Rating: 
Summary: More Morality a la Mma Ramotswe!
Review: I just finished this book-- I really enjoy these characters, especially Mma Makutsi in this one. I so enjoy the stories told through these characters... The bits of tradition told through their politeness or rudeness. This book ended a bit abrubtly for my taste... *I think the idea is that you will run out and buy the next book right away if you are not feeling closure from the previous book. Nice strategy ;-). I'm eager to get to the next one :) side note: I wish I had some "Bush Tea" to brew up while I read this series. They have tea so often it becomes a very comforting ritual. Off to make a cup now! :D
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Summary: Another Fascinating Book
Review: I really enjoy this series of "mysteries"...although they are much more than mysteries. In this entry, Precious Ramotswe has some difficulties to deal with, both professional and personal. The agency is not making any money; there is an "important Government man" that wants her to investigate his brother's poisoning; her fiancé, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is harboring secrets. Meanwhile, her assistant, Mma Makutsi, must help a beauty pageant organizer determine if any of the four finalists are worthy of the title, hence the title, "Morality for Beautiful Girls."
There is one small detail that I find a little irritating - the author refers to Mma Ramotswe's auto as the "tiny white van"...never "the van" or "her van" but always the "tiny white van"...for some reason, after about 40 times, that was starting to rankle me.
All in all, another great enjoyable read and I am really looking forward to the next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Delightful and hugely readable
Review: I think I've enjoyed this the best of the first three No. 1 LDA books. It's the continuing developments of the characters from the earlier books, Precious Ramotswe, Mr J. L. B. Maketoni and the secretary Mma Makutsi. In this book we hear rather less from J. L. B. and so does everyone as he comes down with severe depression and suddenly needs a great deal more looking after than Precious can easily deliver. But while he recedes somewhat into the background, Mma Makutsi is more prominent. Having already been promoted in "Tears of the Giraffe" to Assistant Detective she now also becomes Assistant Manager of J. L. B.'s car mechanic's company. And when he is removed from the scene by illness there is really no "assistant" about it. She is, it turns out, rather good at it, better really than she is at being a detective where her enthusiastic belief in phrenology gives her no advantages. With the only other strong and admirable major character being Mma Potokwani of the orphan farm, this gives the story a somewhat feminist feel, conveying as it does a world of powerful women and rather ineffectual men: the damaged J. L. B. Maketoni, the foolish and arrogant Government Man who brings Precious the case that provides the centre of the story, and J. L. B.'s idle and feckless apprentices who grow somewhat less idle and feckless under the iron rule of Mma Makutsi who they both fear and flirt with. The brilliantly conceived character of Precious continues to be the splendid centrepoint. The central mystery is rather more interesting than in "Giraffe": a domestic drama that Precious clears up by exerting an uncommon measure of common sense in a way that reminded me a bit of some of the Father Brown stories. A second detective storyline, about the potential beauty queens whose morals Mma Makutsi is invited to look into in Precious' absence, is the main source of the novel's finely judged humour. Morality is the persistent theme of the book and there are passages where it is subtly apparent that it is the work of a medical law professor who has to read a lot of fat moral philosophy books for his day job. Sometimes the effect is a trifle gauche. The short conversation on moral weakness, knowing what is right to do but not doing it, between Precious and Mr Pilai on p. 119, is perhaps a faintly clumsy intrusion from Moral Philosophy 100. But the single paragraph on pp. 76-77 that delivers Precious' simple but devastating critique of existentialism makes the book worth reading by itself: "You did not need to go to France to meet existentialists, she reflected; there were many existentialists right here in Botswana... She had been married to an existentialist herself, without even knowing it... It was very existentialist, perhaps, to go out to bars every night while your pregnant wife stayed at home, and even more existentialist to go off with girls - young existentialist girls - you met in bars..." Brilliant stuff.
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Summary: Global Morality & Ethics
Review: In his third book about the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" Smith turns to a full blown analysis of Botswana Ethics and Morality. He investigates such concepts as some Botswanians are liars. Most tell the truth about most things, but there are still some things, that Botswanians will not tell about. Some Botswanian women are beautiful and some are not. Some Botswanian women play around, and are promiscuous, others are more chaste. And again, certainly, Smith discusses the concept of Traditional Values in the Modern World and how they mesh, and how they do not mesh. But what the reader notices, is these things that Smith showcases in his book, these values, these ethical standards, and the resulting mix, are not just Botswanian. They are American, Swiss, Russian, Portuguese, Indian, Italian, Australian, in fact, they are the same types of moral and ethical issues that all societies wrestle with all over the world. In this book, Smith deals less with detective stories and much more with ethics and human commonality. He even tackles depression as a very common and treatable human illness. And he comments on beauty contests, both the good and the bad. And even with this change of focus, Smith still keeps us with those same characters, acting the same way, and shows us how they analyze ethics and morality of others in comparison to their own. In addition, just so his characters are not superhuman, he also introduces some character faults within them as well. This introduction of a few negatives, makes his characters much more real as human beings. And after all, it seems, that what Smith's message is here, is that morality and ethics are woven into the fabric of everyday life, just as much as eating and sleeping. No matter where one lives and who one interacts with, the issues of ethics and morality in dealings with others must be considered. And if it be true, that no man is an island; then it also is true, that all men and women, must come to terms with some model of ethics and morality, that they can internally justify. Smith has an uncanny ability to use Botswana as a microcosm of the world. And even more so, a microcosm of the free and democratic countries of the world. For Botswana is a free and democratic country, and they are a very proud people. There are many such countries in the world. And in most things, they can be compared, at least metaphorically to the microcosm of Botswana.
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Summary: Beautiful....3rd Installment
Review: In the third installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe faces new challenges that give this book a slightly different twist. In this story the focus seems to be more on the ever changing quality of Precious Ramotswe's life and the people in it rather than the cases that come into the agency. I missed Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni and his quiet gentleness in this book, as he was indisposed throughout most of the story with a mysterious illness. Mma Makutsi and her new job as the manager of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and assistant detective figure prominently in the storyline. The reader learns more about her personal life, what drives her and her unique thoughts on the state of society especially the status of women. The mysteries are less obvious and a little less satisfying when resolved. What the reader is given is some beautiful philosophicial prose on the nature of the human condition as Mme Ramtoswe and Mme Matkusi each ponder the intricacies of their cases. I enjoyed this book, although somewhat different. Perhaps, as a reader I must come to expect that each book in the series is unique in its own way. McCall Smith has again created a wonderful story that quietly interweaves the African culture, traditions and communities into a story that touches us no matter where we live.
Rating: 
Summary: Why all the loose ends?
Review: Like so many other readers, I really enjoy McCall Smith's stories of Mma Ramotswe, and her Botswana detective service. Mma Ramotswe is a remarkable character, and I love her simple and moral nature. Yet, of the three books I have read in this series, I found _Morality for Beautiful Girls_ to be the weakest story so far. Mma Ramotswe is pulled in many different directions in this book, and only a few of the circumstances really go anywhere. Nearly a whole chapter is devoted to a young boy that is found outside of town, and he is subsequently sent to the "orphan farm". The matron of the orphan farm, Mma Potakwani, asks Mma Ramotswe to investigate the boy's past, yet that story line fails to go anywhere. Why spend so much time developing a story only to drop it in the end? I was left disappointed, and can only hope that this mystery is revisited in the future. Another large loose end: what happened to Mr. J.L.B Matekoni? In the previous books, he is a main character, however in _Morality for Beautiful Girls_ he is given little face time. The book did not tell us what brought Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's depression, and once again, are the readers going to be told what happened in the future? Like Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, the children from the orphan farm, who played such a large role in _Tears of the Giraffe_ are nearly forgotten in this novel. What happened to them? Yet there were parts that I really enjoyed as well... It is exciting to see the development of Mma Makutsi, and her ever-expanding talents and responsibilities. I look forward to reading more about her. I particularly liked her case with the beauty pageant, and her quest to find a girl in Botswana with both beauty and integrity. Despite the obvious holes in this novel, I am still looking forward to reading more about Mma Ramotswe and the other characters in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty more than skin deep
Review: Mma Makutsi rises to her own in this volume of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective" series books. As Mma Ramtoswe feels the pinch economically and emotionally, what with moneys tight in the agency and the illness of her fiance, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni,she comes to rely on the unexpected talents and strength of her secretary. Mma Makutsi, with her too dark complexion and too big glasses, a less than "beautiful" specimen, shows true beauty in her no nonsense approach to taking on the business managerial load of Tolkweng Road Speedy Motors and its "lazy, girl crazy apprentices", as well as landing a big paying client for the detective agency. Mma Ramotswe doesn't exactly take the back seat, but as she wrestles with the case of depression of her normally steady and reliable Motekoni, she is able to see her secretary's best qualities. In fact, I found the very modern issue of medical depression quite fascinating, along with Mma Ramotswe's recognition of the need to read about it, and get help from the other strong woman in the series, Mma Potokwane, the director of the children's orphanage who relies on Rra Matekoni for help. This volume of the series was very touching to me, as Precious Ramotswe takes on the case of an obnoxious Governmental Official who wants his own family investigated. Her wisdom in using the cultural courtesies of Botswana to interview the would be "culprits" and find a solution are just good sense. Her strength of character reinforces the issue of morality in the story. Most amusing of all is the big money customer that Mma Makutsi obtains who requires a quick investigation into the character of four Miss Beauty and Integrity of Botswana candidates, a rush job with an unusual need and surprising resolution. Best of all, Mma Makutsi shines in her managerial skills with the mechanics and customers of Speedy Motors, more than succeeding in bringing things in line for the ill owner and his intended bride. Her personal joy in receiving the opportunity to succeed in the business world makes her unusal character round out into a fully amusing and "beautiful" woman. Mr. J. L. B.'s recuperative visit to the orphanage and connection with a wild child there further enrich his gentleman's character. This is a reassuringly enjoyable read. A comfort and joy for the fans of Alexander McCall Smith's series.
Rating:
Summary: Precious Ramotswe's life grows more complicated
Review: Mma Precious Ramotswe, the only lady private investigator in the nation of Botswana, finds that being engaged isn't all it's cracked up to be in this third installment in Smith's series (you definitely need to have read the first two in order to understand the references). Her fiance, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, the heretofore devoted and successful owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and foster father to two Bushman orphans, proves to be suffering from depression and must be subtly tricked into seeking medical help. Meanwhile, her assistant, Mma Makutsi, discovers unsuspected talents when they move the Agency offices to share the garage premises and she finds herself riding herd on Mr. Matekoni's notoriously lazy and inept apprentices. Mystery is provided by the possible ongoing poisoning of the brother of an important Government official, who suspects his sister-in-law, and the discovery in the bush of a naked boy who "smells of lions" (anyone who has read Kipling's Mowgli stories will immediately guess at his past, though nothing canonical is established about it). The title arises from Mma Makutsi's efforts to learn which (if any) of four finalists in the Miss Glamorous Botswana contest are morally suited to the title. Smith, as always, conveys much of the spirit, flavor, and customs of the African nation he knows so well, and leaves us wanting to know how the cases of Mr. Maketoni's depression and the mysterious bush boy will turn out. Highly recommended for readers of the series.
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Summary: Charming fairy tale-like story
Review: Mma Ramotswe and her assistant, Mma Makutsi have a problem--or rather a series of problems. Thanks to her impending marriage to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe has a chance to move the office of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, saving money. But even so, the agency is losing too much--and Makutsi would hate to have to let her assistant go. When Mr. J.L.B. Makekoni loses interest in his auto repair shop, Ramotswe sets up Mma Makutsi as assistant manager--but that doesn't deal with the issue of why Makekoni has lost interest in his shop (problem one). Then there's the government man who's convinced that his sister-in-law is trying to poison his brother (problem two). Next, there's a child found with the scent of lion on him, speaking no known language (problem three). Finally, a beauty contest manager comes to the agency with the problem of deciding which of his contestants is least likely to be connected with vice, theft, or other sponsor-offending defects (problem four). Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi definitely have their hands full. Author Alexander McCall Smith uses an almost fairy-tale touch to tell his story of families, culture clash, and ordinary people in Botswana, Africa. Smith emerges the reader in African urban culture immediately, letting the western reader come across differences and similarities to their own background in a natural and convincing way. His light touch (I especially liked Mma Ramotswe's description of herself as having a 'traditional' figure) adds frequent smiles to the journey. MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS is not a complex mystery. In particular, I would have liked to see a better integration of the lion-child into the story. It is, however, a charming story of Africa, women trying to make their way in a culture that is quickly changing yet that maintains many of the values of the past, and of simply getting along with one another as they gain deeper insights into people. MORALITY is a quick read--but if you're like me, you'll find yourself thinking about it again and again once you're done.
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Summary: Mma Ramotswe is now a classic of literature!
Review: Mma Ramotswe has now surely become one of the most loved characters in recent fiction, as utterly delightful as is the author himself. This book is every bit as good as the other two - and American fans should know that there are several more to appear in the USA! This is an enchanting tale and perhaps one of the most utterly charming and delightful antidotes to the wicked world outside that one could possibly imagine. Buy 20 copies for Christmas for all your friends and see McCall Smith's fabulous creations all hit the top 100 in Amazon! Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)
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