Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind

by Alexander McCall Smith

A delightful collection of stories and photographs from the best-selling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, imagining the lives and loves of everyday people in the twentieth century

Pictures capture moments in time, presenting the viewer with a window into another life. But a picture can go only so far. Who are the people in the image? What are their fears? What are their dreams?

The fourteen captivating tales in this collection are all inspired by photos from the Times of London archive. A young woman finds unexpected love while perusing Egyptian antiquities. A family is forever fractured when war comes to Penang, in colonial Malaysia. Iron Jelloid tablets help to reveal a young man’s inner strength. And twin sisters discover that it’s never too late to forge a new path—even when standing at the altar.
 
There are big stories behind these simple images. Though at first glance they may appear to represent small moments, these photographs in fact speak volumes, uncovering possibilities of love, friendship, and happiness. With his indomitable charm, Alexander McCall Smith takes us behind the lens to explore the hidden lives of those photographed; in so doing, he reveals the humanity in us all.

• ISBN10: 0593315758
• ISBN13: 9780593315750
• Publish Date: 19 January 2021 (first published 10 October 2019)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Pantheon
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 192
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780593315750

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Pianos and Flowers is a collection of the sort of vignettes and whimsical recountings for which Alexander McCall Smith is world renowned. Originally released in 2019, this reformat and re-release from Knopf Doubleday on their Pantheon imprint was released 19th Jan 2021. It's 192 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

For all the fans of Madame Ramotswe, Isabel Dalhousie, Bertie, and the gang at 44 Scotland Street, and his other kindly and gently written characters, this is something a little bit different. The author accessed photos from the archives of the Sunday Times and wrote a series of short vignettes inspired by the tableaux presented. They're whimsical and engaging, but not precisely the same humorous and gentle lyrical style of his better known series.

It's a fascinating idea for a writing prompt. Find a vintage photo and write a story. Maybe something for writers groups to consider or for NaNoWriMo.

There are 14 stories in all, a few were previously published in the Sunday Times, the rest are new (according to the author's note). They're a varied lot, most were engaging, a few were indifferent, and none were unappealing. I would definitely recommend it for library acquisition or for die-hard fans of the author's oeuvre. The vintage photos also added a lot to the read.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.