Have you been reading along with the Telegraph's online novel The Dog who Came in from the Cold by Alexander McCall-Smith? I am 31 chapters in and still very much enjoying it, I really look forward to taking 10 minutes out of my day to find out what is happening to the residents of Corduroy Mansions.
The last few chapters have focused on James and Caroline's relationship and we are left wondering if he will leave Caroline for Dee after taking her out for dinner in Caroline's place. I think it should be more a question of whether Caroline should finish with James as he is a little too strange for my liking!
I chapters 29-31 we have followed Barbara as her suspicions and dislike of Rupert have increased. However, she is tyring to put this to the back of her mind as she sets off on a trip to the Scottish highlands with her fiance, Hugh. But is Hugh as perfect as Barbara believes him to be, can you truly trust a man with holey socks and missing shirt buttons? What do you think of Hugh? Do you think Barbara is setting herself up for a fall?
I've really enjoyed all these developments but I have to say that I want more Freddie de la Hay! I want to know about his mission for MI6 and whether William will entrust his loyal companion to the secret service?
If you haven't been reading this then there is still time for you to catch up with the story. You can click the link at the top of this page and it will take you to the Telegraph's site with all the chapters listed. It really is lovely to read everyday or if you want to be lazy then you can listen to the brilliant Andrew Sachs reading the story to you, perfect!
10 comments:
I am really enjoying it too, but, I have to say I only listen to it once a week to catch up on the previous seven chapters. I found taking snipets of the story every day didn't hold my attention as much as taking a chunk at a time - I think that says more about my reading style than the story though, Dot.
Like you I want to know more about Freddie de la Hay and his mission at MI6. I am disappointed when a new chapter is about the other characters and not about Freddie. I also am not too keen on James, Caroline is way too understanding of his funny ways and this whole 'germs' thing he has is a little odd.
Anyway, I am having fun listening to it but lets have more about Freddie!!
Good question, Dot.
Kim- I completely agree about James, he would really get on my nerves, Caroline should just get rid of him! Pleased you're enjoying reading it though!
Hi! I like your blog! I didn't know about this online Alexander McCall Smith book. I will have to check it out. I love his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, but I wasn't a fan of The Sunday Philosophy Club. So I'm interested to see what this one is like.
Blakelyn- Thank you! I love his Number 1 Detective Agency Books too, The Dog Who Came in from the Cold is very different but it's lovely to read along every day!
About birds during the war: there were cardboard tops with little perforated circles in the middle; birds had no problem getting at the milk; so there was no period when they would not have known where milk was to have been acquired. No need for morphic resonance.
This is very true, I found this to be a bit of an odd chapter but I suppose that Terence is an odd sort of character!
Hi,
I discovered the on-line book this fall when my husband and I were living in England. Since returning to Canada, I get up each morning anticipating the next installment. I think the last few chapters are straying and find there are a bit too many characters to keep straight. Otherwise, I like Freddie de la Hay's view of his new humans and all the rest.
Cheers, Adrienne
Adrienne- I too really look forward to reading it every day! I think that Freddie is just lovely, reminds me of my own dog!
I think the foibles of the format, or writing a novel by daily installments that must be immediately published, are noticeable even for the great Mr. Smith. Many of the mansion residents have sadly disappeared and a few key facts from the first novel have been altered without explanation (James was developing an interest in another woman, remember?). I am a devoted fan of Mr. Smith's and I do enjoy the daily bits very much, but I do think he has spread himself too thin this time.
And as for James, back off! He is well worth pursuing. Let him be.
K.Smith- thanks for visiting my blog! I am a big fan of Mr Smith's too but I have to say that I didn't read his first on-line novel, so I haven't really noticed changes or characters disappearing etc. I have a copy of the book now though so I'm going to try and read it soon. A few people have made similar comments to you though and I can see what you mean, I have favourite characters and I don't like it when he goes for a good few days without mentioning them. However, it must be so tricky with a daily novel to keep the momentum of the story going and to keep characters fresh im reader's minds.
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