mystery
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is truly a love-letter to Africa—specifically Botswana. The best thing about the novel is the glimpse into life in another culture. The contemporary African way of life is perfect for Precious Ramotswe where, with her clever and practical mind, she thrives. The novel could almost be a series of short stories and novellas about Mma Ramotswe—her life as a child, her father, her friends, and the mysteries she solves after opening her detective agency. You could likely enjoy each chapter separately from the whole. And yet, it all comes together to give the full picture and does so in charming language and vivid scenery by Alexander McCall Smith.
I’ve wanted to read this novel because it is so beloved. I enjoyed it. However, the pacing is slower than I prefer. I do not anticipate reading any others in the series but I’m glad I read this one.
The novel is very funny at times. I think I laughed out loud more frequently than with any other novels I’ve read recently. One excerpt from the novel illustrates the differences in culture between my home and Mma Ramotswe’s:
“Buy one of these Mma,” said the woman. “Very good blouses. They never run. Look, this one I’m wearing has been washed ten, twenty times, and hasn’t run. Look.”
“You wouldn’t have my size,” said Mma Ramotswe. “I need a very big blouse.”
The trader checked her rack and then looked at Mma Ramotswe again. “You’re right,” she said. “You are too big for these blouses. Far too big.”
Mma Ramotswe smiled. “But they are nice blouses, Mma, and I hope you sell them to some nice small person.”
The narrator of the audiobook, Lisette Lecat, was amazing! She sounds like a native British speaker (while voicing the narrator) but effortlessly slides into African and Indian accents for the various characters and can speak in a very low range for the men’s voices. Truly, it was a delight to hear this book in her voice. I give her an A+.
The stories were enjoyable and charming. And I liked Mma Ramotswe’s thoughts and tactics. I think I would like to know her in real life.
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