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Most Helpful Favorable Review
17 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
this is a fun look at the foibles of human interactions.
In London, several eccentric people reside at Corduroy Mansions. Wine merchant and connoisseur William wants his twentyish year old son Eddie to move out, but a nuclear bomb is not going to budge his offspring. He gets Freddie the vegan canine whose prime mission is t...
In London, several eccentric people reside at Corduroy Mansions. Wine merchant and connoisseur William wants his twentyish year old son Eddie to move out, but a nuclear bomb is not going to budge his offspring. He gets Freddie the vegan canine whose prime mission is to propel Eddie to move in with people his age. Restaurateur Marcia wants Eddie out of the house also so then she can make a move on empty nester William.
Another occupant Dee works at a vitamin store where she tries to help a peer who she feels needs to cleans his system of excess salt. Her flat-mate Jenny earns a difficult living working for detestable MP Oedipus Snark, who treats his employee like a low form of dog excrement. Snark's mom Berthea is writing the definitive biography of her son while her agent Barbara wants to become Mrs. MP.
As the walls crumble around the quirky residents, their squabbles make for an enjoyable slice of London life. Low keyed and not for everyone, fans of the author will enjoy the jocularity of everyday people interrelating in a dysfunctional manner as Corduroy Mansions is sort of like an aging supercollider with the people living there as the subatomic particles being sliced and diced. More like Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street books, than his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, this is a fun look at the foibles of human interactions.
Harriet Klausner
Another occupant Dee works at a vitamin store where she tries to help a peer who she feels needs to cleans his system of excess salt. Her flat-mate Jenny earns a difficult living working for detestable MP Oedipus Snark, who treats his employee like a low form of dog excrement. Snark's mom Berthea is writing the definitive biography of her son while her agent Barbara wants to become Mrs. MP.
As the walls crumble around the quirky residents, their squabbles make for an enjoyable slice of London life. Low keyed and not for everyone, fans of the author will enjoy the jocularity of everyday people interrelating in a dysfunctional manner as Corduroy Mansions is sort of like an aging supercollider with the people living there as the subatomic particles being sliced and diced. More like Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street books, than his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, this is a fun look at the foibles of human interactions.
Harriet Klausner
posted by harstan on June 23, 2010
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
What is this book about?
I was disappointed with this book. I kept waiting for something, anything, to happen, and it never did. The writing is a great character study of some offbeat people, but I found myself wanting more. So many characters and with the shift between points of view, and ofte...
I was disappointed with this book. I kept waiting for something, anything, to happen, and it never did. The writing is a great character study of some offbeat people, but I found myself wanting more. So many characters and with the shift between points of view, and often I found myself lost and wondering was it Tim or Tom or James, with Marcia, Jenny or Barbara? It was very difficult to put the book down, pick it up a minute later and remember what was going on.
This is the first book I've read of McCall-Smith's. I am aware of the No. 1 Detective books, so I think I was expecting this to be a mystery as well. I find the Donna Andrews series be to be equally character driven but with more of a plot.
This is the first book I've read of McCall-Smith's. I am aware of the No. 1 Detective books, so I think I was expecting this to be a mystery as well. I find the Donna Andrews series be to be equally character driven but with more of a plot.
posted by RedRaven on August 13, 2010
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this is a fun look at the foibles of human interactions.
In London, several eccentric people reside at Corduroy Mansions. Wine merchant and connoisseur William wants his twentyish year old son Eddie to move out, but a nuclear bomb is not going to budge his offspring. He gets Freddie the vegan canine whose prime mission is to propel Eddie to move in with people his age. Restaurateur Marcia wants Eddie out of the house also so then she can make a move on empty nester William.
Another occupant Dee works at a vitamin store where she tries to help a peer who she feels needs to cleans his system of excess salt. Her flat-mate Jenny earns a difficult living working for detestable MP Oedipus Snark, who treats his employee like a low form of dog excrement. Snark's mom Berthea is writing the definitive biography of her son while her agent Barbara wants to become Mrs. MP.
As the walls crumble around the quirky residents, their squabbles make for an enjoyable slice of London life. Low keyed and not for everyone, fans of the author will enjoy the jocularity of everyday people interrelating in a dysfunctional manner as Corduroy Mansions is sort of like an aging supercollider with the people living there as the subatomic particles being sliced and diced. More like Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street books, than his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, this is a fun look at the foibles of human interactions.
Harriet Klausner17 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
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RedRaven
Posted August 13, 2010
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What is this book about?
I was disappointed with this book. I kept waiting for something, anything, to happen, and it never did. The writing is a great character study of some offbeat people, but I found myself wanting more. So many characters and with the shift between points of view, and often I found myself lost and wondering was it Tim or Tom or James, with Marcia, Jenny or Barbara? It was very difficult to put the book down, pick it up a minute later and remember what was going on.
This is the first book I've read of McCall-Smith's. I am aware of the No. 1 Detective books, so I think I was expecting this to be a mystery as well. I find the Donna Andrews series be to be equally character driven but with more of a plot.2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Tuffydox
Posted October 13, 2011
Wonderful little world to escape into!
Smith introduces a great cast of interesting characters with unique perceptions on life....all bound together by Corduroy Mansions, where most of them reside. The clear breakout star of the group has to be one Freddie de la Hay, a little terrier whose straightforward ways of viewing the world are awesome. Loved the book so much that I immediately bought the sequel, and it's even better! Freddie has the potential to be Smith's next fictional star!!!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 25, 2011
Relax and enjoy
Smith gently leads us into the lives of his characters, exploring their problems, giving depths to the people involved, and digressing into enjoyable sidelights. A good book for times when you're stressed out and need a good read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Ah, those streets of London
I've enjoyed all the books I've read so far by Alexander McCall Smith, and Corduroy Mansions is no exception-one of those books that can be put down and picked up at any moment. Chapters are delivered in perfect bite-sized increments, characters in surprisingly deep and realistic coffee-cup caricatures, and the streets of London are depicted to the beat of modern coffee-shops while strains of Mozart drift along on the breeze. There are art galleries, art history, a politician of dubious honesty and integrity, flat-sharing young adults and a grown-up youth pondering the workings of his car. At the center of all is wine-merchant William and the flat he shares, variously, with son, lady friend and dog. Of course, it's a wonderful dog-you can tell from his picture on the cover. Corduroy Mansions is the first of a new series, so, of course, I'll be looking for volume 2 as soon as it's in paperback. It's definitely another fun book for McCall Smith fans, and a great place to meet him (and his characters) if you're not already a fan.
Disclosure: I bought this for myself; I'm a McCall Smith Addict1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Loved It!
This book easily became one of my all-time favorites! I felt like the characters were very real, as if they were people I knew. I actually read it because I assumed it was going to be a dog story, which turned out to be incorrect, but it was great anyway. (Yes, there is a dog in it, but I wouldn't really say the book is about him.) I would be so excited it the book has a sequel.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted June 13, 2013
Slasher
Grrr
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted June 11, 2013
Lilly to pierce
U here?
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted June 13, 2013
Mina to idiott
Oh ok well i saw that you and dumbbutt were froming a plan what is it about
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Anonymous
Posted June 13, 2013
Idiott
Uhh... I don't remember. Oh well! I'm hungry! *Walks out to my car and brings in a live chicken. I loo at it and lick my lips. I walk into the kitchen and put it in the microwave. I start it for 30 minutes.* (Yep, I've definitely lived up to my name!)
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Anonymous
Posted June 11, 2013
Dumbutt
Asks idiott if he knoews any hook€rs
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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koleen48
Posted April 27, 2013
Highly recommend
This is a charming, fun book! I love the No. ! Lady Detective stories and this one is another hit. I can't wait to read more!
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TFJ
Posted April 26, 2013
Truly fun and delightful!
Only the British know how to be eccentric within the parameters of polite social graces. The characters are ordinary in such an extraordinary way. I smiled and laughed my way through this book. Intelligently delightful!
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Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
Casey to death
Hi
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
Breeanna to will
You on wanna chat u can call me bree
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
Death
Walks in wearin no shirt( 8 pack ) black cargo shorts black snap back shoes and aviators with black hair silver eyes and hot
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
Astrid
Walks in wearing a dc hat t shirt hite skinny jeans and osiriss heu peeps
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 2, 2013
Li
Rawr
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
Jared to rey nd dia
Lets move to res 7 bfore it gets to crowded......
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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