tiger Mum with a child who appears to be some kind of genius.
Overall a very pleasent read, not much excitement but a little gem if you like a book with real people in it. Yes, all the characters seem incredibly real and we have all met them in our lives. While if you are looking for action or some excitement, this book is probably not for you. But you should give it a try anyway, you might be surprised.

I didn't expect to be disappointed by this book from one of my favourite authors and I wasn't. I found the format a little odd at first but loved it by the end. The characters as always are what Alexander McCall Smoth's books are about... always so finely drawn and very engaging. .

A lovely relaxing book, taking you into the lives of a group of people in Edinburgh. The right choice when overwhelmed by real life.