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The Bertie Project  By  cover art

The Bertie Project

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie
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Publisher's summary

The newest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's perennially popular and irresistibly charming 44 Scotland Street series.

Bertie's respite from his overbearing mother, Irene, is over. She has returned home from the Middle East, only to discover that her son has been exposed to the worst of evils: cartoons, movies, and even carbonated beverages. But the one who should be most concerned is her unfortunate husband, Stuart, upon whom her wrath is about to descend.

Meanwhile, Bruce has fallen in love with someone other than himself; Big Lou wants to adopt her beloved Finlay; Matthew and Elspeth host the Duke of Johannesburg for supper; and Bertie decides he wants to move away from Scotland Street altogether and live with his grandmother, Nicola. Will Irene and Stuart's marriage survive? Will Bruce's newfound love last? And can Bertie really be leaving home?

With wit, warmth, and humor, Alexander McCall Smith explores these matters of the heart and more with the colorful cast of characters from 44 Scotland Street.

©2016 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2017 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Bertie Project

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Irene strikes again

Would you listen to The Bertie Project again? Why?

Probably. I often re-listen to books. My only hesitation here is that I finished the book for the first time two days ago, and I'm still depressed (which is not a normal response on finishing a book). I usually regret leaving favorite characters, until the next installment when I can get caught up again. But Irene isn't just overbearing, she has crossed the line and is an abuser And she's winning (at least for now). Like a lot of other followers of the denizens of 44 Scotland Street, I am anxious for a good resolution. I also noticed a couple of discontinuities here. I thought that Elspeth's parents were both deceased, but she visits them in this volume. Did I miss something? And in this story, Dr. Fairburn supposedly encounters Ulysses for the first time. But I think that Ulysses was born before Dr. Fairburn absconded to Aberdeen and would have met Ulysses during one of Bertie's sessions.

What did you like best about this story?

I like watching Bertie grow up and develop his friendships. I like that Dominica and Nicola are becoming friends. I'm glad that Nicola stayed in Edinburgh after Irene returned form Dubai. I like how Elspeth and Matthew are handling parenthood. I'm really glad Angus got his wits back.

What does Robert Ian Mackenzie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not Scottish. So Mr. Mackenzie's rendering gives the characters much more depth than I would be able to engender with only the voices in my head.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Depression ... as mentioned above. I understand that Mr. McCall Smith is probably not looking to delve into the area of spousal and child abuse. But he has a good foil for that narrative with the evil Irene.

Any additional comments?

I love Mr. McCall Smith's ability to tell a story that is engaging without needing to resort to graphic descriptions of sex or violence.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Not again

Would you consider the audio edition of The Bertie Project to be better than the print version?

You tend to get to the character by the way Narrator portrayed them.The voice used for Bertie and Stewart leads you to feel sorry while Irene's voice triggers anger.

What did you like best about this story?

Stewart developing a backbone for awhile

What does Robert Ian Mackenzie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The pain and struggles of the characters- a sense of meekness in Bertie thetas common to his father.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The struggles of the Bertie and Stewart is becoming more unbelievable. Somebody needs happiness.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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More on Bertie, soon, if you please!!

Quite a lot happens in this book, but I'm always yearning for Bertie to have more adventures and for Stewart to "man up" to his impossible wife! I do hope Alexander McCall Smith is busily writing more of these adventures right now!!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Heart hurts for Bertie

Can't wait for Stewart to at least fight for Bertie if not for himself. All the usual characters who are so engaging. Just tired of hearing this little boy tortured

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I'm a fan, but...

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not sure. I've enjoyed the Scotland Street series up to now, but I'm getting a bit fed up with Eileen, who's turning into a total caricature, and perhaps a vessel for the author's misogyny, along with Olive, her mini-me...

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Get rid of Eileen, already. Give Bertie and Stuart a break.

Was The Bertie Project worth the listening time?

Slow moving like all McCall Smith's books, and tends to meander but as long as I'm listening to Mackenzie's lovely accent I don't really mind.

Any additional comments?

I think it's about time for Bertie to start standing up for himself. Stuart might be a lost cause. The previous volume, when Eileen was out of the way stuck in the desert, was more enjoyable.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Love 44 Scotland Street

If you could sum up The Bertie Project in three words, what would they be?

Not my favorite. I love this series, and I read nearly everything McCall Smith writes, and this book was a nice part of the series, but somehow the story misses. Still wonderful and it's always nice to spend time with the characters in this series. But I ran out of patience with the story on this one. As always, a lovely performance by Robert Ian Mackenzie.

What other book might you compare The Bertie Project to and why?

Maybe this is the problem - this story is too similar to past ones and it's beginning to seem formulaic. The same characters running up against the same situations. I'm especially tired of Bruce and his narcissism and Irene and her awfulness.

Any additional comments?

I will continue to read this series and I hope McCall Smith continues to write the story of the characters at 44 Scotland Street. I will miss them when he stops.

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3 people found this helpful

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Makes me want to visit Scotland

This continuation of the Bertie saga is delightfully welcome, hugely entertaining, filled with timely and astute political and philosophical observations, beautifully narrated...and yet a tad disappointing. I suppose one could say that life, itself, is often a tad disappointing, and there is every reason for this tale to be as honest as wee Bertie, for example. I cannot discuss what does or does not happen without affecting future readers' enjoyment, but I do think--on reflection--that the finale works fine. I can live with it. I just wanted the story to keep going. We will all be okay somehow, we realize, with or without the Turner Prize.

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always a gift

this series never gets old -- especially with this narrator. I don't want any of the characters to age!

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WONDERFUL as usual.

Each book by this author is a treasure. They end too quickly. I am so looking forward to the next one in the series.

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Old friends

What a wonderful listen. So happy to hear more about Bertie and all the interesting, delightful characters who surround him. I look forward to the next book.

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