I spent a couple of comfortable and entertaining evenings last week with Mma Precious Ramotswe in Botswana. The series about the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith had been on my wishlist for quite some time, because I kept hearing so many good things about it.
Then last week as it happened, I couldn’t control myself any longer and I wandered off to the only bookstore in Yerevan that has a small, but nice collection of contemporary literature in English. I came out with The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (also one that had been on my wishlist for a long time) and the first part in the series about Mma Ramotswe. There were a couple of other books I would have taken with me as well, if the problem with this bookstore weren’t the prices they charge: they are always higher than the original prices in US dollars and even higher than the prices I would pay for the same edition back in Holland. So you can understand I don’t splurge there too often, and if I do it’s only on books that I really, really, really do want to read.
Back to The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I started it the same evening I bought it, because it felt like exactly what I needed after reading a lot of non-fiction and of fiction laden with “difficult” themes. I was in for something cozy and easy. That is exactly what I got and I loved it.
After her father’s death, Precious Ramotswe sets up the first detective agency led by a woman in Botswana. Precious, or Mma Ramotswe as she is usually called, is a very likable person: an independent, happily unmarried woman, with common sense, compassion and wit, who deeply loves her country and Africa.
The book is not centered around one big mystery, but in the course of the book Mma Ramotswe solves several smaller problems for her clients: she finds out what happened to a missing husband, she returns a stolen car, uncovers a fake father. In between Mma Ramotswe gets a couple of marriage proposals. I had a great time with Mma Ramotswe driving around Gabarone and the countryside of Botswana in her little white van solving smaller and bigger problems. I was smiling often and finished the book with a smile as well.
I will certainly pick up more of this series and others books by Alexander McCall Smith as well, if I have the chance (the same bookstore currently also has number 2 in the series of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency; I might have to restrain myself…). Apart from the thoroughly likable main character, the book was simply well written, with charm and love for the subject and the setting. I won’t read them close together, though: I feel that too much of Mma Ramotswe will lead to an overkill and will take the charm of the series away from me. But the books of Alexander McCall Smith have been added to my list of comfort books, when I feel like reading something entertaining and light.
I am adding this book to my Orbis Terrarum reading list and letting it replace the Orhan Pamuk one.
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i like this series by mccall smith and also his other one of a scottish protagonist and centres the mystery a lot around morality and philosophy, but it is of a different tone than the no. 1 ladies’ detective agency; i’d recommend reading around about the other series before you read it because many precious ramotswe’s fans don’t like the scottish equivalent. i do, though.
Thanks for the tip and the warning, nylusmilk. My copy of the No 1 LDA did have close to ten pages at the back dedicated to McCall Smith’s other books. Going through those pages, that’s really when the thought came up that I’d like to try out some of his other books, especially because the settings seem to be so very different from the Mma Ramotswe-series.
I’m one who didn’t care for the Scottish book — I reviewed it here — but I do love the No. 1 Ladies.
I really enjoy this series and I’ve enjoyed the other series as well. I came across your blog via Weekly Geeks and I must say I really enjoy your blog. I’ll definitely be coming back here again, and add you to my blogroll. Again, great site and enjoyed the book too.
I din;t care for the philosophy books either but I love his 44 Scotland Street series and yes your right you do need to space the books out.
Thatsthebook, thanks for visiting! Please, do stop by again!
I love how McCall Smith’s other books bring up such mixed reactions! More reason for me to at least give some of his other books a try. Thanks everyone for your comments!
this looks like a great one. I actually own one of McCall’s books..maybe it is this one!!! That would be neat! I know exactly what you mean about needing a lighter book after a lot of the books by international authors are on heavy subject matter. I will remember this book, thanks for the review!!
I love this whole series — just read the latest Mma Ramotswe and it is still just as charming. Although spacing them out is a good idea.
The Isabel Dalhousie ones set in Scotland fascinated me, but Isabel is very different from Mma Ramotswe; less immediately likeable as a character, but I enjoy her anyway. His Scotland Street series is very funny, his Prof. Von Egelhof books are entertaining, and I love, love, love his entry into the Canongate Myths series, Dream Angus. As you can probably tell, McCall Smith is one of those authors I have a total reader’s crush on! His website is full of good things as well.
I’m glad you love this one as much as I do! You’re right, the series is perfect as ‘comfort food’.
I just read this one earlier this year, too. It had been on my list for quite a long time. It was lovely! I’m also not a fan of Isabel Dalhousie – he does do as great a job portraying the setting of Edinburgh as he does Botswana, but I just didn’t like her at all. I really enjoyed 44 Scotland Street, though its sequel disappointed me.
Hi Mrythe, linked here from your review of Ladies’ Detective second in the series: I summarized his other books here. I didn’t mind Isabel Dalhousie but didn’t love her as I did Mma Ramotswe.