Heavenly Date & Other Flirtations (1995)

by Alexander McCall Smith

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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568	14	42,493	(3.01)	11
In these hilarious stories of perverse meetings, casual dates and romantic encounters, we are enthralled, saddened, inspired and surprised by the encounters we witness. McCall Smith, a master of the unexpected and a seamless storyteller, revels in offering us the quirky complications inherent in entanglements which human beings engineer for themselves - entanglements that can be shocking, edifying, compulsive, complicated and sometimes, completely disastrous. This is an exceptional collection of stories from an author whose rapidly growing audience delights in his extraordinary imagination and delicious insights into the endlessly fascinating peculiarities of the human condition.… (more)

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Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)

Boring and depressing stories, at least the first three. I'm not willing to give the rest a chance. Ick. (

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MrsLee | Dec 19, 2017 |

None of these stories grabbed me. I found them dreary and uninspiring. The only story for which I felt anything other than antipathy and/or disappointment at the end was I think called 'Far North', but even that was just ok.

The actual quality of writing is, as one would expect, not at all bad, but the plotting... I don't know. I've come to accept and even enjoy the lack of traditional plot arc in McCall Smith's Philosopher's Club series, but he doesn't get away with it in short story form in my opinion.

Some mention similarities with Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected. Well, I found that collection boring, with endings that were entirely predictable, so perhaps the comparison is apt. (

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Vivl | Aug 28, 2013 |

This was my first attempt at an audiobook. I drive ~ 9-10 hours a week, and usually listen to the radio, but I figured that I might actually be able to use that time to get the odd book in. Started with this one as it is a series of short stories over 6 CDs - so there's the opportunity to stop at regular intervals. A series of dates and relationships are explored, some more successful that others. An interesting bunch, with a range of characters, some more likable than others. I'll certainly give this author another go and will try another audiobook as well. (

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Helenliz | Apr 1, 2013 |

Stories about dating--variously tragic, depressing, baffling, other-worldly--one character has a date with an angel followed by a sort of immaculate conception. Absurd--a woman has a date with an Australian who first bores her by droning on about fishing and then gets eaten by a crocodile while she looks on horrified but helpless. Further horror ensues when she is accused of his murder, though all's well in the end. Uproarious--A psychiatrist (probably a cohort of Von Igelfeld of Portuguese Irregular Verbs)details three case studies of psychosis brought on by dating. Overall, though, a bit more heavy than expected from this author. (

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Lynn_Barker | May 10, 2012 |

One can always depend on A. McCall Smith for a wonderful read. This collection of short stories is no exception. These insightful and well-written cameos say so much about human nature, they are full of wisdom, humanity, and humor. At the end of each story I was tempted to say either "that's how it is..." or "what now?...", as the author makes you reflect on life and sometimes imagine your own endings. (

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Clara53 | Mar 29, 2011 |

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If you adore Smith's lovely Botswana-set novels of manners (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, etc.), you might be tempted to pick up this collection of short fiction, which sports the same small size and boldly colored jacket.

added by mikeg2 | editEntertainment Weekly, Tina Jordan (Aug 15, 2003)

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Alexander McCall Smith	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Prebble, Simon	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

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Audie Award (Finalist – Short Stories/Collections – 2005)

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Canonical title

Heavenly Date & Other Flirtations

Original title

Alternative titles

Heavenly Date & Other Flirtations

Original publication date

1995

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▾Book descriptions

In these hilarious stories of perverse meetings, casual dates and romantic encounters, we are enthralled, saddened, inspired and surprised by the encounters we witness. McCall Smith, a master of the unexpected and a seamless storyteller, revels in offering us the quirky complications inherent in entanglements which human beings engineer for themselves - entanglements that can be shocking, edifying, compulsive, complicated and sometimes, completely disastrous. This is an exceptional collection of stories from an author whose rapidly growing audience delights in his extraordinary imagination and delicious insights into the endlessly fascinating peculiarities of the human condition.

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