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No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #2
Tears of the Giraffe
Librarian note: Older cover edition of 9780349116655.
In 1999 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency received two Booker Judges' Special Recommendations and was voted one of the ‘International Books of the Year and the Millennium' by the Times Literary Supplement.
Tears of the Giraffe takes us further into the life of the engaging and sassy Precious Ramotswe, the owner and detective of Botswana's only Ladies' detective agency. Among her cases are wayward wives, unscrupulous maids and a challenge to resolve a mother's pain for her son, who is long lost on the African plains. Mma Ramotswe's own impending marriage to that most gentlemanly of men, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, the promotion of her secretary to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective and new additions to the Matekoni family, all brew up the most humorous and charmingly entertaining of tales.
In 1999 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency received two Booker Judges' Special Recommendations and was voted one of the ‘International Books of the Year and the Millennium' by the Times Literary Supplement.
Tears of the Giraffe takes us further into the life of the engaging and sassy Precious Ramotswe, the owner and detective of Botswana's only Ladies' detective agency. Among her cases are wayward wives, unscrupulous maids and a challenge to resolve a mother's pain for her son, who is long lost on the African plains. Mma Ramotswe's own impending marriage to that most gentlemanly of men, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, the promotion of her secretary to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective and new additions to the Matekoni family, all brew up the most humorous and charmingly entertaining of tales.
233 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
553 books12.3k followersAlexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,501 reviews
May 20, 2013
I think a lot of the reviews appear to ignore this is a series written as a tea cozy mystery genre type. Genres follow commonly accepted rules of plotting and characterization depending on the type of genre. Every once in awhile critics get excited over a "genre bending" book because a book didn't follow the rules. This series is NOT genre bending. What it is is an extremely well written, warm, amusing, tea cozy that lightly touchs on many aspects of African life, VERY lightly. A light touch is at the heart of being a tea cozy mystery and this series does not break any of the conventions of genre writing rules. What sets it apart is the location. The characters are REALLY charming and that is all about the talent of the author. The only quibble I have is the underlying moral tone is a bit louder than it should be even if it's appropriate.
June 14, 2019
I enjoyed the tv show, now I am enjoying the books.
September 6, 2022
Don't come to this series for the mysteries.
They are actually quite uninteresting. The resolutions are nothing like what any self-respecting mystery fan would call satisfying, and justice is rarely served.
However.
That's not to say this isn't a great series. I mean, there's so much to love here story-wise. It's a slow burn, rambling slice-of-life tale that sucks you into these people's everyday hopes and dreams.
I got choked up a couple of times listening to this one.
Mr. JLB Matekoni is adorable. I love him. I LOVE HIM.
I will say there is a very blasé outlook on cheating that I'm not quite onboard with when it comes to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. I'm on the fence about some of the cases, to be honest.
But I think this is a series that I will return to when I'm looking for some easily digestible comfort food.
They are actually quite uninteresting. The resolutions are nothing like what any self-respecting mystery fan would call satisfying, and justice is rarely served.
However.
That's not to say this isn't a great series. I mean, there's so much to love here story-wise. It's a slow burn, rambling slice-of-life tale that sucks you into these people's everyday hopes and dreams.
I got choked up a couple of times listening to this one.
Mr. JLB Matekoni is adorable. I love him. I LOVE HIM.
I will say there is a very blasé outlook on cheating that I'm not quite onboard with when it comes to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. I'm on the fence about some of the cases, to be honest.
But I think this is a series that I will return to when I'm looking for some easily digestible comfort food.
April 5, 2018
I have never really have any interest in reading the books by this author, but recently a member friend suggested I would probably like them so I decided to give the first one a try. Actually I chose the second in the series by mistake. In the end it didn't really make any difference.
The book is fairly short and an easy read. The cover is colourful and striking. The style of writing is quite unique. It is simple and straightforward with a gentle feel, almost old fashioned in a way and somehow it reflects the atmosphere of Africa. The book is set in Botswana. I did find the names of the characters initially confusing and had to keep checking as to who was who. The main character is a lady detective and is an intriguing personality. The pace is slow in an unhurried fashion and the crime seems to take a back step in that the book is much more about the characters. Madam Precious Ramotswe is a quiet personality on the surface. She is warm and kind. Her intuitive nature is a great aid in that it helps her solve her cases with little fuss and she misses nothing. The man she is engaged too...Mr J. L B Matekoni is also a kindly and gentle personality. I wasn't blown away by the book but it was often touching. There is an absence of the violence often found in the thrillers/crime/ mystery genre. I liked the main characters and it did hold my interest throughout. I will be reading Book One.
The book is fairly short and an easy read. The cover is colourful and striking. The style of writing is quite unique. It is simple and straightforward with a gentle feel, almost old fashioned in a way and somehow it reflects the atmosphere of Africa. The book is set in Botswana. I did find the names of the characters initially confusing and had to keep checking as to who was who. The main character is a lady detective and is an intriguing personality. The pace is slow in an unhurried fashion and the crime seems to take a back step in that the book is much more about the characters. Madam Precious Ramotswe is a quiet personality on the surface. She is warm and kind. Her intuitive nature is a great aid in that it helps her solve her cases with little fuss and she misses nothing. The man she is engaged too...Mr J. L B Matekoni is also a kindly and gentle personality. I wasn't blown away by the book but it was often touching. There is an absence of the violence often found in the thrillers/crime/ mystery genre. I liked the main characters and it did hold my interest throughout. I will be reading Book One.
November 15, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up for the charm. Such a great series - still going strong. Loved visiting with this crew! The mystery is fairly superficial, but that's the point!
December 30, 2021
Not sure what McCall Smith's series did to pee me off so much back when I first read it in 2004, but I gave it and its subsequent volumes a measly Two Stars, but that's what I did. Looking back on this series I found it enlightening and interesting getting into the nitty gritty of life in a small-town Botswana; the life, the trials and the tribulations of a woman trying to set up and run her own detective agency. This instalment sees the main protagonist PI Precious Ramotswe investigating a missing American and juggling that with having unforeseen trouble at home!
The only thing I can think of is that the background was pretty good but the actual detective cases lacked imagination? 5 out of 12.
2004 read
The only thing I can think of is that the background was pretty good but the actual detective cases lacked imagination? 5 out of 12.
2004 read
July 26, 2019
4★
“ ‘You are a fortunate man,’ said the jeweller. ‘Not every man can find such a cheerful, fat woman to marry. There are many thin, hectoring women around today. This one will make you very happy.’ Mr J.L.B. Matekoni acknowledged the compliment.”
As you can see, Botswana has a culture all its own. Our attention is on the one and only Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of the now well-known No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. This is an agency unlike any other, and it’s in a unique part of the world, beautiful and deadly.
She is an intelligent, kindly, bush tea-drinking lady who drives an old, tiny, white van which Mr J.L.B. Matekoni has managed to keep on the road . . . so far. One day, she gives a lift to a lady, who, after seeing Mma Ramotswe’s engagement ring, offers her opinion of the couple.
“It was a good thing to marry a mechanic, she said, as she had heard that they made the best husbands. You should try to marry a policeman, a mechanic or a minister of religion, she said, and you should never marry a politician, a barman, or a taxi driver. These people always caused a great deal of trouble for their wives.”
The pace is leisurely, and the books are full of gentle, philosophical humour. The author makes a point of using his platform to teach us about his homeland. He frequently refers to Africa as a single entity, rather than the large, complex continent that it is, comprising 54 different countries as well as other states and territories.
I wonder if that is because so many people think of Africa that way. We don’t expect Germany to be like Italy, although both are in Europe, and we know India is not like Japan, although both are in Asia. Botswana has its own identity – you will find it near the bottom of the continent.
Map of the countries of Africa
These are heart-warming stories, but the dark undercurrent of historical wars and feuds is always there. When she has to travel across the border to Zimbabwe, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is not happy.
“‘It is more dangerous than Botswana,’ he had said. ‘There's always some sort of trouble up there. There was the war, and then the rebels, and then other trouble-makers. Roadblocks. Holdups. That sort of thing. What if your van breaks down?’ ”
She stands her ground. She is a role model for her young secretary, Mma Makutsi, who is an earnest go-getter, full of enthusiasm and trying desperately to belong somewhere and make something of herself. The author also takes advantage of our attention by giving us some insight into the cultural bias which seems to be the same around the world..
Mma Makutsi has been overlooked everywhere else. She is very dark-skinned and has had no luck straightening her “uncooperative” hair. The lighter-skinned girls get all the attention.
“The fun in this life, the good jobs, the rich husbands, were not a matter of merit and hard work, but were a matter of brute, unshifting biology. Mma Makutsi stood before the mirror and cried.”
But now she has a job! She and her boss drink tea together and wait for clients. She would like to be a detective, too. Mma Ramotswe tells her
“‘As you get older, in fact, you see more sides to a situation. Things are more clear-cut at your age.’ She paused, then added: ‘Mind you, remember that I am not quite forty. I am not all that old.’
‘No,’ said Mma Makutsi. ‘That is just about the right age for a person to be.’ ”
What a nice example of positive thinking! (Of course, she'll have to change her tune in a few years.)
There are actual cases that need solving, but the attraction is the people and the place.
“. . . the sun began to rise above the plains, and for a few minutes, the whole world was a pulsating yellow-gold—the kopjes, the panoply of the treetops, last season's dry grass beside the road, the very dust. The sun, a great red ball, seemed to hang above the horizon and then freed itself and floated up over Africa; the natural colours of the day returned. . . “
These are suitable for anyone, and I think you could enjoy this without having read the first, but these are all part of a continuing story and best read that way.
“ ‘You are a fortunate man,’ said the jeweller. ‘Not every man can find such a cheerful, fat woman to marry. There are many thin, hectoring women around today. This one will make you very happy.’ Mr J.L.B. Matekoni acknowledged the compliment.”
As you can see, Botswana has a culture all its own. Our attention is on the one and only Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of the now well-known No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. This is an agency unlike any other, and it’s in a unique part of the world, beautiful and deadly.
She is an intelligent, kindly, bush tea-drinking lady who drives an old, tiny, white van which Mr J.L.B. Matekoni has managed to keep on the road . . . so far. One day, she gives a lift to a lady, who, after seeing Mma Ramotswe’s engagement ring, offers her opinion of the couple.
“It was a good thing to marry a mechanic, she said, as she had heard that they made the best husbands. You should try to marry a policeman, a mechanic or a minister of religion, she said, and you should never marry a politician, a barman, or a taxi driver. These people always caused a great deal of trouble for their wives.”
The pace is leisurely, and the books are full of gentle, philosophical humour. The author makes a point of using his platform to teach us about his homeland. He frequently refers to Africa as a single entity, rather than the large, complex continent that it is, comprising 54 different countries as well as other states and territories.
I wonder if that is because so many people think of Africa that way. We don’t expect Germany to be like Italy, although both are in Europe, and we know India is not like Japan, although both are in Asia. Botswana has its own identity – you will find it near the bottom of the continent.
Map of the countries of Africa
These are heart-warming stories, but the dark undercurrent of historical wars and feuds is always there. When she has to travel across the border to Zimbabwe, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is not happy.
“‘It is more dangerous than Botswana,’ he had said. ‘There's always some sort of trouble up there. There was the war, and then the rebels, and then other trouble-makers. Roadblocks. Holdups. That sort of thing. What if your van breaks down?’ ”
She stands her ground. She is a role model for her young secretary, Mma Makutsi, who is an earnest go-getter, full of enthusiasm and trying desperately to belong somewhere and make something of herself. The author also takes advantage of our attention by giving us some insight into the cultural bias which seems to be the same around the world..
Mma Makutsi has been overlooked everywhere else. She is very dark-skinned and has had no luck straightening her “uncooperative” hair. The lighter-skinned girls get all the attention.
“The fun in this life, the good jobs, the rich husbands, were not a matter of merit and hard work, but were a matter of brute, unshifting biology. Mma Makutsi stood before the mirror and cried.”
But now she has a job! She and her boss drink tea together and wait for clients. She would like to be a detective, too. Mma Ramotswe tells her
“‘As you get older, in fact, you see more sides to a situation. Things are more clear-cut at your age.’ She paused, then added: ‘Mind you, remember that I am not quite forty. I am not all that old.’
‘No,’ said Mma Makutsi. ‘That is just about the right age for a person to be.’ ”
What a nice example of positive thinking! (Of course, she'll have to change her tune in a few years.)
There are actual cases that need solving, but the attraction is the people and the place.
“. . . the sun began to rise above the plains, and for a few minutes, the whole world was a pulsating yellow-gold—the kopjes, the panoply of the treetops, last season's dry grass beside the road, the very dust. The sun, a great red ball, seemed to hang above the horizon and then freed itself and floated up over Africa; the natural colours of the day returned. . . “
These are suitable for anyone, and I think you could enjoy this without having read the first, but these are all part of a continuing story and best read that way.
December 7, 2022
Reading about the ladies again gives me so much joy!
February 2, 2019
I have a lot to say about Alexander McCall Smith’s series. It is for readers who don’t mind jumping outside a structure and especially; for appreciators of the rich, intricate privilege of immersion in someone else’s culture. Acquaintance with Botswana, Africa is the point. Mysteries are on the side but this series certainly belongs to the genre, in the Botswana way. An incongruous person and place make Precious Ramotswe’s career whimsical; except that it works! Her ‘No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’ receives ample clients. Rather than one mystery driving the novels; she solves two or three per story, while we observe life in her customs and climate.
Do not minimize these by mistaking the underlying whimsy for “cozy mysteries”. The cultural portrayals are profound and the topics are very serious and sobering. These are “standard adult mysteries”, with a perceptive heroine who surprises us at every turn and makes them spectacular. This is a novel to envision, when we say some of them feel like a journey. Uncannily, this Scottish author has no accent and writes halting, plain dialogue; just the way educated people whose second language is English would speak. We learn how to address men and women, how to respectfully shake hands, and to upturn both of them to receive a gift. Not hiring domestic help if you can afford it at all is considered unkind, for it employs the would-be poor. I feel well-versed in interacting appropriately, if I could visit.
An astonishing survival tactic of a nomadic race, is burying nursing infants if their Mothers die, because taking care of them would weigh on their resources! Siblings come into the lives of Precious and her fiancé, because a Sister saved her Brother and they eventually joined an orphanage. “Tears Of The Giraffe”, 200o, is poignantly memorable.
Do not minimize these by mistaking the underlying whimsy for “cozy mysteries”. The cultural portrayals are profound and the topics are very serious and sobering. These are “standard adult mysteries”, with a perceptive heroine who surprises us at every turn and makes them spectacular. This is a novel to envision, when we say some of them feel like a journey. Uncannily, this Scottish author has no accent and writes halting, plain dialogue; just the way educated people whose second language is English would speak. We learn how to address men and women, how to respectfully shake hands, and to upturn both of them to receive a gift. Not hiring domestic help if you can afford it at all is considered unkind, for it employs the would-be poor. I feel well-versed in interacting appropriately, if I could visit.
An astonishing survival tactic of a nomadic race, is burying nursing infants if their Mothers die, because taking care of them would weigh on their resources! Siblings come into the lives of Precious and her fiancé, because a Sister saved her Brother and they eventually joined an orphanage. “Tears Of The Giraffe”, 200o, is poignantly memorable.
May 31, 2020
Book 2 does not disappoint! Fantastic character development and a continued strong sense of place. As the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency continues to solve cases, there are ethical dilemmas that must be pondered. What is the distinction between the actions of a detective and that of a criminal? Love these characters and am looking forward to my next visit to the world of Precious Ramotswe.
May 19, 2011
I don't seek out Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, and yet when I run across them in a clearance rack I can't help but pick them up. Tears Of The Giraffe is the second in the series, and it is just as charming, just as gently comic, as the first installment.
My only problem with the book -- and it's little more than a nagging feeling in the back of my head -- is that the author's depiction of his protagonist, the exceedingly down-to-earth, compassionate and somewhat bumbling detective Mma Precious Ramotswe, borders on caricature and smells just a bit of cultural superiority ("Hey, readers, let's laugh at this overweight African lady who spends her days drinking bush tea and solving trifling mysteries."). I forgive McCall Smith for this, however, as it's clearly not his intent: His love for the country of Botswana, perhaps for the entire African continent, is genuine and infectious -- I can see why the country's leaders see these books (and the HBO series they inspired) as good advertisements to potential tourists.
My only problem with the book -- and it's little more than a nagging feeling in the back of my head -- is that the author's depiction of his protagonist, the exceedingly down-to-earth, compassionate and somewhat bumbling detective Mma Precious Ramotswe, borders on caricature and smells just a bit of cultural superiority ("Hey, readers, let's laugh at this overweight African lady who spends her days drinking bush tea and solving trifling mysteries."). I forgive McCall Smith for this, however, as it's clearly not his intent: His love for the country of Botswana, perhaps for the entire African continent, is genuine and infectious -- I can see why the country's leaders see these books (and the HBO series they inspired) as good advertisements to potential tourists.
December 9, 2008
I absolutely adored the first in Smith’s Botswanan stories, so after a while I set about tackling the sequel. I wasn’t disappointed.
TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE is the better book purely because Smith doesn’t have to carefully set up the situation and characters; we already know all about them, so he can just get on with it.
The best thing about this novel is all of the different ingredients thrown into the mix. We have another missing child, with a much more complex story this time around; we have a heart-breaking story of a couple of orphans, and we have further character development on the part of Precious’ love interest, Mr Matekoni, as well as her secretary.
As a whole the book seems a little deeper, a little more vivid, a little more in touch with the spirit of Africa, and it’s a delightful read.
TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE is the better book purely because Smith doesn’t have to carefully set up the situation and characters; we already know all about them, so he can just get on with it.
The best thing about this novel is all of the different ingredients thrown into the mix. We have another missing child, with a much more complex story this time around; we have a heart-breaking story of a couple of orphans, and we have further character development on the part of Precious’ love interest, Mr Matekoni, as well as her secretary.
As a whole the book seems a little deeper, a little more vivid, a little more in touch with the spirit of Africa, and it’s a delightful read.
September 2, 2021
Mma Ramotswe felt afraid. She had experienced fear only once or twice before in her work as Botswana's only lady private detective (a title she still deserved; Mma Makutsi, it had to be remembered, was only an assistant private detective). She had felt this way when she had gone to see Charlie Gotso, the wealthy businessman who still cultivated witch doctors, and indeed on that meeting she had wondered whether her calling might one day bring her up against real danger. Now, faced with going to Dr. Ranta's house, the same cold feeling had settled in her stomach.
In this, the second installment of Smith's African mystery series, we pick up precisely where we left off. Precious Romotswe's agency has found its legs. She has hired a secretary (the aforementioned Mma Makutsi) who quickly discovers she, too, would prefer investigation to the doleful routine of responding to correspondence and brewing tea. A promotion occurs. There is also movement in our heroine's private life. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, has proposed to his lady love and been graciously accepted. These two fresh figures receive voices and storylines that serve to further enrich the canvas, blending exceptionally well into this flourishing fictional terrain.
Mma Ramotswe's cases become, as they must, more complex. The chief focus here is on the ten-year-old disappearance of a young American student from a local commune. Our detective's common-sensical approach coupled with her native understanding of the manner in which her community operates, helps unearth information that might indeed provide the student's mother with the answer she's been seeking.
This is a fine sequel to the initial novel; the pacing holds pleasantly firm, the charm of the characterization remains intact. A promising sign, and reason enough to read forward.
In this, the second installment of Smith's African mystery series, we pick up precisely where we left off. Precious Romotswe's agency has found its legs. She has hired a secretary (the aforementioned Mma Makutsi) who quickly discovers she, too, would prefer investigation to the doleful routine of responding to correspondence and brewing tea. A promotion occurs. There is also movement in our heroine's private life. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, has proposed to his lady love and been graciously accepted. These two fresh figures receive voices and storylines that serve to further enrich the canvas, blending exceptionally well into this flourishing fictional terrain.
Mma Ramotswe's cases become, as they must, more complex. The chief focus here is on the ten-year-old disappearance of a young American student from a local commune. Our detective's common-sensical approach coupled with her native understanding of the manner in which her community operates, helps unearth information that might indeed provide the student's mother with the answer she's been seeking.
This is a fine sequel to the initial novel; the pacing holds pleasantly firm, the charm of the characterization remains intact. A promising sign, and reason enough to read forward.
December 31, 2017
Thanks to Goodreads friend Laura being persistent about getting me to try this series again, I FINALLY read this book. I’d read the first book in the series many years ago and liked it, but didn’t like it enough to read on. I think I’d even tried this one and put it down. I’d really struggled with this author’s writing style.
I was encouraged to read the audio edition with Lisette Lacat as narrator, and I’m so glad. I’m also glad that I decided to keep a copy of the paperback edition because it turns out I read this best by simultaneously listening to the audio book while reading the paper edition. A particular pleasure since, as is not always the case with audio books, the text was read almost precisely word for word. Only one word was wrong and contractions were used in the audio and not the paper book, but otherwise they were identical. So I read the Audible edition along with this edition: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
How very weird at times though. One audiobook part ended when there were just five pages left to a chapter in the paperback. It took me a while but I learned that it was better for me to measure my reading progress using the paperback chapters and to simply stop the audio play when I was at a good point in the paperback.
I could get spoiled with the pairing of paper/audio editions. Reading this way would definitely help me read when I have difficulty concentrating, especially when due to neighbors’ noise, but also for when there are other reasons.
For this book the audio helped me tremendously with pronunciations and dialect! And I could see the humor via the audio that I missed when I tried to read the paper book by itself. Also, the paper book helped me concentrate on the audio, though I did have to rewind at times, rarely though. Reading the audio and the paper editions at the same time was a real pleasure and like magic for me. And this narrator couldn't be better. She is perfect. I plan to all this series’ books but I will definitely read the audiobooks, preferably with the paper editions too.
I can’t afford to buy books but I’ll be looking for a CD player. I can borrow CDs and paper books from the library. I think there might be some audio files too but not many, and right now I have no devices that would work with them.
I ended up liking many things about this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. It’s subtle but very amusing and most of it was based on observations of human behavior. Brilliantly done!
I loved so many of the characters and the relationships. They were a delight.
I appreciated how the various issues and sub-plots were resolved. Very satisfying!
I was so engrossed in what was going on that at some point I’d forgotten to be curious about the book’s title. The reader doesn’t learn the meaning of the title until the last two pages of the novel. I liked it!
I recently saw the 2016 movie A United Kingdom, twice!, because I loved it so much, and it was fortuitous to then start reading this book. They’re a wonderful pairing.
ETA: The "mysteries" in these books seem to be the side stories. The main stories in the books are simple stories about interesting people who live in Botswana. The mysteries are not the main attraction for me.
I was encouraged to read the audio edition with Lisette Lacat as narrator, and I’m so glad. I’m also glad that I decided to keep a copy of the paperback edition because it turns out I read this best by simultaneously listening to the audio book while reading the paper edition. A particular pleasure since, as is not always the case with audio books, the text was read almost precisely word for word. Only one word was wrong and contractions were used in the audio and not the paper book, but otherwise they were identical. So I read the Audible edition along with this edition: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
How very weird at times though. One audiobook part ended when there were just five pages left to a chapter in the paperback. It took me a while but I learned that it was better for me to measure my reading progress using the paperback chapters and to simply stop the audio play when I was at a good point in the paperback.
I could get spoiled with the pairing of paper/audio editions. Reading this way would definitely help me read when I have difficulty concentrating, especially when due to neighbors’ noise, but also for when there are other reasons.
For this book the audio helped me tremendously with pronunciations and dialect! And I could see the humor via the audio that I missed when I tried to read the paper book by itself. Also, the paper book helped me concentrate on the audio, though I did have to rewind at times, rarely though. Reading the audio and the paper editions at the same time was a real pleasure and like magic for me. And this narrator couldn't be better. She is perfect. I plan to all this series’ books but I will definitely read the audiobooks, preferably with the paper editions too.
I can’t afford to buy books but I’ll be looking for a CD player. I can borrow CDs and paper books from the library. I think there might be some audio files too but not many, and right now I have no devices that would work with them.
I ended up liking many things about this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. It’s subtle but very amusing and most of it was based on observations of human behavior. Brilliantly done!
I loved so many of the characters and the relationships. They were a delight.
I appreciated how the various issues and sub-plots were resolved. Very satisfying!
I was so engrossed in what was going on that at some point I’d forgotten to be curious about the book’s title. The reader doesn’t learn the meaning of the title until the last two pages of the novel. I liked it!
I recently saw the 2016 movie A United Kingdom, twice!, because I loved it so much, and it was fortuitous to then start reading this book. They’re a wonderful pairing.
ETA: The "mysteries" in these books seem to be the side stories. The main stories in the books are simple stories about interesting people who live in Botswana. The mysteries are not the main attraction for me.
September 17, 2023
<><><>Fourth read<><><>
My husband finally decided to read this series after overhearing bits of it from my iPad speakers for many years lol. It is a real joy to read these books through fresh eyes, especially his eyes, because anyone who reads this series automatically has my heart, so it’s even better in this case 😀
This is one of my favorites, and I enjoyed it even more this time because Vic laughs when I sometimes wouldn’t and just hearing him talk about the part he listened to (on his work commute) that day makes me SO happy, I can’t put words to it.
These stories and characters have been stitched into my soul over the past six years and I’m unable to recommend them any more highly than that. Lisette Lecat narrates almost the entire series and it is impossible for anyone to outdo her. I can’t recommend the audio versions enough.
If you are in need of a series of books where the good people always win, where honesty, kindness and decency run the show, or you just need a laugh (or many laughs) mixed in with a sprinkling of pretty tender, moving moments, you’ve found the right series. Meeting AMS is on my bucket list. I just hope I don’t make a bumbling fool of myself ❤️😀
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My third read. And it still holds up well. Love this series!
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This is a wonderful series to read and to reread. This may be my favorite of them all, or at least in the top three.
It's the feeling I get when I read or listen to these books that I love to return to: a feeling of satisfaction, as though all is right with the world (even when all is not right in the present moment). In this series, though, good triumphs over evil, and you pretty much know that going in.
And then, at the end, it's the way I feel at the end of a beautiful symphony. Everything comes back to tone. And that's just the way I feel every time I close one of these books. This series has become a place I turn to when I want to feel like everything is right with the world again. It's reliably wonderful.
A joy to reread this series, and I'll be picking up the third one this week. Six stars, once again, for the audio performance by Lisette Lecat, and for all of the audiobooks in this series. You can't go wrong with these books for comfort reads.
My husband finally decided to read this series after overhearing bits of it from my iPad speakers for many years lol. It is a real joy to read these books through fresh eyes, especially his eyes, because anyone who reads this series automatically has my heart, so it’s even better in this case 😀
This is one of my favorites, and I enjoyed it even more this time because Vic laughs when I sometimes wouldn’t and just hearing him talk about the part he listened to (on his work commute) that day makes me SO happy, I can’t put words to it.
These stories and characters have been stitched into my soul over the past six years and I’m unable to recommend them any more highly than that. Lisette Lecat narrates almost the entire series and it is impossible for anyone to outdo her. I can’t recommend the audio versions enough.
If you are in need of a series of books where the good people always win, where honesty, kindness and decency run the show, or you just need a laugh (or many laughs) mixed in with a sprinkling of pretty tender, moving moments, you’ve found the right series. Meeting AMS is on my bucket list. I just hope I don’t make a bumbling fool of myself ❤️😀
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My third read. And it still holds up well. Love this series!
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This is a wonderful series to read and to reread. This may be my favorite of them all, or at least in the top three.
It's the feeling I get when I read or listen to these books that I love to return to: a feeling of satisfaction, as though all is right with the world (even when all is not right in the present moment). In this series, though, good triumphs over evil, and you pretty much know that going in.
And then, at the end, it's the way I feel at the end of a beautiful symphony. Everything comes back to tone. And that's just the way I feel every time I close one of these books. This series has become a place I turn to when I want to feel like everything is right with the world again. It's reliably wonderful.
A joy to reread this series, and I'll be picking up the third one this week. Six stars, once again, for the audio performance by Lisette Lecat, and for all of the audiobooks in this series. You can't go wrong with these books for comfort reads.
November 11, 2024
“The giraffe gives its tears to the women and they weave them into the basket. Why does the giraffe give its tears? I suppose that it means that we can all give something. A giraffe has nothing else to give - only tears.”
This second installment of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is as much about family relationships as it is about solving crime. Precious and her fiance kept me engaged in their lives as they solved crimes, dealt with a nosy/manipulative housemaid, and began planning their life together.
I appreciated the moral dilemmas presented:
Should one always tell the truth, or is lying sometimes the better choice? Does a moral end justify immoral means?
I’ll remember this book for the multiple times it brought a smile to my face and the reminder that regardless of how empty we feel, we always have something to give.
I pulled this book off my shelf for 'November Reads' because I remembered that it was a year ago I met AMS, purchased this book and had him sign it for me. A year. Ugh. I couldn't leave it on the shelf another year unread.
This second installment of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is as much about family relationships as it is about solving crime. Precious and her fiance kept me engaged in their lives as they solved crimes, dealt with a nosy/manipulative housemaid, and began planning their life together.
I appreciated the moral dilemmas presented:
Should one always tell the truth, or is lying sometimes the better choice? Does a moral end justify immoral means?
I’ll remember this book for the multiple times it brought a smile to my face and the reminder that regardless of how empty we feel, we always have something to give.
I pulled this book off my shelf for 'November Reads' because I remembered that it was a year ago I met AMS, purchased this book and had him sign it for me. A year. Ugh. I couldn't leave it on the shelf another year unread.
May 18, 2024
I enjoyed the tv show (many years ago) of this series. However, it wasn’t until recently that I decided to read the series. I kind of do that a lot; read the books after seeing the movie or after the tv show ends. I like all of the history and customs of Botswana the stories provide as well as what life in Botswana is like. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoy the narrator, Lissett Lecat, and her very proper British accent and vernacular. This style of narration suited the characters and their personalities. I actually visualized Precious and JLB speaking this way.
Anyway, the gangs all back in this second installment. Precious, proprietor of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana, and Grace, her assistant. There is also JLB, the proprietor of Speedy Motors, the local auto repair shop. JLB is still quite smitten with Precious and is still quite in awe of her and dreams of spending his life with her.
The book summary basically, just introduces the different storylines. In this installment, Precious has finally agreed to marry JLB (she declined his first proposal). It’s not long before JLB makes another life altering decision about his life and this too is one that will certainly affect the life of his future wife, Precious. JLB soon learns the consequences of making life altering decisions without consulting your wife, or in his case, soon to be wife. Additionally, after seeing JLB’s home, Precious knows that she needs to get rid of his “lazy” (her words, not mine) housekeeper. This becomes much more challenging than what Precious had initially anticipated.
“If you have been feeding him so well, then why is he thin. A man who is well looked after becomes fatter. They are just like cattle. That is well known”.
There is also the storyline of Grace being promoted from and assistant to an assistant detective, now that Precious is getting busier and has more cases than she can handle by herself. Grace soon learns that being a detective is a lot harder than it looks and she struggles with the moral and ethical dilemmas of the job.
“That troubling issue of means and ends raised its head. Was it right to do the wrong thing to get the right results?”
Precious’s cases and investigations come to satisfying conclusions; one more so than the other. There are no shocking and explosive endings, but once again, that is often the way of cozy mysteries. The best things about this series are the stories of Africa and the info that the writer offers the reader.
I like this series of cozy mysteries of a lady detective and her clients and her life in Botswana with her friends and now family. The characterization is pretty good for both the MC(s) as well as many of the other characters. The pacing is slow, but that is the way of a lot of cozy mysteries. The storylines are pleasing and interesting and the writing is well done. I am looking at an overall rating of 3.6 so I’m going to round up to a 4star rating.
Anyway, the gangs all back in this second installment. Precious, proprietor of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana, and Grace, her assistant. There is also JLB, the proprietor of Speedy Motors, the local auto repair shop. JLB is still quite smitten with Precious and is still quite in awe of her and dreams of spending his life with her.
The book summary basically, just introduces the different storylines. In this installment, Precious has finally agreed to marry JLB (she declined his first proposal). It’s not long before JLB makes another life altering decision about his life and this too is one that will certainly affect the life of his future wife, Precious. JLB soon learns the consequences of making life altering decisions without consulting your wife, or in his case, soon to be wife. Additionally, after seeing JLB’s home, Precious knows that she needs to get rid of his “lazy” (her words, not mine) housekeeper. This becomes much more challenging than what Precious had initially anticipated.
“If you have been feeding him so well, then why is he thin. A man who is well looked after becomes fatter. They are just like cattle. That is well known”.
There is also the storyline of Grace being promoted from and assistant to an assistant detective, now that Precious is getting busier and has more cases than she can handle by herself. Grace soon learns that being a detective is a lot harder than it looks and she struggles with the moral and ethical dilemmas of the job.
“That troubling issue of means and ends raised its head. Was it right to do the wrong thing to get the right results?”
Precious’s cases and investigations come to satisfying conclusions; one more so than the other. There are no shocking and explosive endings, but once again, that is often the way of cozy mysteries. The best things about this series are the stories of Africa and the info that the writer offers the reader.
I like this series of cozy mysteries of a lady detective and her clients and her life in Botswana with her friends and now family. The characterization is pretty good for both the MC(s) as well as many of the other characters. The pacing is slow, but that is the way of a lot of cozy mysteries. The storylines are pleasing and interesting and the writing is well done. I am looking at an overall rating of 3.6 so I’m going to round up to a 4star rating.
January 19, 2018
In this book the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency continues to solve mysteries and in the same tied-up-quite-nicely style. Early in the story Mma Ramotswe receives a proposal of marriage. Wondering whether
As with the last book, I really enjoyed the characters, the stories within the main story and I loved hearing Mma Ramotswe speak of the traditional Botswanan way. This is a cosy, comforting read and perfect escapism from January in England.
As with the last book, I really enjoyed the characters, the stories within the main story and I loved hearing Mma Ramotswe speak of the traditional Botswanan way. This is a cosy, comforting read and perfect escapism from January in England.
March 6, 2014
I have always loved well-written mysteries, and I was the only weirdo in the fifth grade who was reading Agatha Christie. (The other kids were weird, too, but for different reasons.)
Classics and mysteries were my genres of choice until my early twenties, but, around that time, things changed. My beloved mystery genre seemed to have been hijacked by a "CSI mentality," where the quirky stories of detectives who were far more intriguing than what they were detecting disappeared and rape, graphic violence and scraping skin cells from under fingernails took their place.
I sadly abandoned the genre.
But, now, a couple of decades later, I have discovered Precious Ramotswe and her No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and I am back in love with a local, "large-framed" detective and the goings-on in her beloved Botswana.
All I want to do now is brew myself a pot of bush tea and read the entire series.
Classics and mysteries were my genres of choice until my early twenties, but, around that time, things changed. My beloved mystery genre seemed to have been hijacked by a "CSI mentality," where the quirky stories of detectives who were far more intriguing than what they were detecting disappeared and rape, graphic violence and scraping skin cells from under fingernails took their place.
I sadly abandoned the genre.
But, now, a couple of decades later, I have discovered Precious Ramotswe and her No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and I am back in love with a local, "large-framed" detective and the goings-on in her beloved Botswana.
All I want to do now is brew myself a pot of bush tea and read the entire series.
May 27, 2016
I read this series and the Philosophy series when the world is unbearable and my emotions are out of kilter, they always cheer me up and help me through. If books are prescriptions, these would be mood lifters. Times when my husband lost his job, or did not get the job we thought looked liked a sure thing, times when we nearly lost our home and I had a heart attack, these books have helped us through. Times are better now, but it is a comfort to know Precious and Grace and their friends & relations are there, as well as Ms. Dalhousie and company.
September 24, 2019
Although it’s been a while since I read the first book, I’ve enjoyed returning to this series set mostly in Gabarone, the capital of Botswana, about the continuing adventures of Precious Ramotswe and her unique detective agency. While I normally am not a big fan of cozy mysteries, I love this series.
There is such a gentle sweetness to these books that it makes me want to crawl inside of them and lie down (like my favorite book by my favorite author, Cannery Row.)
In this entry, Mma Precious Ramotswe becomes engaged to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors (you’ll hear this name a lot.) She promotes her loyal secretary, Mma Makutsi, to assistant detective. And Mr. Matekoni finds himself the adoptive parent of two orphans without telling Precious first. In the midst of all this, the agency will investigate the 10 year old disappearance of an American student and Mma Ramotswe and Mr. Matekoni will deal with his larcenous housekeeper.
And thanks to McCall Smith’s deceptively simple storytelling, it all goes down like carmelized sugar with occasional bittersweet lumps.
The repair, however, would not last for long, and he knew he would have to return to dismantle the pump completely. And how would the vegetables get water then? This was the trouble with living in a dry country. Everything, whether it was human life, or pumpkins, was on such a tiny margin.
If men refused to appoint on merit, then go for a job with a woman. It may not be a glamorous office, but it was certainly an exciting thing to be. To be secretary to a private detective was infinitely more prestigious than to be a secretary in a bank or a lawyer’s office. So perhaps there was some justice after all. Perhaps all that work had been worthwhile after all.
But there was still this problem with the chickens.
Perhaps one day she would find a place where she would stay. That would be good. To know that the place you were in was your own place—where you should be.
One day soon she would drive out to the orphan farm and thank Mma Silvia Potokwane for giving them the children. She would also thank her for everything she did for those orphans, because, she suspected, nobody ever thanked her for that. Bossy as Mma Potokwane might be, she was a matron, and it was a matron’s job to be like that, just as detectives should be nosy, and mechanics...Well, what should mechanics be? Greasy? No, greasy was not quite right. She would have to think further about that.
Unbelievably, this is only one of four series McCall Smith has going currently, and that’s not counting his children’s books. He has such an affection for Botswana and his characters and it shows. Mma Ramotswe and Mr. Matekoni are so much alike in thoughts and values, but they also are two distinct characters and they’ve become one of my favorite fictional couples. I’ll be returning to this series, as well as dipping into other works in McCall Smith’s enormous catalogue.
There is such a gentle sweetness to these books that it makes me want to crawl inside of them and lie down (like my favorite book by my favorite author, Cannery Row.)
In this entry, Mma Precious Ramotswe becomes engaged to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors (you’ll hear this name a lot.) She promotes her loyal secretary, Mma Makutsi, to assistant detective. And Mr. Matekoni finds himself the adoptive parent of two orphans without telling Precious first. In the midst of all this, the agency will investigate the 10 year old disappearance of an American student and Mma Ramotswe and Mr. Matekoni will deal with his larcenous housekeeper.
And thanks to McCall Smith’s deceptively simple storytelling, it all goes down like carmelized sugar with occasional bittersweet lumps.
The repair, however, would not last for long, and he knew he would have to return to dismantle the pump completely. And how would the vegetables get water then? This was the trouble with living in a dry country. Everything, whether it was human life, or pumpkins, was on such a tiny margin.
If men refused to appoint on merit, then go for a job with a woman. It may not be a glamorous office, but it was certainly an exciting thing to be. To be secretary to a private detective was infinitely more prestigious than to be a secretary in a bank or a lawyer’s office. So perhaps there was some justice after all. Perhaps all that work had been worthwhile after all.
But there was still this problem with the chickens.
Perhaps one day she would find a place where she would stay. That would be good. To know that the place you were in was your own place—where you should be.
One day soon she would drive out to the orphan farm and thank Mma Silvia Potokwane for giving them the children. She would also thank her for everything she did for those orphans, because, she suspected, nobody ever thanked her for that. Bossy as Mma Potokwane might be, she was a matron, and it was a matron’s job to be like that, just as detectives should be nosy, and mechanics...Well, what should mechanics be? Greasy? No, greasy was not quite right. She would have to think further about that.
Unbelievably, this is only one of four series McCall Smith has going currently, and that’s not counting his children’s books. He has such an affection for Botswana and his characters and it shows. Mma Ramotswe and Mr. Matekoni are so much alike in thoughts and values, but they also are two distinct characters and they’ve become one of my favorite fictional couples. I’ll be returning to this series, as well as dipping into other works in McCall Smith’s enormous catalogue.
October 17, 2017
A delightfully gentle series of books by Alexander McCall Smith - set in and around Botswana's capital city of Gaborone and stories of the 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency'.
McCall Smith has created a lovely world of mainly (very) amateurish sleuthing - which whilst ostensibly the theme which is central to these books, is ultimately almost incidental. The main draw here is the cast of well drawn, well written, very memorable and on the whole very endearing (if occasionally frustrating) characters - Precious Ramostwe, Grace Makutsi, J.L.B. Matekoni et al and the interplay of their lives - the detective work and cases here become increasingly an incidental backdrop.
The 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' stories and characters certainly have an air of authenticity and believability (although obviously contrived and significantly exaggerated for comic effect) and interestingly McCall Smith did spend some time living and working in Botswana.
The first few books in the series are undoubtedly the strongest, funniest, most entertaining and compelling. Whilst later installments are all good - they do feel like somewhat of retread of ideas that McCall has spun out perhaps beyond their natural course.
Whilst serious themes are alluded to - feminism, AIDS and domestic violence; there is little here that is particularly thought provoking or challenging - but then that's not the point here. For anyone wanting a series of light, likeable, entertaining, funny, absorbing, well written and compelling amateur detective books - with a difference, then the 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' books are a must.
Good stories, simple truths - people doing the right thing. Ultimately these stories are all about kindness, forgiveness, restitution and resolution. Which in itself is surely a good enough reason to read at least some of this lovely series of books?
McCall Smith has created a lovely world of mainly (very) amateurish sleuthing - which whilst ostensibly the theme which is central to these books, is ultimately almost incidental. The main draw here is the cast of well drawn, well written, very memorable and on the whole very endearing (if occasionally frustrating) characters - Precious Ramostwe, Grace Makutsi, J.L.B. Matekoni et al and the interplay of their lives - the detective work and cases here become increasingly an incidental backdrop.
The 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' stories and characters certainly have an air of authenticity and believability (although obviously contrived and significantly exaggerated for comic effect) and interestingly McCall Smith did spend some time living and working in Botswana.
The first few books in the series are undoubtedly the strongest, funniest, most entertaining and compelling. Whilst later installments are all good - they do feel like somewhat of retread of ideas that McCall has spun out perhaps beyond their natural course.
Whilst serious themes are alluded to - feminism, AIDS and domestic violence; there is little here that is particularly thought provoking or challenging - but then that's not the point here. For anyone wanting a series of light, likeable, entertaining, funny, absorbing, well written and compelling amateur detective books - with a difference, then the 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' books are a must.
Good stories, simple truths - people doing the right thing. Ultimately these stories are all about kindness, forgiveness, restitution and resolution. Which in itself is surely a good enough reason to read at least some of this lovely series of books?
October 20, 2008
This is Smith’s follow up to the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and is another delight. The primary tale is Mma Ramotswe helping an American woman find out what happened to her son ten years ago. The Detective agency grows when Precious takes on her secretary as an assistant detective and gives her a case of her own. Ramotswe’s fiancé is visiting a local orphanage where he provides mechanic services for free when, after she learns that he is to be married, the madam in charge badgers him to take home two of her charges. How that all works out is a charming tale of its own. As is the case in so much detective fiction, it is place that is central to the story, whether the Fort Lauderdale of John McDonald, the San Franciso of Dashiell Hammet, the Los Angeles of Raymond Chandler or the Botswana of A.M. Smith. Smith has conveyed his love for this country and his affection for his characters using the format of small mysteries. Maybe one could call this detective genre soft-boiled. – A delight in any case. I am looking forward to reading the next four in the series.
February 16, 2021
"Tears of the Giraffe" continues in the same vein as the first book in the series, offering us a number of delightful mini-story mysteries as Mma Ramotswe becomes more confident in her detective skills.
This 2nd book picks up right where the 1st left off and we get more background into the cast of characters surrounding Mma Ramotswe.
Most of the read is lighter fare with some humorous moments but, just like "The Number One Ladies Detective Agency", Alexander McCall Smith manages to weave some tragedy and verklempt feels into all of those sunnier moments.
Still, it's the kind of read that's enjoyable to listen to and warms the heart.
Lisette Lecat nails the narration once more as the perfect voice for the story.
Recommend.
Available on Scribd.
This 2nd book picks up right where the 1st left off and we get more background into the cast of characters surrounding Mma Ramotswe.
Most of the read is lighter fare with some humorous moments but, just like "The Number One Ladies Detective Agency", Alexander McCall Smith manages to weave some tragedy and verklempt feels into all of those sunnier moments.
Still, it's the kind of read that's enjoyable to listen to and warms the heart.
Lisette Lecat nails the narration once more as the perfect voice for the story.
Recommend.
Available on Scribd.
March 6, 2022
It is a book that brings me peace when I read it. Learning about the life in Botswana and this bright woman that is achieving the things she believes in is just so inspiring and amusing! Great book!
August 15, 2021
My new go to place when I need a break from intense, gory, violent mysteries...
It brings calm and happiness back.
It brings calm and happiness back.
May 9, 2024
Solid 3.5-stars.
I liked that this one had more of a straight forward story following the lives and conflicts of multiple characters. It makes you feel like you're a part of their circle, and makes this more dynamic. They're all growing in me quite a bit at this point. I also appreciate that the approach of the detectives is not to put someone behind bars, but to give closure; for some reason this is a more satisfying outcome.
I liked that this one had more of a straight forward story following the lives and conflicts of multiple characters. It makes you feel like you're a part of their circle, and makes this more dynamic. They're all growing in me quite a bit at this point. I also appreciate that the approach of the detectives is not to put someone behind bars, but to give closure; for some reason this is a more satisfying outcome.
August 20, 2012
I read "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" several years ago. I remember it being fun and fresh and quirky, but it didn't grab me and I wasn't desperate to carry on with the series. Having now read "Tears of the Giraffe", I am eager to find out what happens next. This is, simply put, an exceptionally good book. Every person in the western, "civilised" world should read it and be humbled.
This time around, Alexander McCall Smith delivers a simple and heart-warming story, which is concerned far more with the characters and community than with the little mysteries therein. I'll admit that I was counting the pages and wondering when he would get back to the cases (what little there is of them), but not at all because I was bored - if anything, I wanted the novel to be a hundred pages longer. Nevertheless, this tiny book packs a punch - and I, for one, could almost imagine jumping on the next available plane and visiting Botswana, just to experience the people and the environment for myself.
The writing style is deceptively simple, but it's easy to read between the lines. The author manages to find a balance where he can introduce you to a different way of life without causing you to feel like an outsider. The setting is both worlds-apart and surprisingly familiar, and the characters come right off the page. There are also some cute moments where things are lost in translation; a little discussion about Dr Freud springs to mind and after all, why shouldn't a little boy love his mother?
What stands out the most, and in stark contrast to the majority of western crime and mystery writing, is the all-encompassing sense of hope that Mma Ramotswe brings to the fore. Far from a jaded, cynical, troubled protagonist - this is a large woman with a large heart, who somehow always manages to come across as brave and insightful, where a weaker character might have been painfully naive. She bounds into all sorts of adventure and mischief, taking it all in her stride and never letting the badness rub off on her or wear her down.
I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and will be recommending this book to everyone I know. It strikes me as a wonderful place to start - and I would probably advise people to give the first book a miss, at least until they've really gotten into the series.
This time around, Alexander McCall Smith delivers a simple and heart-warming story, which is concerned far more with the characters and community than with the little mysteries therein. I'll admit that I was counting the pages and wondering when he would get back to the cases (what little there is of them), but not at all because I was bored - if anything, I wanted the novel to be a hundred pages longer. Nevertheless, this tiny book packs a punch - and I, for one, could almost imagine jumping on the next available plane and visiting Botswana, just to experience the people and the environment for myself.
The writing style is deceptively simple, but it's easy to read between the lines. The author manages to find a balance where he can introduce you to a different way of life without causing you to feel like an outsider. The setting is both worlds-apart and surprisingly familiar, and the characters come right off the page. There are also some cute moments where things are lost in translation; a little discussion about Dr Freud springs to mind and after all, why shouldn't a little boy love his mother?
What stands out the most, and in stark contrast to the majority of western crime and mystery writing, is the all-encompassing sense of hope that Mma Ramotswe brings to the fore. Far from a jaded, cynical, troubled protagonist - this is a large woman with a large heart, who somehow always manages to come across as brave and insightful, where a weaker character might have been painfully naive. She bounds into all sorts of adventure and mischief, taking it all in her stride and never letting the badness rub off on her or wear her down.
I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and will be recommending this book to everyone I know. It strikes me as a wonderful place to start - and I would probably advise people to give the first book a miss, at least until they've really gotten into the series.
April 16, 2020
I love this series, as enjoyable a read the second time around as the first. This time I have full access to the world wide web where I can see and learn lots of interesting things about Botswana. Makes my experience that much more vivid!
Why I'm reading this: I'm really enjoying revisiting my old friend Mma Romotswe during this time when we're being asked to stay indoors to stop the spread of coronavirus. Comforting.
Why I'm reading this: I'm really enjoying revisiting my old friend Mma Romotswe during this time when we're being asked to stay indoors to stop the spread of coronavirus. Comforting.
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