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Summary: A wonderful character and feel-good book
Review: This is a character I wish I knew in real life. Warm, wise, witty -- have just ordered the three sequels because I just can't get enough of Mma.Ramotswe, the main character of this series. I also appreciated the African experience; it whets my appetite for more. If you need a lift, read this novel. You'll come away richer for the experience.
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Summary: Questions about titles in Botswana
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the book, The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency, and couldn't wait to see what Precious Ramotswe was going to become involved in next! I loved her direct approach to solving the "mysteries". She comes up with an idea, executes it, and solves the mystery with her innate sense of wisdom and common sense.My question to others who have read this book, or to people who may be familiar with Botswana has to do with the titles used in the book. Precious Ramotswe is referred to as Mma or Mme Mma, and later one of the male characters is referred to as Rra. Does anyone know what those titles stand for? The closest I can guess is Mme stands for Madame or Madamoiselle, but I can't figure out Mma, or Rra. Please offer help it you are able. Other than that, I recommend this book for light summer reading for those who enjoy mysteries or for those who don't. The situations that Mma Ramotswe finds herself in are light enough for even the most squeamish. Thoroughly enjoyable!
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Summary: Definitely a Weekend Read
Review: The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency was a classic weekend read. Both the prose and the plot are quite simple. The several cases she solves are also simple and very predictable. This is the kind of book you take to the beach and finish it in no time. This is definitely not the kind of book you ponder and re-read. The good things about this book are the characters and the exotic setting of Botswana. It made me aware of how little I know about Africa and made me want to educate myself about Africa. The main character, Precious Ramotswe is pleasant and resourceful (large and warm like Africa). The other characters are also straightforward and somewhat memorable. However, I struggle the fact that this book is on the New York Times Best Seller list. I recommend Helen Fielding's (Yes, the author of Bridget Jones' Diary)Cause Celeb.
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Summary: Sign me up as a fan.....
Review: I bought this book because of a review I read in a magazine...can't remember which one. Now, I have all the books in Alexander McCall's Smith's series about Precious Ramotswe, proud owner of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana. Unlike some reviews here, I can find no fault with the books. I agree they are not complex who-done-it thrillers, but Precious Ramotswe does not lead a thrilling life. She lives at a slower pace, more in tune with nature and her intuition than those of us in western civilization. The mysteries she solves are not that difficult, but she takes great pride in her professionalism and treats each client with great care and compassion. I particularly like the way I feel when I read about the daily happenings in Mma Ramotswe's life. I like reading about her house on Zebra Drive; her bright secretary (who scored 97% at the Botswana Secretarial College); her companion Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni; her life growing up as the beloved daughter of a devoted father who left his life's work to her so she could open her own business; her disastrous marriage; and the variety of people who seek out her professional assistance. Some reviewers have compared Mma Ramotswe to Miss Marple. I guess the comparison fits, but it seems to me that Mma Ramotswe would prefer to belong in a category by herself....the first female private investigator in Botswana. If you like the Jan Karon series about Father Tim and his beloved village of Mitford, then you might want to give The No 1. Ladies' Detective Series a try. Enjoy!
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Summary: Don't Miss This One!!!!
Review: I just can't say enough about the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency! In my own family my aunty, who had lived in Africa for several years, she first found this book and read it, and loved it. Then my mom read it and was crazy about it (and she's a retired librarian who reads a ton of novels). Next my sister, another librarian, read it and likewise was nuts about it too. My dad even read it, and he almost never reads any fiction at all....he was crazy about it also. My wife read it and is almost finished now with the next one from this exciting "new" author. I just finished it yesterday and knew I would have to review this book, would have to try and encourage others to read it.
I think I'll read all of the books in the series, and I understand there are four of them.
Botswana. I confess I didn't know much of anything about it before this book, but here Botswana comes alive, becomes completely real. The heroine of these books, the big, fat, smart, really wonderful character Precious Ramotswe, she is just too clever and fun. One little mystery after another unfolds here, each of them totally absorbing. I read the occasional mystery, but this one is easily my favorite.
I'm a writer myself (Safe Sex in the Garden, Allergy-Free Gardening, etc.) and I so appreciate writing that is fresh, fun, inventive, imaginative, full of discovery and surprise, and this novel has it all. There were several parts in the book that made me cry too, not from sadness, but from pure joy. A simply marvelous book. If a book ever did completely deserve five stars, this is the one. Treat yourself to a copy and you won't be able to put it down. When you finish it, give it to someone who doesn't read much, and I expect that this one they'll not only finish, but they'll love it too. A rare find; a simply terrific book!
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Summary: Obviously in the minority here...
Review: I have read the overwhelmingly glowing critiques of this book and wonder if I read the same book. I thought this was an uneven, predictable novel that made me wonder what could have been done with such rich material and such potentially interesting characters in the hands of a better author. I am certain this will show up as some equally inept made for tv movie. The bestseller list is not usually a barometer of good literature, and this book proves it to me once again.
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Summary: Simple and Delightful
Review: A very simple, easy to understand story about an African lady who becomes the first lady detective in the region. The story starts off a little slow, however, after the first 60 pages or so, it gains pace. Though, it is quite a peaceful read, really. Mma Ramotswe has been depicted as a very strong woman and yet there are instances in her life, when one can sense how weak she must have felt. Especially the time when she loses her baby. The story is set in Africa and it was quite interesting to me, just to imagine how it must be in Africa. (Would sure love to visit Africa sometime!) There is quite a bit of humor in the story, which I didn't expect I would find--- pleasant humor! Obed's character is a very strong one too. Once again, a very simple character. I think the highlight of this story is simply its simplicity. A good read.
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Summary: Charming and insightful sleuth plies her trade.
Review: Precious Ramotswe is the thirty-something protagonist of Alexander McCall Smith's successful series about a lady detective in Botswana. The first book of the series is "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," in which Smith gives the back story of how Ramotswe came to be the first female detective in Botswana. Mma Ramotswe, as she is known throughout the book, is the only child of Obed Ramotswe, whom she idolizes. Since her mother died when she was young, Mma Ramotswe learned about life from her father. Obed owned a big herd of cattle, which his daughter inherited upon her father's death. She uses the proceeds from the sale of her father's cattle to buy a house on Zebra Drive and set up her detective agency. Using lyrical prose, Smith does a brilliant job of imbuing his book with the ambiance of Botswana. We see the thorn and acacia trees on the horizon, we marvel at the colorful birds as they swoop down from the sky, we taste the sand of the Kalahari Desert, and we feel the leisurely, gentle pace of everyday life in Botswana. Ramotswe is a thoroughly entertaining character. She is fat and proud of her girth, and she is confident in her ability to read human nature. Ramotswe investigates cases of various con men, a misbehaving daughter, and a missing husband. Although she has no experience as a detective, she uses common sense, intuition, and her professional bible, "The Principles of Private Detection," by Clovis Andersen, to guide her. More often than not, she comes to the correct conclusion. However, Ramotswe is not simply a female Sherlock Holmes. She is a kind and compassionate individual who is careful to use the information she gleans to help her clients live a better life. Her support system consists of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, mechanic extraordinaire (and her not-so-secret admirer) and her talented secretary, Mma Makutsi. "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" is a throwback to a kinder gentler detective novel. Instead of violence and mayhem, Smith writes about the psychology of human nature and he emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are and of having a secure place in the world. He also stresses the satisfaction that comes from loving your land and your neighbors. If you want an exotic, sweet, and utterly enchanting novel about a most unusual detective, start reading this series. I guarantee that you will be eager to read the rest of the series, as well.
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Summary: Charm
Review: The lady detective of Botswana is utterly charming. She pursues her cases with logic and diligence. The local color in the story is delightful. It even seems that the political scene is correctly drawn when allusions are made to the rather step-child relationship Botswana has with South Africa. The cases for which clients seek solutions include an incident of witch craft, a matter of insurance fraud for an amputated finger, an instance of blurred identity in the medical profession where twins function as one physician, and a tale of a straying husband.
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Summary: Precious Indeed!
Review: I picked this little tome up at Sam's and have now ordered the rest of Alexander McCall Smith's books on amazon.com, eager to keep reading. What a pleasant surprise, Mma Ramotswe is! And such a treasure with her choice of life as a lady detective in Botswana, of all places! And how poignant the tale of this mid-thirties lady of size, a fat lady at that. And how beautiful this tale of her life, her father, her heritage, her love for her country, of Africa. There is humor here, surprising and refreshing morality, quiet strength and beauty in humanity. There is acceptance of one's ways, customs, nature, life, and a peaceful existence with the curious little adventures via a quiet detective style for a change. This book is a feel good and make you smile book, a book to refresh one's hope in mankind and in the serenity of a culture much slower and calmer and more at peace with itself. The curious manner of business, complete with bush tea, or coffee on the verandah of the President's Hotel, or a journey in a little white van, with politeness and strength from an African woman who knows who she is and is proud of it, this is a detective as special as any Mrs. Marple: delight awaits you in these pages. If you like the PBS series of Hettie Winthrop's detective agency, Precious Ramotswe will be right up your alley, leaving you smiling and ready for more. Only this time take a trip to Africa and immerse yourself in another world.
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