Customer Reviews

SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The real story begins at page 152. In the meantime, the book presents modern day spinster-hood dwelling both in both shallow philosophy and in shallow lifestyle. It should be a success in the like environment, where love is simply a frustrated feeling carrying on for some time, with no care for persons nor life.

What this book lacked in plot and interest, it more than made up for in brevity. The main character waxes philosophical on topics of morality, only to break her own rules through her own book and later justifies by re-evaluating her interpretation. Similar to people who interpret the bible to justify their actions as just.

I found it somewhat boring. After "#1 Ladies Detective Agency", It seemed to lack plot, excitement and interest.
I will not read the next books in this series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book (as well as the sequel). The moral discussions included in the plot are intriguing. The characters are interesting and unpredictable. There is a sparing quality and deceptive simplicity to this writer's prose that I admire.

I was sorry when the book ended and hope there will be many more in this outstanding series.

As a former resident of Edinburgh (not too far from where Isabel lives), I can vouch for the skill with which Mr McCall brings the setting to life. And I found Isabel's philosophical musings thought-provoking and entertaining. As a mood and brain piece, therefore, it was evocative and engaging. But the mystery aspect of the tale was badly let down by the ending: flat, dreich and damp as an October afternoon in Edinburgh's Meadows. The run-up had promised so much more, and I'd hoped for a really challenging, mind-stretching revelation that would have made sense of some of the minor characters' actions. It doesn't happen.

...but I was disappointed. Smith's rustic African philosophy worked well, for a while anyway, but I find that he did not translate well to the urbane setting of Edingurgh. This book took forever to get going, and the slow pace was irritating. Far too much philosophy and other introspection. Finally we get to some sleuthing, but this is, alas, not satisfying at all. Perhaps Smith will be able to get things into gear a little more quickly in the next book in this series, but I will not purchase it if it gets the same kind of reviews that Philosophy Club has been getting.

The latest effort, THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB, from best-selling author, Smith, is a great addition to his canon. The premise is as good as anything else you'll find in a boostore, and the execution is ingenious. An editor for a hilosophical journal, Isabel Dalhousie spends a lot fo time thinking about thorny issues like truth, morality,and social responsibility. And she also likes to try and solve problems, especially the problems of people she knows--even the ones of people she barely knows. One evening, Isabel is attending a performance by the Reykjavik Symphony in Usher Hall, when a man suddenly tumbles down from the top tier to his death. Isabel is traumatized by this unexpected tragedy and she resolves to find out if the victim, Mark Fraser, was pushed or fell accidentally. I found the character of Isabel Dalhousie intriguing and refreshing. Look for this stellar book to keep its place on the best-seller list. I also very much enjoyed a new title called THE CHILDREN'S CORNER by Jackson McCrae--it's a collection of stories about types of loss--personal, physical, emotional, and not a book for children. Highly recommendced along with SUNDAY.

I ran out and got this book because I had thoroughly enjoyed the Ladies Detective Agency series by A McCall Smith.

I find that the main character is not likeable. In Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency Mma Ramotswe is a likeable character despite her imposition of morals onto others. There is a certain charm that generates reader interest. I don't find that to be the case in this book at all.

I am not even finished the book yet but I don't know if I will be able to get through it.

There's possibly something to be said for negative reviews in that I wasn't expecting much after reading them. That said, I found myself in an excellent novel, THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB. What a find! I absolutely loved this book. Mix murder and ethics together, along with a wonderful setting (Edinburgh) and you've got the formula for something equally as good as THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY. The protagonist in this snappy new book is Isabel Dalhousie. She's single and quite independent and women should take to her right away. But what makes this book different is the dialogues about ethics and what responsibilities we all have to each other. Not in a preachy way, but in an entertaining and enlightening way. And isn't that what you really want in a good book?

I would also recommend another great book that I recently read. It is TOTALLY different from this one, but then, why would you want to read the same thing? It's called THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and it's hysterical and harrowing, all between the same covers. But whatever you do, please, please, please read this one first.

I really enjoyed the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and was looking forward to reading this new series. However, I did not find the main character, Isabel, to be likeable at all. She came across as judgmental, stuffy and pretentious. The story took way too long to get moving and, even then, it left me feeling empty. The ending was a tremendous letdown that frustrated me and had me wondering why I bothered to finish reading this book in the first place. I really hurried through this book so that I could read something more interesting and satisfying. The main character's internal dialog was excessive and long-winded. There was too much philosophizing and too many references (obscure to me) to music, books and art.