The Enigma of Garlic (44 Scotland Street)

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A collective sigh of relief must have been heard from many readers lips when she left Scotland Street. How was that working out?” Smith wondered aloud. It was a great opportunity for Borthy, it seems, and his fortunes improved almost immediately. More on Bruce later. 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.

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 reads as delightfully and richly as a conversation with Alexander McCall Smith himself. Since sadly that possibility seems slim, my recommendation is to enjoy the book and a glass of your best sherry on your own."Can we really believe that both Bruce and Irene have reformed into more humble, reasonable human beings? At least Olive is still as odious as ever! But poor Bertie. I hope he stands up to her before too long. At least he has his friend Ranald and the prospect of Glasgow to look forward to.

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. 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.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. As for Bruce, I am left wondering how long this new persona will last. Not to be too much of a pessimist, and I do believe people can change, but … really?? 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.

Bertie was composed of goodness, and sometimes goodness means that you take the blame for things you haven’t done. You accept it. You bear it. And he had borne so much in his brief seven years that a little more would not make much difference.” When Irene turns up at the Scotland Street flat without advance notice, readers will be cheering Nicola on as she handles the unwelcome arrival, but that doesn’t go quite how either woman expects; Bertie is booked into summer-camp, and hopes he will be allowed a penknife; Elspeth lies to Matthew, and they both spend quite some time agonising over it. 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?”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! Home> Fiction from Scotland> The Enigma of Garlic The Enigma of Garlic By (author) Alexander McCall Smith The conversation starts with our health and a nod to the pressing news of the world, but we waste little time bemoaning the things outside our street. We then turn to the center of our chat: our friends. We have years’ worth of stories about friends, incidents and relationships, and he reminds me that our warm reminiscences are grounded in our love of the people of 44 Scotland Street and its environs, as well as our love for the familiarity and recognition of old events. Today, of course, there are additions to the stories. 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…

Home> Fiction from Scotland> The Enigma of Garlic: A 44 Scotland Street Novel The Enigma of Garlic: A 44 Scotland Street Novel By (author) Alexander McCall SmithThe relative peace and tranquillity of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Irene is to return for a two-month stay, consigning Bertie to a summer camp. Not satisfied 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. As always, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna is her hilariously helpful self by way of being nosy, but in doing so, resolves a huge concern for Big Lou following her wedding. Bruce’s visit to the monastery changes his life even more. Irene is a changed woman. Wait, really? We shall see, I suppose. I only wish we’d had more interaction with Bertie in this novel. The eternal seven-year-old is largely absent here, with only a few peeps into his camping (mis)adventures. What there is of Bertie, though, shows his patience and kindness, and is endearing and makes one love him even more. 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. The latest in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series from the worldwide bestselling author, Alexander McCall Smith