Tuesday 11 June 2013

Sister Reads: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books by Alexander McCall Smith



Hello there! This is Debs. I am Pooja's sister. Our Instagram friends probably know me as Kookycookie :)

I have been an avid reader all my life; saving up pocket money and school prize money to buy books. I read as much as I can and particularly make sure that I balance my TV and movie viewing with reading. I am fairly eclectic in my reading habits. I especially love world literature because it opens you up to the lives and culture of people who are different from you.

I will be doing book reviews here at least once a week! See you around!


Books: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Pages: Not Applicable| There are a total of 13 books in the series so far

Plot Summary: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books are based in Botswana (better known for diamonds and also as the location for the utterly charming movie 'The Gods Must Be Crazy) and center around the life and shenanigans of Mma Precious Ramotswe- Botswana's first and only detective and her friends. The series starts with the death of Precious Ramtoswe's beloved father, Obed Ramotswe, and him leaving her a decent sum of money and a huge herd of cattle. In Botswana, cattle = wealth and Precious Ramotswe had some money to spare now. She decides to put a part of that money to start up something that she always dreamed of doing- her own detective agency. Hers was the one and only in Botswana and the books are about the cases big and small (but always interesting) that she and her associate- Mma Makutsi- solve.

Characters: The key recurring characters are:
  • Precious Ramotswe- Botswana's first (and only) woman (or any kind of) detective; middle aged, traditionally built (they don't call it 'fat' in Botswana), large-hearted, kind and spunky. 
  • Grace Makutsi: 'Associate' (started off as an Assistant) Detective, who graduated with an hitherto unheard of 97% from the Botswana Secretarial College
  • Mma Potokwani: The strict matron of the Orphan Farm, whose sole aim in life is to help the orphans and make their life better.
  • Mr. JLB Matekoni- One of the best motor mechanics in Botswana and the proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors (*spoiler alert* he later gets married to Precious Ramotswe)
Each book, obviously, has new characters added to it either as clients or as life events (of the happy kind) happen to these core characters.

What I Liked: I read the first book in 2003 and I finished the 13th book last month. These books are written simply but beautifully. The characters are kind and well-meaning and their worldview is so simple and unaffected. They love their country, they work hard, they do not harm or mean any ill-will to others and they go about their lives with a certain kindness and grace that is so touching. The charming ways of the people of Botswana will make you wish for simpler times when relationships and bonds were more important than materialistic pursuits.

Mma Ramotswe and JLB Matekoni are so kind-hearted and helpful that you root for them through all their big and small trials and tribulations. Grace Makutsi has come up in life the hard way- from a poor background with nothing but her effort and talent to support her- and she never ever forgets that even when things get way, way better for her. JLB Matekoni loves cars and treats each car with respect and love; he is generous to a fault and gives out of whatever little he makes. These are characters who make me want to be a better, more considerate, giving person... They are characters you will cheer and root for.. They will become your friends!

The cases that they solve range from adultery suspicions to theft, money laundering etc. They are crimes grounded in the basest of human flaws and are solved with a mix of investigative cunning and simple everyday logic.

I love that McCall Smith has given the world a glimpse into a beautiful country with simple, kind and hardworking people. It is clear that he loves Botswana and that love jumps out of the page and grabs your heart as you read about these people.

What I Didn't Like: Nothing. I loved all the books and even the HBO mini-series! Oh yes!

Will You Like It: If you like reading about kind, sweet and simple people coupled with some nice crime-solving, then you will love these books! Try reading the first one and you'll know what I mean!

Rating: 5/5

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