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Title: Portuguese Irregular Verbs

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Paul Hecht

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-07-05

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 169 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Von Igelfeld is the world's leading scholar on Portuguese irregular verbs, having written a majestic, nearly 1,200 page book on the subject. As one review says, "There is nothing more to be said on this subject. Nothing." But in other matters, von Igelfeld is not nearly so skilled. Whether haplessly playing tennis against an equally dreadful opponent, or committing his friends to swordfighting duels without their knowledge, von Igelfeld is somewhat naive in the ways of the world. Yet that does not stop him from having a go at life, and the results are always humorous.

If you enjoy sharp yet subtle wit, you cannot afford to miss Portuguese Irregular Verbs.

Members Reviews:

A Delightful Read

"Portuguese Irregular Verbs" was refreshing and delightfully funny. The main characters--as some have noted--are not very "loveable" at the outset, but then, they're not supposed to be! They are stuffy German intellectuals, and Smith does a remarkable job of charicaturizing these friends without resorting to flat or ugly stereotypes. Long before I finished the book I'd discovered that they each had a good number of redeemable qualities. Additional nationalities' charicatures are provided, from the dramatically friendly and chaotic Irishman and the tragically serious Indian to the single-minded Italian. I laughed outloud every few paragraphs . . . the stodgy and absent-minded, socially inept academics filled me with a desire for a long visit with some of my European friends. The narration is fantastic--probably half the reason the delightfulness of the book came through so well for me. Though so different from the "Ladies Detective Agency" series, "Irregular Verbs" only serves to highlight the author's incredible insight to the admirable and entertaining in the ordinary human character. A wonderful treat.

Perfect match of narrator and content

Alexander McCall Smith's charming, warm, touching little human comedy is perfectly evoked by this narrator. His use of gentle accents and perfect inflection makes me believe it is better to be read to than to read it on my own. At least with this narrator!

quiet and amusing

I liked this very much. It is quiet, amusing (gently so), and fun. There is NO MYSTERY here...just a sweet story about an often bemused (in the good way), German professor. Sweet and pleasant.

So ridiculous it's funny!

Of Alexander McCall Smith's adult series this one took me the longest to appreciate. This author's ability to spotlight a variety of human behaviors is evident in all of his work, but of all of his wonderful characters Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld is the most outrageous. I admit it took me a while to really appreciate the humor in this series, and in one case, a topic I don't find the least bit funny, was made so ridiculous it crossed the line of unforgivable to hysterical without my even wanting it to.

Great Entertainment

I've yet to read any of McCall Smith's books without being surprised at the depth and originality of the characters. Not to mention such a great sense of humor that I can't help but laugh as I listen, producing strange looks from those around me at the time.