The Second-Worst Restaurant in France

Written by Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by Timothy Ackroyd

In a delightful sequel to the best-selling comedic novel My Italian Bulldozer, we are in a French village where the local restaurant's haute cuisine leaves a lot to be desired--and two books into an astounding ninth series from one of our most beloved authors. Renowned cookbook writer Paul Stuart, renewed and refreshed from his time in Tuscany, has returned to Scotland to work on his new book, The Philosophy of Food in Six Easy Chapters. Writing, though, is complicated by Paul's changed domestic circumstances. His editor and new girlfriend, Gloria, has moved in with him despite not being specifically invited, and she's brought her two rather demanding Siamese cats. When Paul's cousin, Chloe, suggests Paul visit her in the French countryside, Paul jumps at the chance. However, once he arrives, he finds his fortunes tangled up with the infamous local restaurant that gives the book its title. In this story about a man who prides himself on his taste finding delight in the most unexpected places, we have Alexander McCall Smith at his most witty and charming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781980031932

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the award-winning series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and he now devotes his time to the writing of fiction, including the 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie series. He is the author of over eighty books on a wide array of subjects, and his work has been translated into forty-six languages. Before becoming a full-time writer he was for many years Professor of Medical Law at Edinburgh.

Reviews for The Second-Worst Restaurant in France

[allandanybooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

General info

Paul is a successful food writer who struggles with a little bit of a writer’s blog. Then cousin Chloe comes into the picture and offers him a chance to spend some time in the French countryside to try and get past the writer’s blog. This is the start of an interesting, a little bit funny and a very heartfelt story.

Things I liked

It was an interesting story as a whole but there are certain aspects that are especially to my liking. I especially like the people living in the village. I also really like Chloe’s character. She is a very interesting woman and she makes the story more interesting really.

Things I did not like

The beginning in my opinion is a bit slow and I was a bit doubtful if I would actually enjoy the book. It turns out it gets a lot better as the story goes on. Another part was the ending. To me it felt like it ended a little bit too soon but maybe there’s going to be another book soon that continues this book.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed this book. It is interesting an interesting story and it lifted my spirits whenever I was reading it. It has a happy ending and all in all it’s a very heartfelt story.

* ARC received from the publisher through First to Read

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

McCall Smith’s series which began with My Italian Bulldozer, is right at the top of my list for his best writing. When Paul Stuart is invited to spend time in a French village near Poitiers with his “remarkable cousin Chloe” he accepts. He is trying to write a book on the philosophy of food and a quiet village should bode well for this accomplishment, except it doesn’t. As usual, McCall Smith involves the reader in what should be a mundane story but comes alive with the characters. Eating at the village restaurant, which most locals consider the “second worst restaurant in France”, both he and Chloe become far more involved in village life than they expected. Both get roped into helping at the restaurant and as the owner becomes less and less interested in the restaurant, Paul begins helping the former waiter and nephew of the chef/owner in recreating the restaurant. Of course, there is more. The waitress has a baby in the kitchen and then must be hidden from her boyfriend who has come back to claim the baby. Chloe, in her 50’s recounts the husbands she’s had, and their landladies are concerned Chloe is not who she says she is. Like the television Seinfeld Show, McCall Smith can take a story about nothing and turn it into something interesting.

[mm_jones · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A food writer in Scotland, ostensibly writing The Philosophy of Food on a tight schedule, is lured away to France by his cousin Cleo. A charming little story with an abundance of characters. My complaint is the filler essays on food philosophy. One could say those essays are necessary for the book he agreed to write, but, while interesting, don't enhance the plot. Maybe this whole new series is to use up bits and pieces the author has on file?

[etxgardener · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Second in a series featuring food writer Paul Stuart, and written with, what appears to be an homage to Graham Greene’s Travels With My Aunt. Only in this case the aunt is Paul’s third cousin, Chloe who using the excuse of giving Paul a place to write his book, whisks him off to a rented house in the French countryside. Only instead of finding a peaceful place to write, he finds himself embroiled with a pregnant un-wed waitress with a nasty boyfriend, a young soul chef being mistreated by his uncle, and trying to save the second-worst restaurant in France from itself. As usual, with this author, this book is a delight

[brianewilliams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scottish author Paul Stuart is planning to write a book on the philosophy of food. Chloe, a cousin, invites him to share her rented house in the French countryside while he works on his book. He and Chloe adapt quickly to the idyllic picture-postcard French countryside and its pleasant way of life. The little village lacks the hustle and bustle of Stuart's Edinburgh. However, below the surface calm there's turmoil and conflict, but no overt violence. The story is told against the background of a strong sense of place.Midway through the story, Paul has a change of heart about his writing and makes a significant decision: "he (Paul) made up his mind: he would stop writing about the philosophy of food. He would write instead about a village in France that has a restaurant that needs improving. He would write about a man and a woman who come to the village and find that all is not quite as it seems. It would be a book about rescue - about how something that was failing was made to succeed."For me, this accurately sums up the inspirational message of the book. McCall Smith's "stream of consciousness" writing style produces good results here. Writing in a parable style he produces perceptive and thought-provoking observations about life and human behaviour, without preaching.Chloe with her "passport of convenience" is a standout character. Her past exploits would be interesting reading material. Another series perhaps?I can highly recommended the book as an enjoyable read. It's one of McCall Smith's hits! As the sequel to the Paul Stuart series debut novel, "My Italian Bulldozer", it can however be read as a standalone.p.s. The identity of the worst restaurant in France is never revealed.I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher, via Netgalley. The comments are my own.

[clara53_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As always - a host of topics under casual discussion here, seemingly not favoring sides but bringing forward lots of different opinions. Life is always "understandable" with McCall Smith...While reading this second installment of his relatively new (Paul Stuart series), I caught myself thinking: I do wish that McCall Smith continues to write for as long as possible, as his books create such a refuge at times from other reading material -  however wonderful but at times mentally exhausting... We need this sigh of relief, these interludes, amidst turbulent life and other books that might keep you on edge, no matter how great they are... 

[ritaer_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A food writer stays in a small French village and becomes involved in the lives of the people. Quietly amusing.