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Corduroy Mansions

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Corduroy Mansions

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
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About this listen

 From the author of the global best-seller The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency comes a brand new serial novel set in the heart of London.

Corduroy Mansions is the affectionate nickname given to a genteelly crumbling mansion block in London's vibrant Pimlico. This is the home patch of - among others - a lovelorn literary agent, possibly the first ever nasty Liberal Democrat MP and Freddie de la Hay, an urbane terrier trained to be vegetarian and respectful of feline rights.

Loafers, wine merchants, vitamin evangelists, and the occasional psychoanalyst pass each other on the stairs of this delightful metropolitan des res. With his trademark wit, charm and lightness of touch, Alexander McCall Smith introduces a colourful cast of characters, full of the life, laughter and humanity so beloved in his writing.

©2008 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2009 Hachette Digital Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Funny Witty Vegetarian

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Would you consider the audio edition of Corduroy Mansions to be better than the print version?

I love the Scotland Street series, so I was looking forward to something else in the same genre. But somehow I didn't warm to the characters of Corduroy Mansions as much as their Scottish counterparts. It may be that I don't like London life as much as life in a provincial city. Nothing wrong with the style and format, and well read by Andrew Sachs, but not just quite so good for me.

Would you be willing to try another book from Alexander McCall Smith? Why or why not?

Yes I have read many of his books. I sometimes find the philosophising irritating, especially in the Isolbe Dalhousie novels.

Which character – as performed by Andrew Sachs – was your favourite?

The dreamy Morris Minor driving brother.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me smile at times.

Edinburgh is better

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I love Alexander McCall Smith's Scottish series. The Scotland Street characters are fun and mostly credible, the Philosophy Club thin on people but rich on reflection! Corduroy Mansions has neither useful philosophy nor interesting characters and the narrator is rather too flippant. Not challenging or offensive but rather boring unfortunately...

Not AMS's best!

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This is an entertaining and gentle comedy. It bumbles along and is a relaxing listen. It's a bit like watching 'The Waltons' on TV, you can relax as you know everything will be turn out well in the end. It's what I would expect of an Alexander McCall Smith book and is beautifully narrated by Andrew Sachs.

Relaxing

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I am a great fan of Alexander McCall Smith and was curious about this new series based in London as I myself lived in London for a number of years. This book was very enjoyable, not as philosophical as his Scotland based series, but in good humour, very entertaining. Such an interesting mix of characters and facts, the mentioning of Peter Dunov, the Bulgarian spiritual movement really surprised me, I had no idea that there was following in England. In any case, it’s a very good read, cosy, fun, entertaining, interesting. Maybe not quite true as in London most people don’t befriend their neighbours, although I did or tried, so it’s just about possible :)..

So enjoyable and in such good humour

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Aaaaah. Just relax and enjoy this novel. If you have read any of the 44 Scotland Street novels, you will know what to expect plot-wise - an array of characters all with (fairly minor and often amusing) problems. But the best bit for me was Andrew Sachs' narration. Remember the ad for a famous food store that featured a chocolate pudding with melted chocolate oozing out ('This is not just a chocolate pudding...')? Remember how it made you feel (apart from hungry!)? Well, that's the effect Andrew Sachs' voice has. Your muscles relax, the stresses of the day float away. if you want a relaxing, undemanding, amusing listen; download this one.

Like chocolate for the ears.

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