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Summary: Self-Empowerment In Botswana
Review: In this book, Smith's 4th and most recent book in the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series, he tackles again some of his usual topics. He again shows the constant battle between traditional values and modern values and their interaction in Botswana.However, in this book, Smith goes even further than he has before. He engages in conveying the ability of people to self-empower themselves. In this book, Smith illuminates the continual problem of a male dominated society and how this situation affects the women of Botswana. Throughout the book, there are multiple examples of the women of Botswana self-empowering, and feeling the tremendous elation and self-satisfaction that accompanies that accomplishment. Starting particularly with Mma Makutsi, Assistant Detective, who starts a business teaching MEN how to type. And it is an immediate success, as men often feel internal cognitive dissonance that they cannot type for themselves, and have to depend on women to do their typing. The concept of the class itself is self-empowerment for men. And the business itself allows Mma Makutsi to feel self-empowered herself, the proprietor of a successful business. While the books are "plugged" as "mystery/fiction" most readers of the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series recognize, that the cases, the investigations, are really just a device to advance the plot and to help illustrate the points which mostly deal with ethics, morality and how people treat each other. This is truly what Smith is trying to get across and by using Botswana, a small, proud, independent, Democratic country as a microcosm of the world, he tries to help the reader understand cross cultural issues and basic ethical concepts which are slightly different in each venue, but are nonetheless, universal around the world. Smith gives us yet again, a close look at the internal workings of another society and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions as to how it relates to the world they live in themselves. Truly a wonderful and instructive series, this book deserves the 5 star rating.
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Summary: The Adventure Continues...
Review: Following on the heels of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, and Morality for Beautiful Girls, is this-the fourth entry in Smith's series about Botswanan private detective Precious Ramotswe, her master mechanic fiancé Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, their assistant Ms. Makutsi, and their two foster children. Devotees of the series will likely deduce from the title that this particular entry will focus on Ms. Makutsi-former star pupil of the Botswana Secretarial College and expert typist. And they will be right, as the title refers to a school established by Ms. Makutsi in order to supplement her income as assistant detective and assistant garage manager. There is only one real mystery in the slight volume, a man who wishes to make restitution for bad behavior of his some twenty years previously. This calls for Precious to track down two people and handle the matter with her usual delicacy. The only other case is a suspected case of infidelity with no mystery to it at all, and once again Precious's greatest difficulty lies in determining exactly what course of action to take in order to effect the best result for all concerned and achieve cosmic justice. Subplots include the ongoing trials of raising the two foster children, and the founding of a rival detective agency. This latter development held great potential for being a long-running obstacle for the Mma. Ramotswe, but is given short shrift and is dealt with all too easily. As in all the books in the series, Smith aims to portray a positive picture of modern Africa, one all too rarely seen in the West. It is both a celebration of the "old ways" of Africa, and a lament for their decline.
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Summary: I can't wait for the next one !!
Review: This series is one the best I've read in years. The characters are compelling and Smith's descriptions of Botswana make it all come alive.
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Summary: HE NEVER DISAPPOINTS
Review: I was first introduced to Alexander McCall Smith's work when my online book discussion group chose THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY as their monthly selection. From the first paragraph, I was hooked by McCall Smith's deceptively simple story and story telling. Precious Ramotswe is a great character: wise and amusing, the kind of person I would love to know. Reading about her and her friends and loved ones, her village, and her country, has enriched my life. Now I want to visit Botswana because McCall Smith, through Precious's eyes, has made the country come alive for me. I own all the books in this series and hope McCall Smith will continue to write about these rich and wonderful characters. Very highly recommended.
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Summary: IRRESISTIBLE LISTENING
Review: Narrator Lisette Lecat, a native of South Africa, is a polished voice performer doubly blessed by a winning way with accents. She gives vibrant voice to the unconquerable Precious Ramotswe, proprietress of Botswana's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Possessed with intelligence and human intuition in an abundance that matched her girth Mma Ramotswe has familiarized herself with an instruction manual, "The Principles of Private Detection." Then, equipped with a "tiny white van,"minimal office equipment, an assistant, Mma Makutsi, and three mugs in which to brew redbush tea she opened for business.
She loves Botswana, and feels she knows "how to love the people who live in this place." It is her duty, she believes. "to help them solve the mysteries in their lives." Much has happened since Mma Ramotswe first entertained these revelatory thoughts. Her business has flourished to the extent that she has been able to buy a home on Zebra Drive and, on the far side of her thirties, which she considers the "finest age to be" she has become engaged to Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, the proud and proper owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Now, with the fourth in Alexander Smith's engaging series, "The Kalahari Typing School for Men," she has two adopted children in her care, and is confronted by a rival business run by a macho retired policeman who trumpets that only a man can be a proper detective. Mma Makutsi also faces challenges. Her bank balance is anemic, and her life lacks romance. Then, quite suddenly, "a strikingly good idea" occurs to her: she would open a typing school for men. She realizes that men have to type in order to use computers, but did not learn to type correctly because "they are ashamed to say that they cannot type and they do not want to go and have to learn with a class full of girls." An evening class held in a church hall so that others would think the men were going to a church meeting was the solution. Not only is the school an unqualified success, but there is extra-circular activity when a student becomes enamored with Mma Makutsi. Regrettably, there are complications in this pairing - complications that trouble Mma Ramotswe. Equally distressing is Mma Ramotswe's latest client, Mr. Molefelo. Now, a well-to-do engineer Mr. Molefelo once committed what he considers to be egregious sins. He wants to make amends for past wrongs. Thus, it falls to Mma Ramotswe to find those he has misused. These tasks aren't difficult for Botswana's No. 1 lady detective who, possessed with Solomon-like wisdom, also suggests precisely what Mr. Molefelo might do to achieve proper atonement. Spare and neatly crafted, "The Kalahari Typing School For Men" sparkles with African sunshine and Mma Ramotswe's wit. It is refreshing and irresistible, leaving listeners eager for more.
- Gail Cooke
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Summary: Mma Makutsi Finds Romance
Review: The Kalahari Typing School for Men is the fourth volume in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, following Morality for Beautiful Girls. In the previous volume, Precious Ramotswe and friends help Mr. J.L.B Maketoni through a bout of depression. During his recovery, Mma Ramotswe moves the detective office to Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and her assistant detective and secretary, Mma Makutsi, takes on another job as assistant manager of the garage. However, Mma Makutsi also finds time to locate a beautiful girl with good morals for the Miss Beauty and Integrity pageant. Mma Ramotswe finds a poisoner and reconciles a jealous man with his family. Mma Ramotswe also helps Mma Potokwane to decide what to do with a feral child. In this novel, the two lady detectives have settled into the new office and are having their usual morning tea and discussion. Mma Ramotswe considers her happiness as an engaged woman and expresses her concern that Mma Makutsi is not happy with her life as an unmarried woman. Mma Makutsi states that she has no choice in the matter and must make do with what she has. Mma Makutsi has established a comfortable working arrangement with the two apprentices, although she thinks that they are too girl crazy. The apprentices have taken on more responsibilities and are being to think ahead in their work. They are discussing other business opportunities, including a driving school, and the younger apprentice, who has recently converted and joined a church, suggests that the school should be named Learn to Drive With Jesus. However, Mma Makutsi decides to start a typing school for men and unexpectedly finds romance with one of her students. The two children are having problems adjusting to life away from the orphanage. Precious talks with Motholeli and assures her that she is part of the family, but Puso is a harder case. Precious consults with Mma Potokwane, matron of the orphans home, who suggests that the boy needs a father figure. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni starts to spend more time with Puso. Mma Ramotswe arrives at the office one day to find that Mma Makutsi is very upset; she has discovered that a rival detective agency has opened offices in Gaborone. They drive over to assess the competition and find that the new agency is run by a man who claims to be ex-CID and ex-New York. Disturbing news! Mma Ramotswe acquires a client who believes that her husband is being unfaithful. This client had first tried the other detective agency, but had not liked the results. Now she wants the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to check out her husband's activities. Apparently the publishers have made some changes in the way this series is handled. Somehow Mma Potokwane's name has been spelled "Potokwani" in this volume. Highly recommended to McCall Smith fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic locales and interesting people.
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Summary: A new business is a hedge in a downturn
Review: Mma Ramotswe was in her late thirties and blessed. She had two orphan children, a wonderful fiance, and a house on Zebra Drive. Mr. Matekoni, the fiance, said that cars speak of people. Mma Ramotswe was concerned that her assistant Mma Makutsi who had run Mr. Matekoni's car repair business when he was ill would not have enough work to keep busy now that Mr. Matekoni was restored to good health. Mma Ramotswe asked her assistant if she would like to have a husband. Mma Ramotswe was an optimist. She did not like to see her assistant go through life thinking she was just a local girl from the bush. After all, she was a crack typist. Mr. Maketoni found that the work of his two apprentices was less greasy than it had been before his illness. Mma Makutsi advised there was another detective agency in town. She learned about the principle of competition at secretarial college. It was located in the original premises of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The competition was Ex-CID. Also, New York was mentioned, but Mr. Buthelezi would not say how long he had been in New York. While typing up the bills for the garage Mma Makutsi thought up the idea of a typing school for men and found a source of old typewriters from her secretarial college. Mma Ramotswe was given a case to find people so that an engineer could make amends. She traveled to a government office to find out about a pension for the widow of a prison official. She knew that dull people could not distinguish between meritorious and unmeritorious requests. The motto of the secretarial college is be accurate. The apprentices restored the old typewriters to serviceability. Mma Makutsi received a declaration of love from one of the typing students. The head of the rival detective agency claimed to be the first professional detective. He claimed that the women were just dabbling. I will not disclose the ending to any of the various strands of the plot. These books just keep getting better and better. Bravo Alexander McCall Smith for your wonderful series.
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Summary: Gentle detection amid a gracious Botswanan life
Review: Reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories of Precious Ramotswe and her associates in detection and in life is like having a visit with old friends: comfortable and reassuring. The graciously gentle and peaceful manner of resolving difficult situations in typical Botswanan style is in direct contrast with the lifestyle of modern America. There is a slow and easy nature to Precious Ramotswe, her fiance, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, and her assistant Mma Makutsi. But that nature does not preclude initiative and innovation. For even up against the competition of a chauvinistic new detective agency, Mma Ramotswe maintains her calm and patient demeanor and continues to serve her clients with discretion and wisdom. For an African woman in her late thirties, she demonstrates inner peace and strength beyond her years. Her ambitious assistant's new business, a typing school for men held after hours, provides a counter plot which enriches the story line. In addition, the interwoven staffing of Matekoni's car repair shop with the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, further links Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi with the young mechanics who work for Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. This is a true family of characters, including the children of the orphanage on the outskirts of town, from which come Mma Ramotswe's extended family of adopted children. Once again, there is logical conclusion to the predicaments of Precious Ramotswe and her associates. These gentle twists to the unraveling of the unjust bring a smile to the reader and an appreciation for the beloved culture of these Botswanan natives. They honor, revere and love their nation home. And the reader comes to know that reverence in an almost personal way, although vicariously. The love of a natural Africa with a citizenry that prides itself on respect for life, nature and one another, reminds one of the sweeping beauty in the opening shots and lines of the movie, "Out of Africa". Smith obviously has the same love of the Dark Continent and its people as did Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen, whose voice over in the movie says, "I once had a farm in Africa." The past that Dinesen revered is the present of Precious Ramotswe. Do not miss the opportunity to quiet your soul with a visit to these good people.
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Summary: Precious rules!!!
Review: In the latest book in THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY series, Precious Ramotswe, the first female private detective in Botswana, has issues: (1) a strutting, cocky new detective has opened shop in Gaborone and is threatening her business; (2) one of the children in her care has taken up a bad habit; (3) her secretary/assistant, Mma Makutsi is involved with a suspicious man; (4) Mma Makutsi has opened a sideline business, teaching men to type and (5) a client has given her an urgent, delicate assignment. Like Jan Karon's gentle fiction, I never tire of stories about Precious, her finance, her employee, and their lives in Africa. True, there is no thrilling action (unless you count the miracle in the garage....or the death of a water pump), but there is plenty of heart and some wonderful soul in Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the first female detective in Botswana. Read the books in order. THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENY. TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE. MORALITY LESSONS FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. THE KALAHARI TYPING SCHOOL FOR MEN. Enjoy!!!
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Summary: Precious Ramotswe has a great deal on her mind.
Review: "The Kalahari Typing School for Men" is the fourth novel in Alexander McCall Smith's spectacularly successful series about a lady detective in Botswana. Precious Ramotswe is facing new challenges. A rival detective agency opens up nearby, and Mma. Ramotswe is worried about the competition. The two orphans whom she and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni adopted are having problems. In addition, Mma. Ramotswe is worried about her assistant, Mma. Makutsi, who cannot seem to find a husband. However, Mma. Ramotswe is an optimistic person by nature and she tries to set aside her worries. One way to forget her troubles is to take on new clients. Mma. Ramotswe accepts the case of a woman who suspects that her husband is being unfaithful. Another client is a wealthy man who wants Mma. Ramotswe to find two women whom he had wronged in the past. He wishes to apologize to them and make amends for his bad behavior. As in his earlier books, Smith's writing is sweet, funny, understated and touching. Mma. Ramotswe again displays her keen insight into human nature and her empathy for those who are in pain. "The Kalahari Typing School for Men" is written simply but it is never simplistic. This novel will delight Alexander McCall Smith's fans, and it will make readers of this series impatient for the next installment.
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