The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10 cover art

The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10

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The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Karlyn Stephen
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About this listen

From a small town outside Edinburgh comes the news that a young boy has been recounting vivid recollections of a past life: a perfect description of an island off the coast of Scotland which he couldn't possibly know and a house there where he claims to have spent his former life.

When the boy's mother asks Isabel to investigate his claims, she feels she must - of course! - help them learn the truth, and she and her husband, Jamie, set off for the island.

But finding the house the boy described only leads to more complicated questions. And when she learns about the unusual story of the family who lived there, Isabel is suddenly faced with a situation of extraordinary delicacy that will require all of her skills as both sleuth and philosopher.

©2015 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2015 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Scotland

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Critic reviews

"Every bit as charming as his No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency." ( Globe and Mail)
"Alexander McCall Smith novels never fail to delight." ( The Guardian)
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Not to everyone’s taste - but I really enjoy this series with Isobel the flawed moral philosopher.

Gentle and witty

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Nothing happens except we follow a woman who thinks she is magnanimous but is judgemental and self righteous do some pretty inane stuff. The narrator makes the protagonist sound more patronising and smug than you’d think possible. She also has an uncomfortably low ‘man’ voice she uses for the husband. Utterly diabolical storytelling on so many levels. So much so that two months on I’m peeved enough to bother writing this review

Bland story of smug character read appallingly

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What did you like best about The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10? What did you like least?

I liked the scottish theme and family life of Isabel but as I have the volume up loud because I am deaf the recording was poor and crackly!

Poor quaility recording!

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Got this book because I am quite fond of the Ladies 1st... series by A M-S. Although the book is fairly well written, the main strand of the story is almost lost in fairly mundane philosophical waffle. I imagine that true Philosophy academics would cringe at the dumbing down of this vast subject and wondered why it was necessary at all. The narrator was pretty monotonous and at times nearly put me to sleep. I did, however, manage to persevere to the end but will not be looking for any more of this series.

Average story, average narration

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Enjoyable, gentle and thought provoking story. The narration was OK but the American accents were just awful. Better not to try than to mangle a drawl.

Solid Isabel Dalhousie with OK narration

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I don’t need everything saying twice - I don’t need to hear what a character thinks then for them to say it out loud... if they say it aloud then I know that they thought it too.
And narrators, if you can’t do accents then don’t try! The Irish/American/Australian character made me laugh every time they spoke

Dull story

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Reading the introduction the book seemed to have a good story line. Took ages to get going and really only a 3/4 of the book taken up with the story of the boy who thought he had lived a former life and was very disappointed in the flat ending.

Disappointed

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The protagonist was rather unbelievable - is anyone that perfect - kind, intelligent, perfect marriage, dream job, ideal family exactly on demand? (I wish I was!). I'd liked to hear more about her "interference" and less the meanderings of her mind which ended up feeling like the author was just showing off their superiority. Sorry!

Excessive meanderings

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Alexander McCall Smith is a much loved author.
This story keeps you guessing.
Clever plot. Isobel Dalhousie is a developing character

Interesting story.

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Slow, dull, needlessly complex without art. Abandoned less than halfway through. lively voice artist though.

Too much trying to be clever, not enough plot.

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