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Unbearable Lightness of Scones

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Robert Ian MacKenzie
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling, award-winning author Alexander McCall Smith delivers the fifth entertaining novel from his 44 Scotland Street series.

Precocious six-year-old Bertie joins the scouts to escape his mother, Matthew learns to handle the challenges of marriage, and Domenica deals with loneliness. Even four-legged Cyril gets in on the action, finding himself a bit of canine romance.

©2009 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC
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Critic reviews

"It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." ( Chicago Sun-Times)

What listeners say about Unbearable Lightness of Scones

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Touching bit of love

I really like Alexander McCall Smith's writing and his sentiments about the important little bits of life.

I can imagine some readers new to the series might wonder why he gets such good ratings. For me, I like the touching characters, their ethical concerns about how to behave and the author's very realistic view of what we really think day to day.

The warmest character has been ending each book in this series with a poem about love that is very real, and I like that very much.

I find myself setting aside my duties in life to listen to any book I buy authored by Smith.

The narration is exquisite.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The characters are becoming old friends

I'm definitely hooked on this series now, even though very occasionally it drags. The charm, the wisdom and the humour more than makes up for it. The narrator, Robert Ian Mackenzie couldn't be better.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

always hated books about kids and dogs

but I look forward to the next installment of the 44 Scotland Street to learn how Berite and Cyril are faring. I listened to all five available audiobooks in the series this summer and marvel at how McCall Smith keeps me addicted to his story lines and characters. MacKenzie's narration is a big part of the charm.

I look forward to the next in the serial (I hear that Bertie turns 7) and I wish Audible could exchange its complimentary subscription to the NY TImes for the Scotsman so I did not need to wait!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

One of my fav series

I can’t get enough of the 44 Scotland Street series. I always have a smile on my face during my morning commute when I’m listening to these. The Unbearable Lightness of Scones isn’t my favorite book in the series but Robert Ian McKenzie is always a joy to listen to. Such a simple story, full of life, family friendly, and funny! The perfect series to make your commute enjoyable. If you love Scotland, you’ll love this series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just LOVE this series and these characters!

I love this series, the characters and their antics. The narration is just perfect as far as the characters and their personalities. I feel like I know them all!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love the narrator!

The characters, plot, and stories are terrific, as usual. But the narration brings them to life. Kudos to Robert Ian Mackenzie!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Kept Expecting A Plot, but enjoyed it nonetheless

I guess I go this on a BOGO sale or something, because now that I come back for #2, it turns out this was #5, not #1. I really don't like listening to things out of order and I did kind of wonder that it seemed like I should have known more about the characters than I did as I listened. Nice narration, though. There's only so much a grown man can do to sound like a 6 year old I guess, but his phrasing and inflection were in no way annoying. I am very particular about narrators. I plan to listen to more of these when I need a soothing voice.

I quite liked that the dog is a character in his own doggy way. I kept expecting Something To Happen. Well, lots of things happened, but nothing really happened. It turns out it really is just a nice long story about some fairly normal and nice Scottish People who live near one another and have sort of everyday adventures, joys, and sorrows. Once I figured out that it wasn't really supposed to have a plot exactly, I quite enjoyed it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Series losing its charm

McCall Smith and this series was delightful to start (for the most part) but his characters are getting tedious. This series is starting to feel like an afternoon with your cranky grandpa who drones on about how things just aren’t what they used to be. And those liberals!! Lots of bitterness here.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book has been the best yes of this series!

I hated to finish this book because I love the story lines of the characters! AMS takes his characters off into some interesting places and doings! I could have listened to so much more...So on to the next one!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I hate when these end!

The continuing characters are wonderful, there are enough stories and surprises to keep me happily listening, and the narrator is great!

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