If you enjoyed The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency or The Sunday Philosophy Club or any of Alexander McCall Smith’s writings as much as I do, then you’ll be excited to know he has a new venture – Corduroy Mansions. I used the word venture because Mr. Smith is serializing his latest book on-line. You and I will be able to read a chapter (a little over 1000 words) a day starting Monday, September 21st. This is one modern creation in book publishing that I’m very interested in following.
The volume that starts Monday is actually his second installment in the Corduroy Mansions series. This volume is called The Dog Who Came In From the Cold. Don’t worry, you aren’t going to miss a thing. Here’s what Mr. Smith had to say about that:
“. . . and people who did not read the first series will be at no disadvantage if they start with this new volume. That is not because nothing happened in the first volume – it did – but rather because these stories are character-based: what interests me is what makes the characters tick rather than intricate and potentially confusing plots.”
Corduroy Mansions is an apartment building in the Pimlico section of London. The story revolves around the people who live in each of the ‘flats’. I have already picked my favorite characters and I can’t wait to see what happens to them. (The links below told me about each of the characters.)
The other exciting thing about this series is that readers can make suggestions to Mr. Smith about the story. He said he’s usually only about 20 chapters ahead and welcomes input from his readers. I’m going to join in on the reading and try to come up with some suggestions. I plan to share all of this with you on a regular basis. I hope you’ll join in so we can talk about our favorite characters.
You can find the story and lots of information about Corduroy Mansions at these links:
For general information go here: Telegraph.co.uk
For a summary go here: Corduroy Mansions
For a walking tour of Pimlico with Mr. Smith go here: Pimlico Video Tour
I absolutely love that graphic! But, alas, I’m one of the few who really just doesn’t like McCall. Maybe I should give this new series a try. Thanks for the links.
I love that graphic! And yes, with Beth F., probably more than I like McCall! I tried a couple – liked one, bored with the other. But I have always liked his covers! :–)
I do love the sweet, slow nature of McCall’s writing and this really intrigues me.
I’ve almost finished Corduroy Mansions as I’m taking part in the blogger book club for the sequel. I’ll be reading along and would love to be able to influence the plot! I should have my review for the first in the series up today or tomorrow. Have you read it?
I read the first installment of Curduroy Mansions when it was in the Telegraph.
I will have to check out the next installment.
Thanks!!
This does sound really interesting. I might have to check it out even though I’ve not read McCall yet. I’m just as interested in the concept as anything else. Thanks for the heads up Margot!
Margot,
I am so pleased that I chose to rejoin twitter and so got back to your blogs. I am a great McCall-fan, have read most of his books about Mma Ramotswe and her no.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and have just bought “Tea Time for the Traditionally Built”, which is lying fresh and unopened waiting for me. This spring i downloaded Corduroy Mansion as a podcast on iTunes, but did not know that he is starting a second volume today my time (=Scandinavian time).
Thank you so much for the tip and the link to the Telegraph.
Do you know London? I have been there a few times, love the city and love the English. I am a retired English teacher.
Cordially
Randi
Oh, I can’t wait to read this! I love McCall, love Mma Ramotswe and all the characters! I just don’t want to sit at the computer and read it. Since we lived on edge of Pimlico for 8 years, reading this will be like a lovely visit “home.”
To Jane
You do not have to sit at the computer to read it, you know. You can either print or listen. Do you have iTunes in the US? The free program to download. I have subscribed to “The Dog who . . .” as a podcast, which costs nothing, on iTunes, so as soon as I turn on this program, the latest installments are automatically downloaded. There are four of them at the moment.
You also find “The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency” as podcasts on the same program”.
Hope this was useful information!
Randi