La’s Orchestra Saves the World rescued me from a winter’s gray day and cold night. Alexander McCall Smith’s gentle book strongly evokes character, place and time. This novel is set in England during World War II with worthwhile looks into both the before and after days. McCall Smith introduces the reader to La, and you glance at her education at Cambridge and her brief marriage. Then you receive longer glimpses of La’s 1939 move from London to the country, development of a Victory garden, involvement with her new neighbors and their lives (foxes and hens included) and, of course, the composition of the orchestra. This is a story of “unremarkable” people living through extreme and every day events. You will read of seemingly small decisions made and the impact those choices had. There are opportunities to ask “what would I have done?” but even without introspection, this is a fine way to spend reading hours. CMPL offers La’s Orchestra Saves the World in print, large print or audio CD. If you’ve read or listened to other offerings by McCall Smith, you’ll recognize his style. I like it!
Appropriate for adults or young adults.
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