Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers
I’ve had this on my TBR bookshelf for years and finally treated myself to reading #9 of this charming series. I’ve read five others in this (currently) 15-book 44 Scotland Street series and it is just as satisfying and amusing as all of Alexander McCall Smith’s books. In other words, you can’t go wrong if you choose to read this.

One caution is that, even though you can read this as a stand-alone, doing so will generate your TBR list as you’ll want to seek out all of them to return to the ups and downs of the characters. As the title implies, this book features newly turned 7-year-old Bertie, and his domineering mother; Cyril the dog, who is often tempted by ankles; warm-hearted Big Lou and her cozy coffee shop; and self-absorbed (and self-styled) playboy Bruce. These are just a few of the characters and storylines included.

The novel is told episodically, with each chapter focusing on a specific character or group of characters. The characters often know each other so it’s especially entertaining when the stories overlap. And as the title indicates, Bertie and his family are featured in this novel. The best part is McCall Smith’s excellent writing style: engaging, charming, clever, with subtle humor and wit. I highly recommend everything written by this amazingly talented author. ( )