Rating: 
Summary: Like Old Friends
Review: A relaxing book, filled with sly chuckles, and jardl;y any sustained detection, rather a polite and persistent inquiry like the later novels of Agatha Christie--BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS for example, or POSTERN OF FATE. However, it is not senility that deters A. McC. Smith from supplying the thrills and clues, but his constantly attentive gaze on the characterization of his heroine, and his by no means hypercritical look at contemporary Botswana. We who have never seen the place, and probably bever will, have been given a tremendous gift by this fine author. He has taken us on invisible wings inside a society and culture so different than our own as to be truly 'foreign,' and yet he has shown us that life mirrors life, even if you've never taxied to a landing in a little place supplied by the Kalahari Flying Club.
By the way, as a sidelight, a Chicagoland friend told me that McCall Smith based the relationship of Precious Ramotswe and J L B Matekoni on that of our own Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham! The same dynamic seems to be in play, Precious' nervous impatience, mixed with her steely fortitude, in contrast to her fiancee's seemingly laissez-faire philosophy toward taking the next step--in both cases, setting an actual wedding date. It's not so farfetched because apparently McCall Smith was introduced to Oprah through the offices of Joanne (HARRY POTTER) Rowling, who lives in Edinburgh nearby the author of the LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY series.
Rating: 
Summary: Shame That The Series Faded This Way
Review: A wonderful series more about human relationships than detective work. An awful "let's get it over with" finale...it is apparent that McCall wanted to end this series quickly and get on with his new Sunday Philosopher one. Eventually (I hope) McCall will come back to Botswana and give us a end to this series worthy of his talents and our time.
Rating:
Summary: Fifth Book Concentrates on Problems of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni
Review: After being pushed a bit to the sidelines in books 3 and 4, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni comes back into prominence in this book. We learn more about him, and see how he faces life's challenges. The detective agency cases continue to be fascinating, and resolved in unusual and satisfactory ways. While I can't give a hint here to the ending, without spoiling it, it is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, a BLOCKBUSTER ending. The whole book was worth it to read JUST FOR THAT. On the very last page, I was so happy to learn that the author is in the process of writing a sixth book!
Rating:
Summary: Another charming entry in a delightful series.
Review: Alexander McCall Smith's "The Full Cupboard of Life" is the fifth installment in the popular series featuring the proprietor of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." Precious Ramotswe is living the good life in Gaborone, Botswana. She has a thriving business, a comfortable home, and two adopted orphans. Best of all, she is engaged to a very good man, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni.This time around, McCall Smith deemphasizes Mma Ramotswe's investigations and places more stress on the everyday activities of the characters that we have come to know and love. Mma Potokwane, the formidable matron of the orphan farm, is pressuring Mr. Matekoni to take a parachute jump for charity. Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's capable assistant, is excitedly making plans to move into a new home. Meanwhile, tongues are wagging as to why Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni are still engaged after so much time. Why aren't they making wedding plans? Speaking of weddings, a wealthy businesswoman is looking for a husband. She retains Mma Ramotswe to investigate a group of potential suitors to determine whether they are more interested in marrying her or her money. The author weaves these and other stories together seamlessly into a whimsical, funny, warm, and touching novel. Once again, Mma Ramotswe waxes ecstatic about how lucky she is to live in the noble country of Botswana with its physical beauty and its long-standing traditions of kindness and neighborliness. As I read this series, I cannot help but be struck by how such simply written books can be so moving and engrossing, and by how thoroughly captivating the characters are. I adore Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni and I cherish the time that I spend with them. "The Full Cupboard of Life" is a lovely book that renews one's faith in humanity's essential goodness.
Rating:
Summary: Another charming entry in a delightful series.
Review: Alexander McCall Smith's "The Full Cupboard of Life" is the fifth installment in the popular series featuring the proprietor of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." Precious Ramotswe is living the good life in Gaborone, Botswana. She has a thriving business, a comfortable home, and two adopted orphans. Best of all, she is engaged to a very good man, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. This time around, McCall Smith deemphasizes Mma Ramotswe's investigations and places more stress on the everyday activities of the characters that we have come to know and love. Mma Potokwane, the formidable matron of the orphan farm, is pressuring Mr. Matekoni to take a parachute jump for charity. Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's capable assistant, is excitedly making plans to move into a new home. Meanwhile, tongues are wagging as to why Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni are still engaged after so much time. Why aren't they making wedding plans? Speaking of weddings, a wealthy businesswoman is looking for a husband. She retains Mma Ramotswe to investigate a group of potential suitors to determine whether they are more interested in marrying her or her money. The author weaves these and other stories together seamlessly into a whimsical, funny, warm, and touching novel. Once again, Mma Ramotswe waxes ecstatic about how lucky she is to live in the noble country of Botswana with its physical beauty and its long-standing traditions of kindness and neighborliness. As I read this series, I cannot help but be struck by how such simply written books can be so moving and engrossing, and by how thoroughly captivating the characters are. I adore Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni and I cherish the time that I spend with them. "The Full Cupboard of Life" is a lovely book that renews one's faith in humanity's essential goodness.
Rating: 
Summary: Troubled by one part
Review: Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I did the other four -- the pace, the writing, the gentleness of the characters were all wonderful-- I was troubled by one central episode. When Mma Ramotswe "tricks" the apprentice on the parachute jump, she places the young man in a dangerous situation so as to protect Mr. Matekoni from possible harm. Late in the book she does express some remorse that she did so, but when the "trickery" occurred I found it to be jarring and out of character for the kind-hearted and highly moral Mma Ramotswe. I just didn't believe she would do such a thing -- solving her problem by placing the apprentice in great jeopardy. But then again, people (myself included) do things they otherwise might not do to protect those they love. I think she is diffferent though, and would have come up with a better, more clever, less hurtful solution.
I love the series and look forward to more.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and entertaining culmination of the series
Review: For those who know of and like this little series of books, this latest addition will provide much laughter and many poignant moments to reflect on life in Botswana. So, five stars for us! But readers new to Mma Ramotswe and her compatriots should probably start at an earlier point in the series: preferably at the beginning. The satisfying climax Smith provides, complete with bits of text from hymns, would probably have novices wondering about the fuss over these books. The fuss is about characters who develop depth in throughout low-key, but engrossingly real, plots and about narrative that evokes an interest about Africa that transcends mere curiousity. From the way that main characters are finally situated in their stories it seems that this was probably intended to be the final book in the series. For that reason, alone, I urge readers not to begin here. You'll pick up all the details you need, but you will not enjoy the texture of stories woven together, the colors of what I think was meant to be a sunset for these stories. Begin elsewhere. The rest of us can take heart that the author has at least implied that these characters may have more stories to tell, after all. And as long as he loves this village of personalities, their stories will provoke thought and maintain interest.
Rating: 
Summary: Too repetitious!
Review: I absolutely adored the first four books in this sessions. This one was disappointing in comparison. My main complaint is that the first fourth of the book recaps what happened in previous books. After a while I began to wonder when the new material would begin! However, once the new material came into the story I was happy as a clam hearing what was happening to my favorite charachters!
Rating:
Summary: Charming, Warm, Wonderful Characters
Review: I don't know how anyone could fail to love the Mma Ramotswe novels of Alexander McCall Smith. Mma Ramotswe and her fiancé, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, are such lovable people and Smith's writing is so fluid and beautiful that the books in this series really transcend the mystery genre. Of course, unlike most conventional mysteries, the Mma Ramotswe series concentrates more on character than it does on mystery and therein, I think, lies its enormous success. In THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE, Mma Ramotswe really only has one case: she's hired by a wealthy woman, who, like Mma Ramotswe, was blessed with girth rather than height, to investigate her five suitors, which Mma Ramotswe does in her typically humorous and no nonsense fashion. But that's just the spine of the story. Much more happens in the book and it's every bit as interesting as Mma Ramotswe's detective work. If anyone has stayed away from this series of books because they're set in Botswana, they're making a huge mistake. These books portray the universality of human behavior, not their differences. And, they're filled with so much warmth and gentle humor it would, I think, take a cold-hearted person not to fall in love with the characters and want more. Smith lavishes as much love and care on his secondary characters as he does on his primary ones, all to the book's credit. Mma Makutsi plays an enlarged role in this book, experiencing one heartbreaking event as well as one dream come true. Mma Potokwane is also featured as she contemplates writing a book and attempts to sort out the marriage plans of Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE is a warm, wise, witty book told with, above all, plenty of heart. Authors wanting to learn how to create wonderful, engaging characters can learn a lot from Alexander McCall Smith and this wonderful series of books. Readers can gain hours of pleasure with wonderful people they'd love to know and spend time with in real life. I don't think a book can earn much higher praise than that. It's really wonderful to see well-written, charming books filled with warmth, humor and humanity reach the bestseller list. It restores my faith, at least partially, in the book buying public.
Rating:
Summary: Charming, Warm, Wonderful Characters
Review: I don't know how anyone could fail to love the Mma Ramotswe novels of Alexander McCall Smith. Mma Ramotswe and her fiancé, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, are such lovable people and Smith's writing is so fluid and beautiful that the books in this series really transcend the mystery genre. Of course, unlike most conventional mysteries, the Mma Ramotswe series concentrates more on character than it does on mystery and therein, I think, lies its enormous success. In THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE, Mma Ramotswe really only has one case: she's hired by a wealthy woman, who, like Mma Ramotswe, was blessed with girth rather than height, to investigate her five suitors, which Mma Ramotswe does in her typically humorous and no nonsense fashion. But that's just the spine of the story. Much more happens in the book and it's every bit as interesting as Mma Ramotswe's detective work. If anyone has stayed away from this series of books because they're set in Botswana, they're making a huge mistake. These books portray the universality of human behavior, not their differences. And, they're filled with so much warmth and gentle humor it would, I think, take a cold-hearted person not to fall in love with the characters and want more. Smith lavishes as much love and care on his secondary characters as he does on his primary ones, all to the book's credit. Mma Makutsi plays an enlarged role in this book, experiencing one heartbreaking event as well as one dream come true. Mma Potokwane is also featured as she contemplates writing a book and attempts to sort out the marriage plans of Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE is a warm, wise, witty book told with, above all, plenty of heart. Authors wanting to learn how to create wonderful, engaging characters can learn a lot from Alexander McCall Smith and this wonderful series of books. Readers can gain hours of pleasure with wonderful people they'd love to know and spend time with in real life. I don't think a book can earn much higher praise than that. It's really wonderful to see well-written, charming books filled with warmth, humor and humanity reach the bestseller list. It restores my faith, at least partially, in the book buying public.
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