Reviews

A quirky story about stuffy German professors, in particular the Author of the all important Portuguese Irregular Verbs publication. I didn't realise this book was part of a series until I came to write this review but it made no difference to the storyline. It was a short, simple read and although the characters are difficult to like I was drawn cleverly into their pompous world while following the peculiar antics of Professor Dr von Igelfeld. It wasn't strong enough to make me search for others in the series but at no point did I consider not finishing the read. An different but enjoyable story to fit in between heavier reads.

tobyyy's review against another edition

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3.0

Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld is an interesting character. I always enjoy his adventures, but they’re almost always too quiet/relaxed/philosophical to really feel like “adventures.”

That being said, I’m not even sure how to categorize this series. It’s humorous but more in an academic, hoity-toity intellectual manner, which I enjoy in small doses. In larger doses, however, it would be downright annoying... kind of like if every time you spoke out loud, you had to listen to a lecture from a grammar nazi.

ebodi8pg's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

madtattler's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Listened to audiobook read by Paul Hecht 5hr 13 mins

devorit's review against another edition

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2.0

I have very mixed feeling about this book and the rating I’m giving it — I’m dithering between 2 & 3 stars. On the one hand, I am impressed with McCall Smith’s writing —- there are some incredibly funny and witty zingers, and he manages to do an incredible amount of character development in a book largely made up of dialog and spare on description. And yet, I found the characters so unpleasant! They are all petty, stuffy, and self-absorbed.... and I understand that is part of the point and conceit of the series and main character, but I got so tired of him making self-absorbed, arrogant blunder after blunder with out changing or seeming to learn anything. I don’t think I would have finished the book if it wasn’t for the brilliant narration of the audiobook. Paul Hecht’s performance made the book! This was my first Alexander McCall Smith book, and I want to read more of his writing, but this isn’t the series for me.

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