The Unbearable Lightness of Scones

The Unbearable Lightness of Scones: A 44 Scotland Street Novel, by Alexander McCall Smith; Anchor Publishing, 2010

Reviewed by Deborah Daline

I started out Alexander McCall Smith's series with this one--his fifth book, but found it to be no less enjoyable, and was able to play "catch up" with "Scones" enjoyable characters, including Bertie, the overprotective mother, Bruce the Egotist, and Matthew--who was rescued from drowning by a dolphin.The neatly interwoven storylines include the ups and downs of a young, newly married couple and an artist who finds himself saddled with too many dogs. Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose consisted of two stories--past and present--that are woven together with a satisfying tie-together at the end. The story centered around a retired, disabled professor who delved into the life story of a pioneering grandmother. I was intrigued by the title, and the fact that it won the Pulitzer Prize. Information, by Martin Amis, told the story of a "literary" author who's jealousy rears its ugly head toward another author who reaches the 'bestseller' list. I've heard Amis has a cliche phobia and a 'quirky' style.