I love Alexander McCall Smith's books. I really enjoyed this book. I love the atmosphere and how he weaves a story together. Very enjoyable read.

A bit of a slow-burner for me due to the writing style however I did enjoy it. Lots of quirky characters with an amusing dialogue. I am invested enough to want to read a follow-up to see what they all get up to.

A lovely gentle read - typical of the novels of Alexander McCall Smith. A series of interlocking stories loosely connected by reason of the protagonists being residents of a Central London apartment block. Comforting as a mug of hot chocolate.

Alexander McCall-Smith always writes such fun books. In Corduroy Mansions he again looks at a block of flats (this time in a crumbling, divided mansion) with a collection of entertaining characters. His gently satirical take on modern life is a delight.

The quirky tenants of a London 'Mansion Block' live their interesting lives and interact with each other and with their various acquaintances - familiar territory for followers of McCall Smith's novels. This is another amusing, sometimes thought-provoking insight into the British, primarily English, mind-set, at the turn of the millennium. If some of it seemed very familiar, it was not because I had read the novel before, but because many of the conversations focused on issues of the time - such as whether Stansted Airport is an example of good architecture or not - beautifully ironic given what has been done to Stansted since. I enjoyed reading this, but the storylines continue into subsequent sequels. Will I follow them? I am not sure.

I fear my review for ever one of Alexander's books are the same. Love it. Love the way he writes, can't put it down.

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.

Well written. A good read meeting the inhabitants of the block of flats. The stories were well related.

I'm a big fan Of Alexander McCall Smith and it's always a delight to take the opportunity to read another of his novels. This is another fine example of a thoughtfully put together observational comedy. The people of Corduroy Mansions share our quirks and foibles and we cannot help but wince occasionally.
There are poignant and funny moments and this book is a wonderful antidote to the cares of real life. Take a moment and spend some time here. Escape to Corduroy Mansions.

I have read a number of Alexander McCall Smith's books from a range of his series. However I had got a bit tired of the repetitiveness of some of these so it is a while since I picked one up. I was glad of the opportunity to read Corduroy Mansions as it reminded me of what it was I had liked about AMS's writing. He is a very humorous writer and this novel had me laughing out loud on a number of occasions. His forte is writing about day to day relationships between characters who happen to be in each others lives, in this case mostly neighbours and work colleagues with a few family and a dog thrown in. There are similarities with the Scotland St series but this one is set in Pimlico, London and this setting is described well. There is not a lot of plot here, rather a series of sometimes connected events which create an amusing whole. I will probably read the next two books in the series but will leave a gap between reading so I don't get irritated.

I can't think of anything positive at all about this book. I only soldiered to the end, and the last three-quarters was on speed-reading, because I'd kindly been sent a free copy in exchange for a review and I do like to finish all such books. I also lived in hope that there might be some plot development and resolution - there wasn't. It felt like overhearing a group of everyday people leading dull lives having conversations with one another while trying hard to be amusing. But amusing to themselves only. I’ve now found it’s the first book in a series of five so maybe in fairness there is some plot in the other four.

I've read many a book that doesn't appeal to me but I can easily understand why they appeal to others. This one just bewilders me though as I can't think of whom it would appeal to.

I didn't love this the way that I loved the first Scotland Street book - but it was still a fun read. It felt a little like some of the ideas had been done before - but there were enough quirky new ones that you could ignore that. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the next one - because the Oedipus Snark story is no where near resolved yet...

Anyone who thinks McCall Smith's books are gentle is a bit mistaken. Wrapped up in humour and elegant, easy prose they lay bare much of the angst and superficiality of life in the UK today. Corduroy Mansions is no exception. It follows the tried and tested formula of the author's Scotland Street series as the twists and turns of events affect a cast of characters who are linked in some way either to the flats in Corduroy Mansions or to its residents, or both. The narrative voice of each section successfully reflects the main character of that section.

Whereas the characters are as well developed as those in the Scotland Street series, I felt that London and the south of England are nothing like as well - or as lovingly - described in this book as Edinburgh and Scotland are in others by this author. On the other hand, this one had me crying with laughter and unable to read for several minutes at least half a dozen times rather than once or twice.

I'd like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with the book in exchange for this honest review.

This a London version of the author's 44 Scotland Street. It has the usual array of typical McCall Smith characters, the quirky, the eccentric, the horrendous and a dog that steals the show. They live in the flats and we get a look at their lives, relationships and problems. William is a wine merchant, who gets Freddie de la Hay, our seat belt wearing and vegetarian terrier with the aim of nudging his son, Eddie, to leave home. Marcia hankers after William and there are the young women who flat share. We have a suitably horrendous MP, with a name to die for, Oedipus Snark, who is so blasted awful that even his mother cannot stand him. An entertaining and humorous book but not in my view as good as 44 Scotland Street. Thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.