
Chance Developments
Stories
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About this listen
It is said that a picture may be worth a thousand words, but an old photograph can inspire many more. In this beguiling book, Alexander McCall Smith casts his eye over five chanced-upon photographs from the era of black-and-white photography and imagines the stories behind them.
Who were those people, what were their stories, why are they smiling, what made them sad? What emerges are surprising and poignant tales of love and friendship in a variety of settings - an estate in the Highlands of Scotland; a travelling circus in Canada; an Australian gold-mining town; a village in Ireland; and the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.
Some will find joy and fulfilment - others would prefer happier endings. Each of them, though, will find love, and that is ultimately what matters.
©2016 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2016 Recorded BooksListeners also enjoyed...
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The Sunday Philosophy Club
- An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: Davina Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith, winner of the first-ever Saga Award for Wit, has entertained millions with his beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries. Now this phenomenally popular author introduces a fresh series, brimming with the charm and humor his stable of dedicated fans can't get enough of.
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Advice For Prospective Listeners
- By DCinMI on 02-18-13
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What W. H. Auden Can Do for You
- Alexander McCall Smith
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: William Neenan
- Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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When facing a moral dilemma, Isabel Dalhousie--Edinburgh philosopher, amateur detective, and title character of a series of novels by best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith - often refers to the great twentieth-century poet W. H. Auden. This is no accident: McCall Smith has long been fascinated by Auden. Indeed, the novelist, best known for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, calls the poet not only the greatest literary discovery of his life but also the best of guides on how to live.
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On the Power of Poetry, Mostly Auden's
- By Rich S. on 12-09-13
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The Pavilion in the Clouds
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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It is 1938 and the final days of the British Empire. In a bungalow high up in the green hills above the plains of Ceylon, under a vast blue sky, live the Ferguson family: Bella, a precocious eight-year-old; her father Henry—owner of Pitlochry, a tea plantation—and her mother Virginia. The story centres around the Pavilion in the Clouds, set in the idyllic grounds carved out of the wilderness. But all is not as serene as it seems. Bella is suspicious of her governess, Miss White’s intentions.
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Get Over It
- By SW Clemens on 12-28-22
Where does Chance Developments rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Among all the Alexander McCall Smith books, this collection of Short Stories falls a bit short -- in that most all the stories were very good, but a few were just "so so". :) But I sitll hold AMS at the top of my reading lists! The "No 1 Ladies..." is absolute prefection and I await each new publication with as much anticipation as I do, waiting for a loaf of Home-Made bread!Would you be willing to try another book from Alexander McCall Smith? Why or why not?
Absolutely, YES!What about the narrators’s performance did you like?
Very good.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No...The "Good"; The "Bad"; The "Otherwise"
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What made the experience of listening to Chance Developments the most enjoyable?
Each reader seemed specifically chosen for the story and characters - so glad AMS went with a collaborative approach! The familiar narrators from all the AMS series were a pleasure to hear from again.What did you like best about this story?
The approach of starting with an old photo is incredible. As I listened, I imagined the photos and what details let AMS down the paths he chose.Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?
Sister Flora.If you could take any character from Chance Developments out to dinner, who would it be and why?
Harry. Such a fascinating life.Any additional comments?
Given this book's tight tie to the inspirational images, it would have been fantastic for Audible to find a way to share those images. I have managed to find a couple of them online, but I'd still really like to see the rest!Short stories from old photos...with no photos
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Great to have someone read to me while I sew.
Love Alexander McCall Smith Stories?
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Enjoyable Read!
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What made the experience of listening to Chance Developments the most enjoyable?
It makes commuting so much less hellish, to the point where, with certain books, I don't want to arrive at destination.What did you like best about this story?
The multiple stories. Probably as romantic as you will find McCall-Smith. Several of the stories were quite remarkable.Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?
Always loved Davina Porter but there were no duds. Robert Ian McKenzie is always a standout.If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Old Photographs and Pictures disclose some remarkable tales. ( I was already casting characters for some of them.)Any additional comments?
Had to listen to a couple of them two times. So many remarkable asides on the human condition ...Several "I wish that I had written that..."
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Charming stories!
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pictures
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Worth a listen
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