-
Corduroy Mansions
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
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Publisher's summary
From the New York Times best-selling author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency comes this serialized novel—reminiscent of his acclaimed 44 Scotland Street.
In London’s Pimlico neighborhood lies a tenement described in architectural guides as “a building of no interest whatsoever”. But the residents of Corduroy Mansions—including a literary agent, a wine merchant, a thoroughly unpleasant member of Parliament, and a vegetarian dog—are a rather fascinating lot. There’s the vitamin evangelist, the psychoanalyst, the art student with a puzzling boyfriend, and Freddie de la Hay, the Pimlico terrier who insists on wearing a seat belt and is almost certainly the only avowed vegetarian canine in London.
Filled with the ins and outs of neighborliness in all its unexpected variations, Corduroy Mansions showcases the life, laughter, and humanity that have become the hallmarks of Alexander McCall Smith’s work.
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- By Sara on 04-13-16
By: Barbara Pym
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The Lost Girls of Ireland
- Starlight Cottages, Book 1
- By: Susanne O'Leary
- Narrated by: Jennifer Fitzgerald
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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A heart-warming story about family secrets and one woman’s escape to dreamy Sandy Cove on the stunning west coast of Ireland. The picturesque beach of Wild Rose Bay is the last place Lydia Butler thought she’d be. But having just lost everything, the run-down cottage she inherited from her Great Aunt Nellie is the only place she can take her daughter, Sunny. Hidden away in a tiny Irish village, she can protect Sunny from the gossip in Dublin, and the real reason they have nowhere else to live....
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Great Read
- By Mary k.campbell on 12-02-22
By: Susanne O'Leary
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The Good Liar
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- Narrated by: Matthew Brenher
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Veteran con artist Roy spots an obvious easy mark when he meets Betty, a wealthy widow, online. In no time at all, he's moved into Betty's lovely cottage and is preparing to accompany her on a romantic trip to Europe. Betty's grandson disapproves of their blossoming relationship, but Roy is sure this scheme will be a success. He knows what he's doing. As this remarkable feat of storytelling weaves together Roy's and Betty's futures, it also unwinds their pasts.
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Hope the movie is better than the book?
- By S. Smith on 10-17-19
By: Nicholas Searle
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Staying On
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- Narrated by: Paul Shelley
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
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Tusker and Lily Smalley stayed on in India. Given the chance to return ‘home’ when Tusker, once a Colonel in the British Army, retired, they chose instead to remain in the small hill town of Pankot, with its eccentric inhabitants and archaic rituals left over from the days of the Empire. Only the tyranny of their imposing landlady threatens to upset the quiet rhythm of their days.
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A Pleasant Meander
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By: Paul Scott
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Maeve's Times
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From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve's Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity - revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter.
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A GLIMPSE THROUGH MAEVE'S LOOKING GLASS
- By jstrfic on 08-08-17
By: Maeve Binchy
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The Scent of You
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A tale of perfumes, exploring life, love, loss and forgiveness - Maggie Alderson's new best seller. Are you still married if you haven't seen your husband for months? Polly's life is great. Her children are away at uni, her glamorous mother - still modelling at 85 - is happily settled in a retirement village, and her perfume blog is taking off. Then her husband announces he needs some space and promptly vanishes. As Polly grapples with her bewildering situation, she clings to a few new friends to keep her going.
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Okay for a light read
- By Robin on 10-26-17
By: Maggie Alderson
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More Than You Know
- By: Penny Vincenzi
- Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
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A privileged girl from a privileged class, Eliza has a dazzling career in the magazine world of the 1960s. But when she falls deeply in love with Matt, an edgy working-class boy, she gives up her ritzy, fast-paced lifestyle to get married. By the end of the decade, however, their marriage has suffered a harrowing breakdown, culminating in divorce and a dramatic courtroom custody battle over their little girl. Also at risk is Eliza's gorgeous family home, a pawn in the game, which she can't bear to give up.
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Like a box of chocolates...
- By Paul Hersh on 08-06-12
By: Penny Vincenzi
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What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
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- By: Helen Oyeyemi
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In "Books and Roses", one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two lovers' fates. In "Is Your Blood as Red as This?", an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. "'Sorry' Doesn't Sweeten Her Tea" involves a "house of locks", where doors can be closed only with a key - with surprising unobservable developments. And in "If a Book Is Locked There's Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think", a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason).
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clever
- By jared rogerson on 03-15-18
By: Helen Oyeyemi
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Lie in Wait
- By: G. J. Minett
- Narrated by: Joe Jameson
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
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Owen Hall drives into a petrol station to let his passenger use the facilities. She never comes back - and what's more, it seems she never even made it inside. When Owen raises a fuss, the police are called - and soon identify Owen himself as a possible culprit, not least because they already have him in the frame for another more sinister crime. Owen's always been a little different, and before long others in the community are baying for his blood. But this is a case where nothing is as it seems - least of all Owen Hall....
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LIE IN WAIT..
- By ZacharyKindle Customer on 08-06-17
By: G. J. Minett
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What listeners say about Corduroy Mansions
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jan
- 09-24-23
Corduroy as himself
As usual, Smith introduces us to a palate of unusual characters most delightful of whom is Corduroy. I wish there had been more of him. Th ending makes it MOST worthwhile. Also, I like the CURLY image of Corduroy best.
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- E. Pearson
- 11-23-11
Characters Easy to Live With
A very good story, or rather--collection of various characters and their intermigled--stories. While different in many ways, certainly overall intent, this book reminded me quite a bit of THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE, which is high praise indeed. I've read many of A.M. Smith's books now, and always look forward to each as a time to simultaneously laugh, be inspired, and provoked to better thought and understaning. Occassionally I get tired of the endless meandering thoughts of each and every single character, and I believe CORDUROY MANSIONS brought this minor irritation out more strongly than usual, simply because each one of the many many characters is star of her or his own story, so there is an incredible amount of inner, random, meandering, thougtfulness indeed. Still, I come away from the book feeling refreshed and happy to have met more of the delightful characters from Smith's delightfully-peopled universe. I'm immensely grateful that he provides me with these most enjoyable diversions.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Judy
- 09-17-23
A Fun, Relaxing Read
As a fan of Alexander McCall Smith I knew I would enjoy this book and I did. The author’s clever, gentle humor and his way with words is a joy in a world that seems to have run amok. Thanks for a lovely getaway.
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Overall
- Svetlana
- 08-08-10
Still good, yet far from the best.
I am a big fan of Mr. Alexander McCall Smith, but, after having listened to Corduroy Mention, I felt a bit disappointed. It resembles the 44 Scotland street series in its setup, well, only it takes place in London. However, it is much flatter than the Edinburgh-placed stories: the characters are harder to engage with, there are too many of the second-plan people and stories, and London is not really present, not even in the background (and one expects the location to play at least some role in McCall Smith???s books). To me, the book felt busy and lacking depth, and some story lines were left uncompleted or not fully realized, or not connected to each other in any meaningful way.
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22 people found this helpful
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- Librarian
- 11-01-12
Start of a fabulous friendship!
Would you listen to Corduroy Mansions again? Why?
Yes I would listen to Corduroy Mansions again just as I would visit a friend again even though I had already been to their house. The story is peopled with interesting characters and a sweet dog I would gladly welcome into my home.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Freddy de la Hay, the dog.
Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
The narration is great and reliable.
Who was the most memorable character of Corduroy Mansions and why?
Freddy de la Hay, the dog.
Any additional comments?
The story is great clean fun. I will want to listen to more in the series.
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Overall
- Lynn
- 09-25-10
Wise and funny observations from my fave author.
I have read and/or listened to all of Alexander McCall Smith's books, but somehow missed the start of this new series. I began listening to "Corduroy Mansions" in audiobook format at the beginning of an intercontinental flight and it was a real struggle not to laugh out loud. I just couldn't stop listening and am now seriously jet-lagged!! Mr. McCall Smith was the first author in the yearly Pen and Podium series here in Denver. Nobody since has been as interesting, charming and funny. He's my favorite author.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Callie
- 09-17-12
Just OK
I ADORE the Ladies Detective Agency books. This is only the second or third of McCall Smith's books that I've read outside of that series, and all have disappointed. This one was OK - nothing offensive about it, and once I was well into it the characters did kind of grow on me to the point where I wanted to see them through. But there isn't that much to see through - the plot is slow and not much happens. There are TOO MANY characters and subplots woven together, and really, none of them is all that compelling. It really was kind of boring, and seemed to go on and on and on (100 chapters!?)
The reading was FINE - well done.
There were a few characters that really were a hoot - Oedipus Snark (mostly for his name) and I especially liked Terrence. But there was nothing really compelling about it - either plot or characters. And although much of it was mildly amusing, I just don't get how anyone could find it "hilarious" -?!
I'll stick to Mma Ramotswe and friends in the future. THOSE are a GIFT!
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3 people found this helpful
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- ftmgal
- 02-11-13
Another Good Series
I was leery of this because, as much as I love Precious Ramotswe, I hated the characters in 44 Scotland St. So I put this off for a long time. But this was fun, with characters I really liked. I plan to read more in the series just to see what happens to them next. I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, but I decided that Precious and Grace were 5s and these were right below.
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- Delberta
- 10-02-14
Completely Charming!
What did you like best about this story?
A quiet and thoroughly delightful excursion into the lives of a group of people living in Corduroy Mansions, which has been broken up into flats. The odd occurrences and everyday ups and downs of the inhabitants and their acquaintances are almost like a British "Rear Window" with glimpses into everyone's life. No murders, of course, unless you count a most beautiful pair of shoes.....! A regular treat, this book is!
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- John Irvin
- 05-28-14
More plot please
Any additional comments?
I always enjoy Alexander McCall Smith's work, and this was not exception. He charactors are interested and weel developed. I just wish they did something! Charactor development is fine, but some action would be appreciated.
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