The Winds From Further West

 The Winds From Further West

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       October 28, 2024

 

Author  Alexander McCall Smith

Distributor:      New South Books
ISBN:                 9781846976698
Publisher:         Polygon
Release Date:   October 2024  

   Website:   https://newsouthbooks.com.au/books/the-winds-from-further-west

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Alexander McCall Smith loves to address ethical and moral dilemmas, and he has done so with interesting effect in The Winds From Further West. The reader has to ponder the various scenarios in the story, and this causes one to select what action we would take. We are given both sides of the story and it is surprising how much your opinions can change during this interesting time.

The story begins with Neil, who is a Lecturer at University. His focus is on Public Health. A student challenges him on a remark he thought Neil made and reports him to the Dean. She is newly appointed and determined to rise to all challenges. Her insistence that Neil apologises brings about a tumbling effect of catastrophic events. Each of these events Neil weighs up thoughtfully. His best friend advises him strongly to “Go for the jugular”, but it is not this gentleman’s way.

Issues with his partner arise and the Lecturer feels the need to get away for a while. His best friend offers him the use of a house on the island of Mull, and Neil gladly accepts. He needs solitude to think and reason. Here on the island, there are also issues. A boat is intercepted at the harbour and Neil and his neighbour check out the cargo. They find some cubs in a cage. These turn out to be wolf cubs which may have to be put down.

It is satisfying to be a part of the reasoning that Neil and his friends discuss. Alexander shows again his love of Scotland, and his descriptions of the Island of Mull are engaging. As always, the stories he writes have a positive and satisfying outcome.

Fiction