Charming. Can any of us make a difference to the great events which determine our fate? That is the question Alexander McCall Smith explores in La's Orchestra Saves the World.
The story is set in Britain and told through the eyes of a young woman named Lavender (all her friends call her La). La is a very real character - although intelligent, strong-willed and determined, at times she displayed self-doubt and struggled with want versus obligation. McCall Smith takes the reader on a journey with La from her days at university, first love, personal tragedy and the upheaval of the Second World War. Along the way the reader is introduced to a cast of characters from many walks of life, displaying determination and courage in many forms, as they each do what they can to contribute to the war effort.
The best word I can use to describe the writing style displayed by McCall Smith in this novel is 'quality'. It is neither self-indulgent nor sparing - his use of the British language and vocabulary is exemplary. There is something very rewarding about learning a new word or two through the enjoyment of a charming story. After all, why read if it is not to learn something, whether that be a new word or more about ourselves through personal reflection? La's Orchestra Saves the World serves up opportunities for personal reflection in spades. Would I have been so selfless? At what point does defence become aggression? What do allegiances really mean, and can the place a person was born dictate what they do and don't deserve out of life? Is happiness a right or something we must earn?
La's Orchestra Saves the World is a story about personal sacrifice and the strength of the human spirit. Although at times hauntingly sad, this story is equally uplifting, and well worth reading.
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