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Corduroy Mansions
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
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Classic Nora - Outstanding!!!!
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Publisher's summary
From the New York Times best-selling author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency comes this serialized novel—reminiscent of his acclaimed 44 Scotland Street.
In London’s Pimlico neighborhood lies a tenement described in architectural guides as “a building of no interest whatsoever”. But the residents of Corduroy Mansions—including a literary agent, a wine merchant, a thoroughly unpleasant member of Parliament, and a vegetarian dog—are a rather fascinating lot. There’s the vitamin evangelist, the psychoanalyst, the art student with a puzzling boyfriend, and Freddie de la Hay, the Pimlico terrier who insists on wearing a seat belt and is almost certainly the only avowed vegetarian canine in London.
Filled with the ins and outs of neighborliness in all its unexpected variations, Corduroy Mansions showcases the life, laughter, and humanity that have become the hallmarks of Alexander McCall Smith’s work.
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Mildred Lathbury is a clergyman's daughter and a mild-mannered spinster in 1950s England. She is one of those excellent women - the smart, supportive, repressed women whom men take for granted. As Mildred gets embroiled in the lives of her new neighbors - anthropologist Helena Napier; Helen's handsome, dashing husband, Rocky; and Julian Malory, the vicar next door - the novel presents a series of snapshots of human life as actually, and pluckily, lived.
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Still Waters Run Deep
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By: Barbara Pym
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The Lost Girls of Ireland
- Starlight Cottages, Book 1
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A heart-warming story about family secrets and one woman’s escape to dreamy Sandy Cove on the stunning west coast of Ireland. The picturesque beach of Wild Rose Bay is the last place Lydia Butler thought she’d be. But having just lost everything, the run-down cottage she inherited from her Great Aunt Nellie is the only place she can take her daughter, Sunny. Hidden away in a tiny Irish village, she can protect Sunny from the gossip in Dublin, and the real reason they have nowhere else to live....
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Great Read
- By Mary k.campbell on 12-02-22
By: Susanne O'Leary
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The Good Liar
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Veteran con artist Roy spots an obvious easy mark when he meets Betty, a wealthy widow, online. In no time at all, he's moved into Betty's lovely cottage and is preparing to accompany her on a romantic trip to Europe. Betty's grandson disapproves of their blossoming relationship, but Roy is sure this scheme will be a success. He knows what he's doing. As this remarkable feat of storytelling weaves together Roy's and Betty's futures, it also unwinds their pasts.
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Hope the movie is better than the book?
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By: Nicholas Searle
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Staying On
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Tusker and Lily Smalley stayed on in India. Given the chance to return ‘home’ when Tusker, once a Colonel in the British Army, retired, they chose instead to remain in the small hill town of Pankot, with its eccentric inhabitants and archaic rituals left over from the days of the Empire. Only the tyranny of their imposing landlady threatens to upset the quiet rhythm of their days.
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A Pleasant Meander
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From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve's Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity - revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter.
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A GLIMPSE THROUGH MAEVE'S LOOKING GLASS
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The Scent of You
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A tale of perfumes, exploring life, love, loss and forgiveness - Maggie Alderson's new best seller. Are you still married if you haven't seen your husband for months? Polly's life is great. Her children are away at uni, her glamorous mother - still modelling at 85 - is happily settled in a retirement village, and her perfume blog is taking off. Then her husband announces he needs some space and promptly vanishes. As Polly grapples with her bewildering situation, she clings to a few new friends to keep her going.
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Okay for a light read
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More Than You Know
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A privileged girl from a privileged class, Eliza has a dazzling career in the magazine world of the 1960s. But when she falls deeply in love with Matt, an edgy working-class boy, she gives up her ritzy, fast-paced lifestyle to get married. By the end of the decade, however, their marriage has suffered a harrowing breakdown, culminating in divorce and a dramatic courtroom custody battle over their little girl. Also at risk is Eliza's gorgeous family home, a pawn in the game, which she can't bear to give up.
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Like a box of chocolates...
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What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
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In "Books and Roses", one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two lovers' fates. In "Is Your Blood as Red as This?", an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. "'Sorry' Doesn't Sweeten Her Tea" involves a "house of locks", where doors can be closed only with a key - with surprising unobservable developments. And in "If a Book Is Locked There's Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think", a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason).
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clever
- By jared rogerson on 03-15-18
By: Helen Oyeyemi
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Lie in Wait
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Owen Hall drives into a petrol station to let his passenger use the facilities. She never comes back - and what's more, it seems she never even made it inside. When Owen raises a fuss, the police are called - and soon identify Owen himself as a possible culprit, not least because they already have him in the frame for another more sinister crime. Owen's always been a little different, and before long others in the community are baying for his blood. But this is a case where nothing is as it seems - least of all Owen Hall....
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LIE IN WAIT..
- By ZacharyKindle Customer on 08-06-17
By: G. J. Minett
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The complete BBC Radio adaptations of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency featuring Botswana's only female private detective agency, run by the irrepressible Precious Ramotswe. Based on the hugely popular novels and brought to life with music and full casts, these evocative productions return us to Botswana, where Precious has more mysteries to solve.
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What listeners say about Corduroy Mansions
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- connie
- 04-25-12
Oedipus Snark, MP
If that name made you smile, this book is for you. I admit that I put this one aside when it came out because it didn't seem on par with the 44 Scotland Street series (which it resembles in format), but after a bad week at work, I needed a cheering listen and re-loaded it. Two hours later, my husband thought I was in some kind of distress when he found me writhing on the couch, guffawing. I've already downloaded the second in the series from Audible and (if you hurry) the Telegraph is still running the podcast of novel 3 on itunes. Even if you miss the podcast for #3, I suspect that, like novel 1, the other installments are worth a credit. I'm saving #2 and #3 for those times when I start to dislike humanity -- McCall Smith puts all the "small stuff" in perspective so that I can return to work with a smile.
It may take a few chapters to enter the world of Cordroy Mansions, but oh - what a remedy for a bad day at the office! We all know an Oedipus Snark! (and my colleagues probably think it's me...)
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44 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Svetlana
- 08-08-10
Still good, yet far from the best.
I am a big fan of Mr. Alexander McCall Smith, but, after having listened to Corduroy Mention, I felt a bit disappointed. It resembles the 44 Scotland street series in its setup, well, only it takes place in London. However, it is much flatter than the Edinburgh-placed stories: the characters are harder to engage with, there are too many of the second-plan people and stories, and London is not really present, not even in the background (and one expects the location to play at least some role in McCall Smith???s books). To me, the book felt busy and lacking depth, and some story lines were left uncompleted or not fully realized, or not connected to each other in any meaningful way.
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22 people found this helpful
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- E. Pearson
- 11-23-11
Characters Easy to Live With
A very good story, or rather--collection of various characters and their intermigled--stories. While different in many ways, certainly overall intent, this book reminded me quite a bit of THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE, which is high praise indeed. I've read many of A.M. Smith's books now, and always look forward to each as a time to simultaneously laugh, be inspired, and provoked to better thought and understaning. Occassionally I get tired of the endless meandering thoughts of each and every single character, and I believe CORDUROY MANSIONS brought this minor irritation out more strongly than usual, simply because each one of the many many characters is star of her or his own story, so there is an incredible amount of inner, random, meandering, thougtfulness indeed. Still, I come away from the book feeling refreshed and happy to have met more of the delightful characters from Smith's delightfully-peopled universe. I'm immensely grateful that he provides me with these most enjoyable diversions.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Lynn
- 09-25-10
Wise and funny observations from my fave author.
I have read and/or listened to all of Alexander McCall Smith's books, but somehow missed the start of this new series. I began listening to "Corduroy Mansions" in audiobook format at the beginning of an intercontinental flight and it was a real struggle not to laugh out loud. I just couldn't stop listening and am now seriously jet-lagged!! Mr. McCall Smith was the first author in the yearly Pen and Podium series here in Denver. Nobody since has been as interesting, charming and funny. He's my favorite author.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Barbara R
- 08-16-10
Lacks Plot and Character Development
I think Alexander McCall Smith should stick to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Everything else he writes is dismal. What plot exists in this novel is left hanging at the end. The characters are one-dimensional and uninteresting with the exception of the dog. Don't waste your time.
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8 people found this helpful
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- LeakyB
- 10-27-11
Less than mundane
The characters are not developed; one is inconsistent (Eddie) Their stories are uninteresting. Boring things happen to boring people. Then they celebrate.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Sharron
- 02-17-12
I'm surprised to be so disappointed!
What disappointed you about Corduroy Mansions?
After listening for about an hour, I could not find a character to like or dislike, could only keep thinking
What do you think your next listen will be?
Perhaps some other
What didn’t you like about Simon Prebble’s performance?
He's a fine reader, and I've enjoyed hearing him in other recordings. I just didn't like what he was reading!
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Disappointment, and annoyance that I had used one of my Audible.com book credits, spent time downloading and burning the book to CDs, and now all of that's wasted. I can't even listen to the whole thing.
Any additional comments?
Still an Alexander McCall Smith fan, but will steer clear of this series.
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- Adrienne Brown
- 12-11-12
Excellent series
I am hooked on all Alexander McCall Smith's books. First I read 44 Scotland Street and now I am on the last book of Corduroy Mansions. I love all his eclectic characters with their faults and virtues. He really understands humans and dogs. I also read No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - but only one so far. I can't wait for my morning walk with the dog to listen to the next hour's worth! Simon Prebble is a great reader - a voice for each character.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Kathi
- 08-03-12
Cute, funny and entertaining
What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?
Loved it!
Any additional comments?
Okay, I am a sucker for Scottland, humerous suspense and cute little dogs. I am prewired to love this book. This remineded me quite a bit of McCalls other series at 44 Scottland with Bertie and the like - which I also enjoyed. Visual descriptions like his other stories, good character development of quirky people you may know plus an adorable little dog...what's not to like? Perfect stories for a long commute.
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- Callie
- 09-17-12
Just OK
I ADORE the Ladies Detective Agency books. This is only the second or third of McCall Smith's books that I've read outside of that series, and all have disappointed. This one was OK - nothing offensive about it, and once I was well into it the characters did kind of grow on me to the point where I wanted to see them through. But there isn't that much to see through - the plot is slow and not much happens. There are TOO MANY characters and subplots woven together, and really, none of them is all that compelling. It really was kind of boring, and seemed to go on and on and on (100 chapters!?)
The reading was FINE - well done.
There were a few characters that really were a hoot - Oedipus Snark (mostly for his name) and I especially liked Terrence. But there was nothing really compelling about it - either plot or characters. And although much of it was mildly amusing, I just don't get how anyone could find it "hilarious" -?!
I'll stick to Mma Ramotswe and friends in the future. THOSE are a GIFT!
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