The Forgotten Affairs of Youth

An Isabel Dalhousie Novel

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Davina Porter

In the eighth installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s best-selling Isabel Dalhousie series, the inquisitive heroine helps a new friend discover the identity of her father. Jane, a visiting Australian philosopher on sabbatical in Edinburgh, has more questions than answers. Adopted at the age of six, she knows little about her father, other than he was a student in Edinburgh years ago. Always up for a challenge, Isabel is more than happy to help.

©2011 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Isabel never lets me down

This is another wonderful story about Isabel, Jamie and Charlie.
Once again a charming visit with Isabel and the people she tries to help.

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Forgotten Affairs of Youth

Just can't beat an Alexander McCall Smith listen, and Isabel Dalhousie is still up to her usual interesting life observations.

Smitten by Smith once again!

I can never decide which characters I like best in the McCall Smith universe. Is it Precious Ramostwe in Botswana and her #1 Ladies' Detective Agency? Or is it Isabel Dalhousie, detective of a different sort, investigator of the mind and all things philosophical? Or is it Bertie and his well-meaning but dysfunctional parents who are part of the cohort at 44 Scotland Street?

In any case, I love the way this man writes. Slower-paced, reflective and ruminating, but never so indulgent that the reader is driven nuts with impatience. His books are like listening to familiar music - you can savor the slow parts because you know what's coming. And he does it all with an economy of words.

I think this latest is one of McCall Smith's best. It has all the suspense of a true "search for identity" case, mixed with all the usual ambiguities, odd juxtapositions, and perils of the "examined life" that go along with Isabel Dalhousie's life and work as editor and publisher of a philosophical journal. McCall Smith seems to strike just that perfect combination of outward narrative and inner landscape that makes his characters so relatable.

I don't know quite where I'll turn for this sort of literary fun if or when Smith ever retires from cranking out these stories. I know that day is inevitable, but I hope it's not coming any time soon.

Peaceful

Would you listen to The Forgotten Affairs of Youth again? Why?

Listening to one of the Isabel Dalhousie books is a great way to step away from stress when life becomes too rushed. Yes the book contains a large number of passages where Isabel contemplates "right vs. wrong", but I believe that is part of what makes this series of books enjoyable. Most of the time life does not give us time to think about these issues ourselves and these passages are uplifting, not judgmental. The only person Isabel "judges" on these issues is herself. It is refreshing to hear discussions of right vs. wrong from an author that is presented in a light context without preaching.

If you’ve listened to books by Alexander McCall Smith before, how does this one compare?

This is probably one of my favorites so far, but I have listened to only a few.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Loved her accent and expression. Her voice makes me want to visit Scotland again.