The Enigma of Garlic: A 44 Scotland Street Novel

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to a sleepaway camp—a most unappealing proposition. She also manages to come between the enigmatic nun, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna, and her dear friend, Antonia Collie. The Enigma Of Garlic is the sixteenth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street Series by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. The reader is, once again, brought up to date on the lives of our favourite Edinburgh residents. A collective sigh of relief must have been heard from many readers lips when she left Scotland Street. Some of the storylines in this particular instalment were a little jarring. Still, at least there was no Nudist association or Duke of Johannesburg storyline.

The Enigma of Garlic - Audiobook Download | Listen Now! The Enigma of Garlic - Audiobook Download | Listen Now!

This sixteenth (!!) volume of the 44 Scotland St series is as full of kindness, gratitude, humbling observations, and humor as the others. We meet most of the same characters in many of the same situations as usual and catch up with what they have been doing. Every chapter was a little gift of philosophy, gentle humor, and kindness. I loved the theme of "change". I can honestly say that reading this book series (and this book in particular) makes me want to be a better person. I think my favorite author, Alexander McCall Smith, is just getting more profound with age. I really hope Big Lou’s marriage holds up — she certainly deserves some happiness — although I have my doubts about her new husband. And I want to scream at Stuart “What the hell are you doing?” Ok. AMcS. I need a little word with you. I love these books and I have become increasingly fond of several of the characters and three of them Bertie , Big Lou and Cyril the dog aren’t particularly well served in this instalment. And frankly I felt was all a bit rushed.

I am getting tired of Olive; she and Pansy seem a bit too crafty and calculating for their age ..I’d like to see time move a little faster for Bertie ..will he ever reach the ripe old age of 8!? Little does Bertie know that his horrible mother, Irene, has returned to Edinburgh. She claims she has changed for the better. Her affair with the psychiatrist has ended. Bertie's father, Stuart, once under the domination of Irene, is now under his mother's control. His mother forbids Irene to stay in the family home. Has Irene possibly changed, and how will Bertie react to her return? Domenica Macdonald mentally lauds the virtue of inaction: not fixing what isn’t broken; the electrically-changed Bruce Anderson stuns his friends by heading to Pluscarden, intent on becoming a monk; Turner Prize judge, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna reveals a radical plan likely to upset its protagonists.

The Enigma of Garlic a book by Alexander McCall Smith. The Enigma of Garlic a book by Alexander McCall Smith.

Bertie and Ranald are dismayed to find they can’t even escape Olive and Pansy at summer camp: “He felt that there was some cosmic plan that meant that he would never be completely free of Olive’s influence. Perhaps she was right when she said that he would, in due course, have to marry her; perhaps that was his unavoidable destiny, decreed by some indifferent Fate somewhere, perhaps even by the planets in their unchangeable rotations. If that was the case, his only hope, he had decided, was to make good his escape to Glasgow.” Poor Bertie! It’s the most anticipated event of the decade—Big Lou and Fat Bob’s wedding—and everyone is invited! But the relative peace and tranquillity of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Domineering Irene is set to return for a two-month stay, consigning young Bertie to a summer camp. Not content with that, she somehow manages to come between the enigmatic nun, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna, and her friend, the hagiographer, Antonia Collie.

Alexander McCall Smith’s delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh’s New Town. The story begins with a celebration of the wedding of Big Lou and Fat Bob. She is too busy running her restaurant and cooking her famous bacon rolls to consider a honeymoon. Fat Bob is frequently absent. Rumours are that he is having an affair and is sighted with another woman. We learn that the busybody Italian nun, Sister Marie Fiore dei Flori de Montegna was a member of the Vatican's secret spy organization. She is determined to discover the truth about Big Bob being unfaithful and may stir up more heartache for Big Lou. It’s the most anticipated, and perhaps controversial, event of the decade—Lou and Bob’s wedding—and everyone is invited. But the relative peace and tranquility of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Outspoken Irene is returning home for a two-month stay, with plans to send young Bertie Seven-year-old Bertie continues to embody goodness, often to his detriment. He attends a summer camp with his friend, Randall Braveheart MacPherson, where Olive and Pansy continue tormenting them. Olive insists that Bertie's future will include his marriage to her. Bertie fears his fate will be connected with the alignment of the stars and planets and will doom him to such a dreaded marriage. He gets in trouble when Olive endangers the group on a hike. She blames Bertie, who accepts the blame. He still regards Glasgow as a joyful promised land where he would be free of restrictions and Olive.

The Enigma of Garlic - Alexander McCall Smith

At Big Lou’s wedding, Bertie’s nemesis, Olive reinforces her intent to make him marry her, after which she and her lieutenant, Pansy force Bertie and his best friend, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson to dance with them; then, not yet long wed, Big Lou is given cause to doubt Fat Bob’s goodness: no honeymoon, Bob frequently absent, and murmurings… Olive and Pansy indulge in cancel culture but are unable to get Tofu to react as intended; Irene coins the term “toxic caninity” with reference to the gold-toothed Cyril; Sister Maria-Fiore reveals a past in the Vatican’s Intelligence Service and puts it to good use in discovering the truth about Fat Bob. I enjoyed this light novel but it is the lowest ranking I've ever given one of the Scotland Street series. A couple of the characters have had such changes in personality that I couldn't quite recognize them (okay, Bruce's was explained by a lightning strike but Irene's was just presented to the reader). Following all sixteen books in the series is like catching up with old friends. These are comfortable, relaxing books told with wit, humour, wisdom, and a quiet philosophy to ponder. I always look forward to the newest edition. There was a limited amount of actual character development with a few exceptions. I felt too much time was spent in conversations between inhabitants of Scotland Street with debates about serious or profound subjects. Thought-provoking philosophies were revealed, and even arguments about trivial matters.Every autumn, I look forward to the latest installment of 44 Scotland St. Reading each book is like sitting down with old friends to discuss what’s been going on in their lives and their spheres of influence. This latest installment was a delight. As always, Alexander McCall Smith has incorporated some tension into several of the plot lines within this book with resolutions that involve, as his plots usually do, characters who choose to act with kindness, humility, and concern for others. Even Bruce and Irene. The last chapter ran today in The Scotsman. It’s becoming a fall tradition of mine to read along as Alexander McCall Smith publishes one chapter a day in the newspaper from September through November, and then releases the book at the end.