Oct 23, 2009 02:56 PM
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(Updated Oct 23, 2009 02:58 PM)
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith is the second book in the Sunday Philosophy Club. But though I read this book, without reading the first, I had absolutely no problem. It deals with Isabel Dalhousie, the editor of Review of Applied Ethics and her philosophical thoughts on life, friends, lovers and chocolate.
It is a detective story, but it lacks the fast-paced events and thrills. The pace can be compared to an Agatha Christie, without the sudden surprises. The only surprises are the startling philosophical musings on anything and everything under the sun. In fact, I ended up jotting down some lines as they are so quotable, enjoyable and true. Her idol is W.H Auden and her support system include her housekeeper, Grace; her friend, Jamie and her niece, Cat.
The mystery deals with the question of cellular memory- or in simpler terms, organs other than the brain having memories. It deals with visions from a transplanted heart (no gory descriptions or medical conspiracies), doubts to go on a holiday with an Italian, managing a delicatessen (a store selling foods already prepared or requiring little preparation for serving, as cooked meats, cheese, salads, and the like) and general fellow feeling- all in the Scottish town of Edinburgh.
