Rating: 
Summary: A warming, wonderful read
Review: The mysteries aren't all that mysterious--but within a few pages, you realize how unimportant that is. This book is really about its characters, particularly the sensible, moral, and very likeable Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. It's also very much about Botswana--"a place of peace"--with its kind and caring people, acacia trees, deadly snakes, and limitless blue skies. Smith tells the varied stories contained in this book in a simple, almost folk-talish fashion, with flashes of humor, cultural insight, and political observations. I'm hooked, and I can't wait to read the sequels.
Rating:
Summary: Miss Marple, move over!
Review: Precious Ramotswe is a comfortable size-22 African lady (none of your Euro/American size 6's for her, thank you very much) with a fund of mother-wit and a penchant for minding other people's business. Having survived a disastrous, abusive marriage and the death of her infant son, she turns a small legacy from her late father, whom she adored, into "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency", the only one of its kind in Botswana, or maybe in all of Africa. From shaky beginnings with non-paying clients and chauvinistic male attitudes ("Who ever heard of a woman detective?" demands a border policeman; "Haven't you ever heard of Agatha Christie?" Mma Ramotswe shoots back, not missing a beat), she builds up a small but solid clientele that brings her problems to solve concerning cheating husbands, wayward daughters, malingering employees trying to commit insurance fraud; and a spectacularly sinister case involving a missing eleven year old boy who may or may not have been murdered for witchcraft purposes. Giving Mma Ramotswe quiet but ever-present moral support, while keeping her old car from falling apart, is Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, who loves every inch of Mma Ramotswe's ample frame and is patiently waiting for the brick wall of her resistance to marriage to crumble, so she can make him the happiest man on earth.Smith has written an enchanting book that is can be described as a cross between an engaging detective story and a love poem to Africa. Mma Ramotswe is as warm and as solid as the red earth of Botswana; she loves every inch of the Africa she knows and identifies with and wouldn't live anywhere else. She embodies the African traits of deep ties to family and community, concern for one's neighbors, and respect for tradition. She commands respect and she gets it. Smith has added a delightful and enduring creation to the pantheon of famous detectives in fiction. Jane Marple, move over. Or rather, make a separate space for Mma Ramotswe. She deserves a pedestal of her own.
Rating: 
Summary: Whats the hoopla about?
Review: Interesting book with nice written style by the author. The language and style ring true and the Stories are interesting snapshots of life in africa but I really couldnt figure out what the big noise is all about? maybe I need to go to the today website (this was their selection for book of the month) and see what other people thought. I think V.S Naipal or Chinua Achebe are better options if you want to learn a little about africa. This is a sweet gentle book and i agree with other reviewers about it but this is no earthshaking examination of africa.
Rating:
Summary: A real charmer.
Review: This is a beautiful little book. Its presentation is lovely and almost childlike at times. There are genuine mysteries to be solved here, but even though the individual stories are short, this is not "mystery light." The author creates some really memorable characters and presents an interesting sense of place (with Africa's Kalahari as the background), but more like a soft, fuzzy dream than a detailed picture. This is a place where witch doctors rule, where cobras nonchalantly climb into cars. The author uses simple language full of wisdom. One chapter is titled "Mma Ramotswe Thinks About the Land While Driving Her Tiny White Van to Francistown" -- and that's exactly what it's about! Here's more: "They taught us ... a language which is good for telling people what to do. There are many words for push, take, shove, carry, load, and no words for love, or happiness, or the sounds which birds make in the morning." and "So for many years, nothing at all happened. It was a good system of government, because most people want nothing to happen. That is the problem with governments these days. They want to do things all the time; they are always very busy thinking of what things they can do next. That is not what people want. People want to be left alone to look after their cattle." READ THIS BOOK! It's full of joy. I'm going to read the next in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Wholesome. Wonderful. A great story.
Review: There is nothing not to like about this little book. It is well written, colorful and unique. From the moment we meet Mma Ramotswe and follow her story from girlhood, through an abusive marriage and into her ambitious foray as the proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, she earns our respect and admiration-just as she shows respect and admiration for everything around her. Alexander McCall Smith captures the character and culture of Gaborone, a village in Botswana, and tells a sweet and entertaining story. I've noticed other reviewers label it a mystery; however, in my opinion it is a series of mysteries--one about a missing boy kidnapped by witch doctors winds through the book, and others unfold in each chapter where new cases are presented to the fledgling agency. A wonderful and charming book, which I highly recommend. From the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life: The Story of a Northwoods Resort Owner."
Rating:
Summary: Oh, Wow!
Review: Alexander McCall Smith has done it again with "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The protagonist Precious is, well, precious. A wonderful character! The humor displayed in this book cannot be surpassed. I really love the locale and characters in this book. A fun read you will not want to put down. This one I highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Charming
Review: A deightful easy read that will chase away all your troubles. I'm now a great fan of the # 1 Ladies Detective Agency and have read all three books in the series. I hope that there will be many more wonderful adventures with Mma. Ramotswe----soon, now that I'm hooked!
Rating:
Summary: i'm in love
Review: I can only describe this book as darling. Precious Ramotswe, "a good fat woman" is a wonderful character. She's smart, brave, resourceful and likes herself just as she is. The story of her daddy and the unnamed cousin who raised her is extremely touching as is the section on her genteele, cautious romance with the owner of the local garage. Mma Ramotswe tackles mysteries short, complex, funny and frightening. She deals with deadly witch doctors, crocodiles, con men and womanizers all with the same cool head.
I just loved her and this book.
Rating:
Summary: Charming, well-written, interesting
Review: This is a charming story, with funny bits, a pleasure to read. So good in fact, that I immediately bought the other volumes. I hope the author writes as many books about the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as Agatha Christie wrote about her sleuths. Not only are these good stories about interesting people, the information about Botswana is intriguing and makes me curious. I'd like to learn more. Like another reviewer of this book, I have an additional recommendation to make. If you really like mysteries and good writing, be sure to read Robert Barnard's books. They are excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Really nice writing
Review: You'll love it all! The descriptions the characters and, above all, the story. The author writes with such beautiful simplicity that you won't want to put it down till it's all done. That's a guarantee. If you've ever been interested in Africa, you just can't miss this one. I eager to see what comes next. A definite must!! And if you're looking for a few other great titles, look no further than these, Buckland's Hot List: most creative, The Butterfly: A Fable (Singh); most engaging, The Alchemist (Coelho); most interesting, Life of Pi (Martel); most enlightening, 9-11 (Chomsky); most thrilling, The Lovely Bones: A Novel (Sebold); and finally, the most creative, engaging, interesting, enlightening and thrilling book of all, The Little Prince (Saint-Exupery). These are the books I'd recommend to my family, friends, students, and wife. There are many more, trust me, but these are the first that come to mind (for having left an impact slight or proud as it may be). If you have any questions, queries, or comments, or maybe even a title you think I should add to my list, please feel free to e-mail me. I'm always open to a good recommendation. Thanks for reading my brief but hopefully helpful review. Happy reading. Donald S. Buckland.
|
