Espresso Tales: Review

Espresso Tales: Review

I’ve just finished reading ‘Espresso Tales’, by Alexander McCall Smith, the second of his 44 Scotland Street. Once again, it was an immensely joyous experience.

44 Scotland Street is a large house in Edinburgh, which has been divided into flats. In the ground floor flat live Stuart and Irene and their six year old son Bertie. Above them lives Domenica, a single woman of a certain age. Next to her live Bruce and his flatmate Pat, two twenty-somethings just starting to find their place in the world.

Espresso Tales picks up more or less where the first novel in the series, 44 Scotland Street, leaves off. During the course of the book, we share in the excitement and disappointment of the residents of 44 Scotland Street. We also spend time with their various acquaintances, including gallery owner, Matthew, and his wealthy father, Gordon; artist Angus Lordie and his winking dog, Cyril; Bertie’s therapist, Dr. Fairbairn; and a personal favourite of mine, café owner, avid reader and intellectual, Big Lou.

Little of real excitement happens in Espresso Tales; there are no high speed car chases, no shoot outs, and the only case of mistaken identity arises over a Volvo estate. In fact, very little happens at all. Yet this is one of the reasons why the book is so enjoyable. With his great skill at drawing characters, McCall Smith tells the story of the ordinary lives of these ordinary residents of Scotland. In line with most people’s lives, they do not experience high adventure, but McCall Smith tells his story in such a warm manner that the reader nevertheless becomes engrossed in the ordinaryness of the story. The reader grows to love all of the characters, even those like Bruce who clearly have objectionable character traits. They are normal people, just like us.

Throughout the book, McCall Smith weaves in philosophical ideas and thought provoking scenarios which both challenge and educate the reader. It is done in such a discrete way, however, that you’re almost oblivious to it. McCall Smith is, in this sense, a truly great teacher.

McCall Smith’s writing is permeated throughout with his characteristic gentle wit; Espresso Tales is rarely laugh out loud funny, but will certainly inspire more than the occasional chuckle.

Espresso Tales, like 44 Scotland Street before it, is also imbued throughout with McCall Smith’s obvious love for his hometown, Edinburgh. Edinburgh is, perhaps, the real star of the story, and one gets a clear picture of the beauty and friendliness of Scotland’s capital. One even meets some key members of Scottish society, including no less a person than the First Minister himself, be comes to Bertie’s rescue when he finds himself alone on a busy street!

I really enjoyed Espresso Tales, a very warm and thoughtful book, and look forward to reading more of the adventures of the residents of 44 Scotland Street, who almost feel like my friends.

I would have no hesitation at all in recommending this book!