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50 Things Liberals Love to Hate
by Mike GallagherAmerica, how does the liberal hate thee? Let us count the ways . . . It's hard work being a liberal these days. Not only do a mere 20 percent of Americans identify themselves as liberal, but one could go broke supporting a skinny double-decaf Starbucks habit. On top of that, when you hate things most Americans love, it's tiring to have to endlessly correct/educate/fix/enlighten the poor dullards out there who just want to enjoy their lives. Which, taken as a whole, makes the average liberal lonely, short on cash, and mad as hell! So, in the spirit of the compassion they themselves espouse, 50 Things Liberals Love to Hate is truth spoken with love, an invitation to the disenfranchised: it's not too late, liberals, to join the fun! C'mon, crack open a Bud and throw another T-bone on the grill. But kindly check your disdain at the door when it comes to: WALMART: How about a handmade, locally sourced flat-screen television instead? STEAKHOUSES: There's no steamed tofu on this menu. McDONALD'S: The stranger in the playground handing out candy to children. FLAG PINS: It's okay to love America, but not enough to wear it on your lapel. FOOTBALL: War with cleats and pads. THE V-8 ENGINE: There's just something plain wrong about all that power and freedom under the control of one person. SUCCESS: When you make more money than the rest of us, it hurts our feelings. THE FOUNDING FATHERS: A bunch of old white guys who are making it nearly impossible for modern government to pick our doctors, teach our children, correct our diets, and save our money. . . . and 42 other things that have liberals packing some serious hate. Mike Gallagher--America's sixth-ranked radio talk show host and Fox News contributor--skewers liberal lunacy with cutting irony and scathing wit. Here are 50 warning signs of a liberal mind implosion, all darn good reasons to lock the doors, crank up the A/C, turn on the game, and let the countdown begin. . . .
50 Things Liberals Love to Hate
by Mike GallagherAmerica, how does the liberal hate thee? Let us count the ways . . . It's hard work being a liberal these days. Not only do a mere 20 percent of Americans identify themselves as liberal, but one could go broke supporting a skinny double-decaf Starbucks habit. On top of that, when you hate things most Americans love, it's tiring to have to endlessly correct/educate/fix/enlighten the poor dullards out there who just want to enjoy their lives. Which, taken as a whole, makes the average liberal lonely, short on cash, and mad as hell! So, in the spirit of the compassion they themselves espouse, 50 Things Liberals Love to Hate is truth spoken with love, an invitation to the disenfranchised: it's not too late, liberals, to join the fun! C'mon, crack open a Bud and throw another T-bone on the grill. But kindly check your disdain at the door when it comes to: WALMART: How about a handmade, locally sourced flat-screen television instead? STEAKHOUSES: There's no steamed tofu on this menu. McDONALD'S: The stranger in the playground handing out candy to children. FLAG PINS: It's okay to love America, but not enough to wear it on your lapel. FOOTBALL: War with cleats and pads. THE V-8 ENGINE: There's just something plain wrong about all that power and freedom under the control of one person. SUCCESS: When you make more money than the rest of us, it hurts our feelings. THE FOUNDING FATHERS: A bunch of old white guys who are making it nearly impossible for modern government to pick our doctors, teach our children, correct our diets, and save our money. . . . and 42 other things that have liberals packing some serious hate. Mike Gallagher--America's sixth-ranked radio talk show host and Fox News contributor--skewers liberal lunacy with cutting irony and scathing wit. Here are 50 warning signs of a liberal mind implosion, all darn good reasons to lock the doors, crank up the A/C, turn on the game, and let the countdown begin. . . .
50 Things Liberals Love to Hate
by Mike GallagherAmerica, how does the liberal hate thee? Let us count the ways . . . It's hard work being a liberal these days. Not only do a mere 20 percent of Americans identify themselves as liberal, but one could go broke supporting a skinny double-decaf Starbucks habit. On top of that, when you hate things most Americans love, it's tiring to have to endlessly correct/educate/fix/enlighten the poor dullards out there who just want to enjoy their lives. Which, taken as a whole, makes the average liberal lonely, short on cash, and mad as hell! So, in the spirit of the compassion they themselves espouse, 50 Things Liberals Love to Hate is truth spoken with love, an invitation to the disenfranchised: it's not too late, liberals, to join the fun! C'mon, crack open a Bud and throw another T-bone on the grill. But kindly check your disdain at the door when it comes to: WALMART: How about a handmade, locally sourced flat-screen television instead? STEAKHOUSES: There's no steamed tofu on this menu. McDONALD'S: The stranger in the playground handing out candy to children. FLAG PINS: It's okay to love America, but not enough to wear it on your lapel. FOOTBALL: War with cleats and pads. THE V-8 ENGINE: There's just something plain wrong about all that power and freedom under the control of one person. SUCCESS: When you make more money than the rest of us, it hurts our feelings. THE FOUNDING FATHERS: A bunch of old white guys who are making it nearly impossible for modern government to pick our doctors, teach our children, correct our diets, and save our money. . . . and 42 other things that have liberals packing some serious hate. Mike Gallagher--America's sixth-ranked radio talk show host and Fox News contributor--skewers liberal lunacy with cutting irony and scathing wit. Here are 50 warning signs of a liberal mind implosion, all darn good reasons to lock the doors, crank up the A/C, turn on the game, and let the countdown begin. . . .
50 Simple Things You Can Do to Pave the Earth
by Darryl Henriques50 things you can do to eliminate your carbon footprint.
50 Reasons to Hate Golf and Why You Should Never Stop Playing
by Fred Fruisen Chris RodellEvery golfer has a love/hate relationship with the game. What we love about golf one day, we curse at the next. We've all been frustrated to the point of breaking our clubs or vowing to sell them, announcing our departure from this infuriating sport only to show up at the course the next day, excited to play again. Golf is a game that teases, thrills, torments, and teaches. <p><p> 50 Reasons to Hate Golf and Why You Should Never Stop Playing is a hilarious look at this addictive, wonderful, strange, beautiful, exasperating, mystifying sport and the culture surrounding it that people have been obsessed with for more than 500 years. With an introduction by Chris Rodell, author, columnist, and golf fanatic. Featured in the Golf Channel.
50 People Who Screwed Up Scotland
by Allan BrownTo be Scottish is to have a lot to live down, and as Allan Brown shows, this lot do the job superbly. Whether it be Robert Burns, indecipherable bard of rustic gibberish or Sean Connery, die-hard advocate of a country he refuses to live in.Or, Alex Salmond, the chortling bullfrog of separatism or Tommy Sheridan, the sexy socialist hardliner. They’re all here, and many others; a veritable embassy of bad ambassadors.50 People Who Screwed Up Scotland is a humorous and chronologically-sequential series of essays, histories and anecdotes that consider those episodes and occurrences in Scotland's political, cultural and social story where, against all odds, defeat was plucked from the jaws of victory.
50 People Who Messed up the World
by Alexander Parker Tim RichmanWho would top your list of the fifty people who have done the most to make the modern world a worse place?'I can't imagine how they whittled it down to just 50 people' - comedianNik Rabinowitz 'A fantastic thought-provoking book that renews my appreciation for history. It reminds us how we got here and how we can avoid things getting worse'Mandla Shongwe, SAFM Lifestyle'A fascinating, terrific read' Gareth Cliff, CliffCentral From despotic mass-murderers to sports cheats, and from corrupt politicians to truly dreadful celebrities, who has had the most damaging -- or vexatious -- impact in their particular sphere of modern life?This line-up of the very worst of the twentieth century and beyond includes the obvious candidates: those who have caused extraordinary damage through their murderous paranoia, brutal avarice, or demented self-regard -- Stalin, King Leopold, Idi Amin and the like. But murderous dictators aside, there are plenty of others who deserve recognition for their role in making the world a significantly more dangerous or, at the very least, more annoying place: terrorist Carlos the Jackal; Robert Oppenheimer, the man who gave the world the atomic bomb; notorious sports cheat Lance Armstrong; and the one and only President Donald Trump, who has of course succeeded in making the world both more annoying and more dangerous. This perfectly focused spotlight on infamy is illustrated throughout by award-winning political cartoonist Zapiro.
50 People Who Fouled Up Football
by Michael HendersonDespite its immense wealth, and the high public profile it enjoys, English football is not a land of milk and honey. The national side has won the World Cup only once when England staged the tournament in 1966 and the woeful performances in recent years would suggest that Sir Alf Ramsey's success will retain its unique status.50 People Who Fouled Up Football casts a sceptical eye on the game in this country. It looks at the game as it really is, through the gaze of an outsider, who grew up loving the game but who has been turned off by the excesses of players, managers, broadcasters and fans, and increasingly by the rich men who own and run the clubs.The big bang came in 1992, when the Premier League went its own merry way, aided by the millions that Sky television found to ease the passage. Now the game is richer, and can attract the world's leading stars, but it is poorer in spirit. The old football community means little to these Masters of the Universe. The old links between club and community have been ruined, and many players live in a different world, where they feel free to behave as they like.The book names the guilty, who include those on the fringes of the game as well as the ones at the heart of it. Indignant in the right sense, it is a lament for a spoilt game, and a world that has vanished.The 50 People are, in alphabetical order:Roman Abramovich, Sam Allardyce, Mike Ashley, David Baddiel, Tony Banks, Joey Barton, Ken Bates, Victoria Beckham, George Best, Sid and Doris Bonkers, Billy Bragg, Ashley Cole, Garry Cook, Hunter Davies, Didier Drogba, Martin Edwards, Sven-Goran Eriksson, 'The Fans', Paul Gascoigne, 'Geordie Blubber', 'The Golden Generation', Alan Green, Alan Hansen, Derek Hatton, Nigel Kennedy, Richard Keys, Lord Kinnaird, Nick Love, Steve McClaren, Freddie Mercury, Piers Morgan, Jose Mourinho, Graham Poll, Sir Alf Ramsey, Antonio Rattin, Charles Reep, Don Revie, Peter Ridsdale, Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Richard Scudamore, Bill Shankly, Bob Shennan, Peter Swales, Gordon Taylor, Sir Harold Thompson, Terry Venables, Ian Wright, Pini Zahavi.
50 People Who Fouled Up Football
by Michael HendersonDespite its immense wealth, and the high public profile it enjoys, English football is not a land of milk and honey. The national side has won the World Cup only once when England staged the tournament in 1966 and the woeful performances in recent years would suggest that Sir Alf Ramsey's success will retain its unique status.50 People Who Fouled Up Football casts a sceptical eye on the game in this country. It looks at the game as it really is, through the gaze of an outsider, who grew up loving the game but who has been turned off by the excesses of players, managers, broadcasters and fans, and increasingly by the rich men who own and run the clubs.The big bang came in 1992, when the Premier League went its own merry way, aided by the millions that Sky television found to ease the passage. Now the game is richer, and can attract the world's leading stars, but it is poorer in spirit. The old football community means little to these Masters of the Universe. The old links between club and community have been ruined, and many players live in a different world, where they feel free to behave as they like.The book names the guilty, who include those on the fringes of the game as well as the ones at the heart of it. Indignant in the right sense, it is a lament for a spoilt game, and a world that has vanished.The 50 People are, in alphabetical order:Roman Abramovich, Sam Allardyce, Mike Ashley, David Baddiel, Tony Banks, Joey Barton, Ken Bates, Victoria Beckham, George Best, Sid and Doris Bonkers, Billy Bragg, Ashley Cole, Garry Cook, Hunter Davies, Didier Drogba, Martin Edwards, Sven-Goran Eriksson, 'The Fans', Paul Gascoigne, 'Geordie Blubber', 'The Golden Generation', Alan Green, Alan Hansen, Derek Hatton, Nigel Kennedy, Richard Keys, Lord Kinnaird, Nick Love, Steve McClaren, Freddie Mercury, Piers Morgan, Jose Mourinho, Graham Poll, Sir Alf Ramsey, Antonio Rattin, Charles Reep, Don Revie, Peter Ridsdale, Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Richard Scudamore, Bill Shankly, Bob Shennan, Peter Swales, Gordon Taylor, Sir Harold Thompson, Terry Venables, Ian Wright, Pini Zahavi.
50 People Who Buggered Up Britain
by Quentin LettsWhich fifty people made Britain the wreck she is? From ludicrous propagandist Alastair Campbell to the Luftwaffe's allies, the modernist architects, it's time to name the guilty.Quentin Letts sharpens his nib and stabs them where they deserve it, from TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, the dumbed-down buffoon who put the 'h' in Aspidistra, to the perpetrators of the 'Credit Crunch'. Margaret Thatcher ruptured our national unity. The creators of EastEnders trashed our brand over high tea. Thus, he argues, are the people who made our country the ugly, scheming, cheating, beer-ridden bum of the Western world. Here are the fools and knaves and vulgarians who ripped down our British glories and imposed the tawdry and the trite. In a half century we have gone from end-of-Empire to descent-into-Hell.
50 People Who Buggered Up Britain
by Quentin LettsFrom the Sunday Times bestselling authorWhich fifty people made Britain the wreck she is? From ludicrous propagandist Alastair Campbell to the Luftwaffe's allies, the modernist architects, it's time to name the guilty.Quentin Letts sharpens his nib and stabs them where they deserve it, from TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, the dumbed-down buffoon who put the 'h' in Aspidistra, to the perpetrators of the 'Credit Crunch'. Margaret Thatcher ruptured our national unity. The creators of EastEnders trashed our brand over high tea. Thus, he argues, are the people who made our country the ugly, scheming, cheating, beer-ridden bum of the Western world. Here are the fools and knaves and vulgarians who ripped down our British glories and imposed the tawdry and the trite. In a half century we have gone from end-of-Empire to descent-into-Hell.
The 50 Funniest American Writers
by Andy BorowitzEver wondered who makes a very funny person laugh? Wonder no more. Brought together in this Library of America collection are America's fifty funniest writers--according to acclaimed writer and comedian Andy Borowitz. Reaching back to Mark Twain and forward to contemporary masters such as David Sedaris, Nora Ephron, Roy Blount Jr., Ian Frazier, Bernie Mac, Wanda Sykes, and George Saunders, The 50 Funniest American Writers* is an exclusive Who's Who of the very best American comic writing. Here are Thurber and Perelman, Lenny Bruce and Bruce Jay Friedman, Garrison Keillor, Dave Barry, and Veronica Geng, plus hilarious lesser-known pieces from The New Yorker, Esquire, The Atlantic, National Lampoon, and The Onion. Who does "one of the funniest people in America" (CBS Sunday Morning) read when he needs a laugh?
5 Scary Stories for a Dark Knight #1 (DC Batman)
by Cavan ScottAn illustrated collection of spooky tales from the dark corners of Gotham City featuring Batman™ on his and weirdest adventures ever!Gotham City, the home of Batman, is filled with dark corners, sinister characters, and mysterious goings on. This illustrated chapter book is a collection of scary short stories featuring some of Batman's strange adventures that end with wild twist and turns—some funny, some spooky, and some deathly frightening! So curl up under the sheets and find out all about the ancient curses, ghostly racer car drivers, and sinister witches haunting Gotham City along with the World's Greatest Detective . . . and don't forget your flashlight! Boys and girls ages 6 to 9 will love this illustrated chapter book of strange tales featuring Batman.
5 Scarier Stories for a Dark Knight (DC Batman)
by Matthew CodyBatman™ is back with five more ghostly adventures filled with thrills and chills in this all-new illustrated collection of spooky tales from the dark corners of Gotham City!Gotham City, the home of Batman, is filled with long shadows, sinister characters, and mysterious goings on. This hardcover illustrated chapter book is a collection of scary short stories featuring some of Batman's strangest adventures that end with wild twist and turns—some funny, some spooky, and some maddeningly frightening! In this all new set of tales you'll find out about a talkative cursed doll, characters from a children's book haunting Jervis Tetch, the ghosts haunting Wayne Manor and more . . . if you dare look between its pages! Boys and girls ages 6 to 9 will love this illustrated chapter book of these strange stories featuring Batman.
5 People Who Died During Sex: And 100 Other Terribly Tasteless Lists
by Karl ShawAll in perfectly bad taste. Prepare to be amazed, appalled, disgusted, and hugely entertained by this compendium of indelicate oddities. Nothing is too inane, too insane, too bizarre, or too distasteful for this incredible, seemingly impossible, but absolutely true collection of facts from across the ages and around the world. Did you know... ...that Pope Benedict XII was such a hardened boozer that he inspired the expression "drunk as a pope"? (From "10 Historic Drunks") ...that as a special honeymoon treat, Prince Charles read Princess Diana passages from the works of Carl Jung and Laurens van der Post? (From "History's 10 Least Romantic Honeymoons") ...that the best-dressed gentlemen in medieval England exposed their genitals below a short-fitting tunic? (From "History's 10 Greatest Fashion Mistakes") ...that Alfred Hitchcock suffered from ovophobia--fear of eggs? (From "10 Phobias of the Famous") ...that King Louis XIV only took three baths in his lifetime, each of them under protest? (From "10 Great Unwashed") ...that in 1930, Sears customers became enraged when the catalog was first printed on glossy, non-absorbent paper? (From "12 Magical Moments in Toilet Paper History").
5 More Sleeps ‘til Christmas
by Jimmy FallonHost of NBC's The Tonight Show and three-time #1 New York Times-bestselling author Jimmy Fallon returns with this sweet and spirited Christmas picture book. Just 5 more sleeps 'til Christmas! Can you believe it's here? I know that Santa's coming soon 'cause I've been good all year. Everyone who grew up celebrating Christmas remembers the excitement that built up to the most magical day of the year. But why not make the last week until Christmas more fun by counting how many sleeps until the arrival of Santa and his reindeer? Accompanied by the beautiful and energetic artwork of Rich Deas, enjoy the humor of Jimmy Fallon as he prepares readers for the most exciting week of the year in this new holiday tradition for your family—5 More Sleeps 'til Christmas.
5-Minute Parenting Fixes: Quick Tips and Advice for the Everyday Challenges of Raising Children
by Liat Hughes JoshiWe all have busy lives but want to be the best parent to our child, without compromise.Many of us turn to the internet when we want a snap answer to a parenting dilemma, but how do we determine what is reliable information? This book is the antidote to those overwhelming search engine results. It’s a one-stop source for time-poor parents who need reliable, tried and tested advice on all the parenting conundrums from classic to topical, such as:What’s the best way to encourage good behavior?How can I ensure my child has a healthy body image.How can I ensure they do their homework with minimal fuss?How can I get my children to play nicely together instead of fight?With no-nonsense solutions, each designed to be read in less than 5 minutes, this book will help to boost your confidence when making important parenting decisions.
5,000 Sidesplitting Jokes and One-Liners
by Grant Tucker"I'll never forget the words my granddad said before he kicked the bucket. He said 'Grandson, watch how far I can kick this bucket.'""The key to any marriage is spontaneity. You've got to be ready to leave at any time."Bringing together some of the funniest, wittiest, and most cutting jokes the world over, Grant Tucker's volume is the definitive collection of the quips comedians call "one-liners." Short, sweet, and undeniably clever, one-liners hold a special place in the history of comedy, and the rise of Twitter and social media seems to have ushered in a new era of this comedic art form. With most people expressing themselves in 140 characters or less, there seems no better time to celebrate Grant's collection and the immortal one-liner.Side-splittingly funny, 5,000 Sidesplitting Jokes and One-Liners has all the puns, zingers, and witty remarks you could ever ask for--and many you'd never dream of asking for. "My granddad has the heart of a lion and a lifetime ban from the zoo.""A dyslexic man walks into a bra.""Corduroy pillows: they're making headlines!""Promises are a bit like babies: fun to make but hard to deliver.""Schizophrenia--together I can beat it.""Drugs are never the answer. Unless the clue is: 'Narcotics, five letters.'"
499 Words Every College Student Should Know: A Professor's Handbook on Words Essential to Great Writing & Better Grades
by Stephen SpignesiWords equal credibility. The more articulate a person is, the more seriously they will be taken?by everyone.On any given day, you might read ?abrogate” used in a USA Today article; or ?demagogue” or ?fiduciary” used on CNN. You might hear ?ensorcelled” and ?torpor” in a TV drama; you’ll hear a political candidate described as ?truculent.” You may hear ?pedantic” used in a movie. How many of these words are part of most college students’ ?arsenal of words”? Hopefully all of them, but if not, 499 Words Every College Student Should Know will provide them with what they need to become more articulate in their speaking and writing. It will also enhance their comprehension in their reading, ultimately culminating in what every student aspires to: earning better grades!499 Words Every College Student Should Know teaches truly important vocabulary words and focuses on Professor Spignesi’s classroom-tested Trinity of Vocabulary Use. For each word, the vocabulary-enriched and educated student will be able to:Understand the word in their readingUse the word in their speakingMake good use of the word in their writingUsing easy-to-understand, informative, and often humorous explanations of every word, 499 Words Every College Student Should Know also explores how to use the words in sentences, and in proper context. The majority of these words were individually chosen because they are fairly commonplace in media, books, online, and elsewhere, and students need to be able to understand them. Knowing them ? in fact, using the words and making them part of their everyday language ? will make any college student or those soon-to-be, more credible.
488 Rules for Life: The Thankless Art of Being Correct
by Kitty Flanagan&“Rule no. 1: Buy this book, laugh out loud, become a better person.&” —Jason Alexander 488 Rules for Life is not a self-help book, because it&’s not you who needs help—it&’s other people. Whether they&’re walking and texting, asphyxiating you on public transport with their noxious perfume cloud, or leaving one useless square of toilet paper on the roll, people just don&’t know the rules. But now, thanks to Australian comedian Kitty Flanagan&’s comprehensive guide to modern behavior, our world will soon be a much better place. A place where people don&’t ruin the fruit salad by putting banana in it . . . where your co-workers refrain from reheating their fish curry in the office microwave . . . where middle-aged men don&’t have ponytails. What started as a joke on Kitty Flanagan&’s popular segment on ABC-TV&’s The Weekly is now a quintessential reference book with the power to change society. (Or, at least, make it a bit less irritating.)
488 Rules for Life: The Thankless Art of Being Correct
by Kitty Flanagan&“Rule no. 1: Buy this book, laugh out loud, become a better person.&” —Jason Alexander 488 Rules for Life is not a self-help book, because it&’s not you who needs help—it&’s other people. Whether they&’re walking and texting, asphyxiating you on public transport with their noxious perfume cloud, or leaving one useless square of toilet paper on the roll, people just don&’t know the rules. But now, thanks to Australian comedian Kitty Flanagan&’s comprehensive guide to modern behavior, our world will soon be a much better place. A place where people don&’t ruin the fruit salad by putting banana in it . . . where your co-workers refrain from reheating their fish curry in the office microwave . . . where middle-aged men don&’t have ponytails. What started as a joke on Kitty Flanagan&’s popular segment on ABC-TV&’s The Weekly is now a quintessential reference book with the power to change society. (Or, at least, make it a bit less irritating.)
Los 47 ronin: (El pequeño Leo Da Vinci 10)
by Christian Gálvez¡Únete a la pandilla Da Vinci y acompaña a Leo y sus amigos en esta increíble aventura! Miguel Ángel encuentra a dos niños samuráis que necesitan la ayuda de la pandilla. ¡El malvado Kira Kozukenosuke ha invadido su pueblo! Ellos quieren ayudarles, pero ¿cómo irán hasta Japón? Además, deberán convertirse en unos grandes samuráis y dominar el arte del bushido. ¿Podrán enfrentarse al ejército del maligno Kira y devolver la paz al pueblo? ¡Descubre la leyenda de los 47 ronin! Y, además, agudiza al máximo tus neuronas y resuelve un montón de enigmas...
45: A Portrait of My Knucklehead Brother Jeb
by Scott Dikkers Peter HillerenAn irreverent take on the national bestseller 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush, 45 is a no-holds-barred tell-all written in the voice of former president George W. Bush as he stumps for his brother Jeb--perhaps doing more harm than good. In 45: A Portrait of My Knucklehead Brother Jeb, George W. Bush takes readers on a journey through his "butt-faced kid brother's" life, detailing the experiences that forged his presidential character, and in his own plainspoken and sometimes even comprehensible style, showing us why the younger Bush should be the next leader of the free world. And while he definitely wants Jeb to be commander-in-chief, he just can't stop razzing him either. 45 is the most hilarious (and backhanded) presidential endorsement you've ever read--a true literary noogie from one brother to another.
44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street #1)
by Alexander McCall SmithThe bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series brings his trademark warmth and wisdom to his novel chronicling the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street that's 'as charming as the bohemian street in which it's set' (Scottish Daily Record)The story revolves around the comings and goings at No. 44 Scotland Street, a fictitious building in a real street in Edinburgh. Immediately recognisable are the Edinburgh chartered surveyor, stalwart of the Conservative Association, who dreams of membership of Scotland's most exclusive golf club. We have the pushy Stockbridge mother, and her prodigiously talented five-year-old son, who is making good progress with the saxophone and with his Italian. Then there is Domenica Macdonald who is that type of Edinburgh lady who sees herself as a citizen of a broader intellectual world.In McCall Smith's hands such characters retain charm and novelty, simultaneously arousing both mirth and empathy. 44 Scotland Street is vintage McCall Smith, tackling issues of trust and honesty, snobbery and hypocrisy, love and loss, but all with great lightness of touch. Clever, elegant and funny, this is a novel that provides huge entertainment but which is underpinned by the moral dilemmas of everyday life and the characters' struggles to resolve them.Contains an exclusive extract from The Department of Sensitive Crimes, the first novel in the new Detective Varg series by Alexander McCall Smith
44 Scotland Street (44 Scotland Street #1)
by Alexander McCall SmithThe story revolves around the comings and goings at No. 44 Scotland Street, a fictitious building in a real street in Edinburgh. Immediately recognisable are the Edinburgh chartered surveyor, stalwart of the Conservative Association, who dreams of membership of Scotland's most exclusive golf club. We have the pushy Stockbridge mother, and her prodigiously talented five-year-old son, who is making good progress with the saxophone and with his Italian. Then there is Domenica Macdonald who is that type of Edinburgh lady who sees herself as a citizen of a broader intellectual world.In McCall Smith's hands such characters retain charm and novelty, simultaneously arousing both mirth and empathy. 44 Scotland Street is vintage McCall Smith, tackling issues of trust and honesty, snobbery and hypocrisy, love and loss, but all with great lightness of touch. Clever, elegant and funny, this is a novel that provides huge entertainment but which is underpinned by the moral dilemmas of everyday life and the characters' struggles to resolve them.