Review: Short and Sweet and Wonderful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 23, 2012
What harm could an innocent meeting for morning coffee bring to a quiet life of a philosopher?  When a computer glitch schedules Isabel Dalhousie for a coffee meeting with a professor from the nearby university, she decides to meet with him despite the initial mistake.  Initially glad in her choice, for she finds in him a kindred spirit, she comes to later regret it when his wife unjustly accuses her of carrying on an affair with her husband.  Isabel is hurt by the accusation and, as usual, cannot leave the situation alone.  Instead, she determines to set the record straight and defend herself by delving into the professor's life and learning if he truly is carrying on an affair with another woman.  Though her beloved husband Jamie attempts to dissuade her from this course of action, Isabel relentlessly pursues it, leading to some surprising discoveries and more philosophical musings about life and love.This short story highlights everything that I love about McCall Smith's writing: sympathetic characters, wise observations, subtle humor (I absolutely loved the discussion about the accuracy of the frequent use of "being run over by a bus" as a metaphor for future disasters!) and simple truths that enrich the reader and leave such a pleasant feeling after the curtain closes.  If you've never read a Dalhousie book, this short story just might be the perfect starting point to draw you into this writer's magical Scottish world.