My S Author

The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


"The delectable new installment in the best-selling and beloved adventures of Isabel Dalhousie. When Mimi, Isabel's cousin from Dallas, arrives in Edinburgh with her husband, Joe, several confounding situations unfurl. First, Mimi and Joe introduce Isabel to Tom Bruce -- a bigwig back home in Texas. The roving eye of Tom's young fiancee leads Isabel to believe that money may be at the root of her love for Tom. But what, Isabel wonders, is at the root of Tom's interest in Isabel herself? Then there are the feeling that Isabel has for Jamie, which are certainly hard to ignore. And she musn't forget about her niece, Cat, who's busy falling for a man whom Isabel suspects of being an incorrigible mama's boy.

Of course, Jamie counsels Isabel to stay out of it all, but there are irrestible philosophical issues at stake -- when to tell the truth and when to keep one's mouth shut, to be precise -- and philosophical issues are meat and drink to Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. In any case, Isabel is certain of the ethical basis for a little sleuthing now and again -- especially when the problems involve matters of the heart."
~~front flap

I so much enjoy this series, precisely because it's almost like the Seinfeld tv series: almost nothing ever happens. Instead, it's a look into the lives of ordinary people, most of whom are nice, caring, ordinary human beings. It's just comfortable, thinking about ethical issues with Isabel, who does tend to obsess over them. I love it that it's set in Edinburgh, but it could be anywhere and the stories would be just as enchanting, just as comfortable.