Bertie Plays the Blues

A 44 Scotland Street Novel, Book 7

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Domestic bliss seems in short supply at 44 Scotland Street. Over at the Pollocks', dad, Stuart, is harbouring a secret about a secret society and Bertie is feeling kind of blue. Having had enough of his neurotic hot-housing mother, he puts himself up for adoption on eBay. Will he go to the highest bidder or will he have to take matters into his own hands? Will the lovelorn Big Lou find true love on the Internet? And will Angus Lordie and Domenica make it up the aisle? Catch up with all your favorite faces down in 44 Scotland Street as we follow their daily pursuit of a little happiness.

©2011 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2013 Recorded Books

A funny thing happened on the way to Glasgow

Another adventure from our friends on Scotland St. Matt and Elsbeth struggle with parenthood in triplicate. Bertie still wonders what it is like to be seven. It is all very touching and funny and just great to hear about the people on Scotland st. I feel like everyone can relate to some aspect of every character. I even caught myself empathizing with Irene. I am always very sad when Angus reads his poem to his friends because that means this installment has come to an end. I can't wait for the next one. Will Mathew and Elsbeth find "harmony" in their family? Can Pat wash Bruce ( or at least give him a good gel) out of her hair? Will big Lou find love? Will Cyril be able to love Dominica as much as Angus? And most importantly will Bertie ever be seven? All things I will ponder as I patiently await the next installment. In the meantime Mma Ramotswe is on the case so thank you Alexander McCall Smith for the hours of enjoyment you have given me.

Always a great read by AMS!

Narration is fantastic, and I always enjoy AMS's characters. So colorful. Listening to his books puts me in a great mood and gives me a few good laughs.

Most Enjoyable

I always feel a little sad when I reach the end of one of hese delightful books.

I want More

What made the experience of listening to Bertie Plays the Blues the most enjoyable?

Charm. Character. Love. Truth. Humor. I laughed to myself all the time.

What did you like best about this story?

Every single thing. I can't believe an author can be so sensitive, and warm and funny at the same time.

Have you listened to any of Robert Ian Mackenzie’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Glad I read the previous one where Bertie wanted to be seven. A great prequel to this.

If you could rename Bertie Plays the Blues, what would you call it?

I honestly don't know. Knowing Bertie, and the fact that he can play the blues, is so heartwarming.

Any additional comments?

Love it. Wish there were lots more already done.

I’m playing the Blues

We have enjoyed this book up until it quit playing at chapter 34. Please help.

Lived It

I am always sorry to hear the words "the end". Now I cannot wait for the next one

Bertie is an amazing kid!

I have been enjoying the 44 Scotland Street series. The characters are so realistic and (mostly likeable) that I can't wait to listen more about what will happen to them.

Delightful!

I love these characters, and the narration is superb. The story is a little thinner this time, though; shorter maybe? Not as much depth as usual.

Can’t Handle Continued Abuse Of Bertie

In the beginning I could handle the severe mental and emotional abuse of the little boy because I had hopes that his father would be a man and stand up to his wife and protect his son. But I can’t suffer through any more of this. It is deeply disturbing. The father is a worthless, weak-willed man who doesn’t love his son enough to stand up to his wife and he even gets his son to lie for him to protect him from his wife. His fear of his wife is destroying his son’s life, so much so that Bertie feels so completely unprotected that he even tries to get himself adopted. And as usual, his mother contributes Bertie’s desperate measures as mental illness rather than taking responsibility for her own evil treatment of him.

The best of the series yet!

Delightful story telling with the wrapping up of many loose threads. We see Bertie beginning to find his voice and, if I didn't know there were more books in the series, I could be satisfied with this volume as an end point. But it's not! So bring on the next!