Sunshine on Scotland Street: Alexander McCall Smith: 8 (44 Scotland Street)

Sunshine on Scotland Street is the eighth book in the popular 44 Scotland Street series by British author, Alexander McCall Smith. Fans of the series will be pleased to once again join the residents of this Edinburgh address and their friends and acquaintances. Bertie Pollock, still six years old and eager to be eighteen, is, as usual, thwarted in the enjoyment of life by his mother, Irene, but is nonetheless, excited to be looking after Cyril while Angus and Domenica are on their honeymoon. Matthew’s skills as a best man are comprehensively tested. Big Lou drops a bombshell, gains a love interest and goes viral. Expert narcissist, Bruce encounters his double and is coerced into a dubious enterprise. Tofu shares his wisdom on honeymoons. Bertie manages to dispose of his crushed strawberry dungarees. Stuart and Irene have a delightful crossed-purpose conversation. There is a wedding, a school fair, a lottery win, the filming of a documentary and dog psychotherapy. With his inimitable gentle philosophy, McCall Smith comments on tartans, Mrs Thatcher, the length of the Scottish summer, putative paternity, the occasionally surprising source of government figures, bacterial colonisation, the purpose of religion, cats, creative statistics, cold showers, material fulfilment, finding meaning in life, the importance of heritage and a sense of community. As always, there are many charming illustrations by Iain McIntosh, and, while Domenica and Angus are absent for much of the novel, the usual gathering and evocative verse that marks the end of the novels in this series is ever present. My favourite quote: “For most of us, life is lived with the philosophical volume turned half down.” There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this entertaining dose of Scotland Street and readers will look forward to the next installment, Bertie’s Guide to Life and Mothers.