Цитат:

"Главният проблем на скучните хора, са тяхните нереалистични очаквания."

Pleasant and delightful story set in Botswana.

I just can't seem to get enough of this series.

I find it soothing, but not boring. I love the setting and learning more about Botswana. But mostly I love the lifestyle of the main character. I love her simplicity. I love that they live in a non-materialistic world so that the focus is truly on important things. I love the kindness she shows to everyone. I love the directness and honesty of almost all the characters. I love the way they greet each other as family and welcome new people into their lives. I love their acceptance of each other and their forgiveness. I love the way she follows her intuition and logic together. I love the way she stays true to the old ways, the respectful ways.

They are just a nice, comfortable read. And the ability of the author to maintain quality book after book is impressive. I love spending time with his characters.

The characters, plot, was great but I find the story a bit weak because I know how the story going to turn out before its finish. The world Building was good in which it tend to still keep me interesting.

ספר מעולה, משעשע וזורם. הפילוסופיה המעניינת של מא ראמווצאה, התרבות האפריקאית היפהפיה שלה והכתיבה השנונה של אלכסנדר מקקול סמית הופכים את הספר הזה לממתק אמיתי. מומלץ בחום.

After reading the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency a couple of years ago, I accumulated a few of these, and went through 6 in less than a month. They're very quick reads - I read 2 and part-of-a-third in one day.

They're very entertaining, charming, and compulsively readable. Although marketed as mysteries; they're not, really. Rather they follow Mma Ramotswe and those around her through their daily lives - it's almost besides-the-point that the business she runs is a detective agency. The stories are suffused with McCall-Smith's obvious sincere love of Africa (where he grew up), and the reader feels that a genuine window has opened up into the lives and mindsets of ordinary Africans. I don't agree with many aspects of Precious Ramotswe's view on the world, and I probably wouldn't get along with her in real life - but these books made me feel like I might understand people like her more than before.

However... there's also a weird aspect to the books. They're so relentlessly cozy. It's not that McCall-Smith ignores the poverty, the devastation of AIDS, the lack of education, etc... these things are acknowledged, but then almost swept to the side. On the one hand, it's a celebration of the spirit of the people of Botswana and their love of their homeland... but on the other hand, it sometimes feels like a minimization of these things. It's not just larger social issues: there's domestic abuse, adultery, etc... all the normal foibles of humanity (although all reference to sex of any kind are totally non-existent)- but all the unpleasant things somehow get almost drowned out in the cozy, feel-good atmosphere of the books. Maybe it's just that I usually read darker, grittier material [especially in mysteries {McCall-Smith is no Stieg Larsson!}] but it felt a bit strange to me. I can't decide if it's a detriment or a positive asset to the books.

In 'The Kalahari Typing School for Men,' Mma Makutsi opens her own side business - teching typing to men who might find office skills useful, but might be embarrased to go to a secretarial class poopulated by women. She also has a hope of meeting a nice man... Meanwhile, one of Mr. JLB Maketoni's lazy apprentices has a religious conversion, the orphaned foster children deal with emotional issues, and the detective agency has to deal with a new problem - competion from a rival business. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe handles the case of how to deal with a man who is guilty over having treated his first girlfriend poorly, many years ago.

Things can't get better for Precious Ramotswe’s... good business, kids, partner in life? So a few things are thrown at her - her adopted son get caught up in a case; her assistant, Mma Makutsi wants a hubbie and wants to set up a typing school; and business wise she has a direct competitor whose using gender to promote his detective agency! Can Precious keep her head above water whilst maintaining her integrity, delightful cunning and maddeningly moral approach to life? Well, what do you think?

How the feck does a Scottish writer capture small town Botswana so well? Or is this all idealised? Another nice instalment. A Three Star, 6 out of 12.

2004 read

Думела*, братя и сестри!
Стигнах до петата част за Дамската детективска агенция №1 на Алегзандър Маккол Смит и искам да кажа, че освен, че вече съм ужасно нетърпелива кога най-накрая господин Дж. Л. Б. Матекони ще се ожени за маа Прешъс Рамотсве (която се гордее с традиционното си телосложение, живееща в най-великата страна в Африка, ако не и в целия свят), държа да благодаря на Цветанка Севдина, че ми препоръча този автор (е, тръгнах от други книги, но ще стигна и до португалските неправилни глаголи и особеностите на саламовидните кучета в компанията на Фон Игелфелд, неминуемо е). За съжалени�� в третата част сватбата се отложи, защото господин Дж. Л. Б. Матекони изпадна в депресия, а маа Рамотсве хвана важен клиент от правителството, но пък маа Макутси получи личния си триумф като пое ръководството над "Тлоквенг роуд спийди моторс" и разреши случай за много пари. Разбира се, аз не чета тази поредица заради действието или загадките. Чета ги заради нежния ритъм на разказа и заради мъдрата съзерцателност на героите- радостта от тези книги е интимната гледна точка над това как живеят, техните ценности, как си поставят цели и ги следват. Маа Макутси намери начин да да се развива и да си изкара живота отвъд границите на настоящата си ситуация: неомъжена, с болен брат, за който да се грижи, живееща в една стая без слънце и с много ниски доходи, като откри школата по машинопис за мъже "Калахари", например. Лежерното темпо на разказа, опростения (почти детски) език и мъдрите съвети на добросърдечната маа Рамотсве успяват да дадат усещане на спокойствие и оптимизъм. А Алегзандър Маккол Смит е майстор във взаимодействието на развитието на историята с вътрешния диалог, в изграждането на истории, изпълнени с хумор, с красотата на Африка и с чувство за качеството на простия и семпъл живот. Ако преминавате през тежък период, едно посещение на верандата на Прешъс Рамотсве за малко философстване над живота, пиейки ройбос, докато гледате необятното небе над Ботсуана, определено ще ви ободри. Тези книги трябва да се прочетат, за да се преживеят. Коментарите за тях няма да са достатъчни, за да се предаде цялостното удоволствие от тях и за това спирам до тук.

Любим цитат (от "Морал за красиви момичета"):

"Така или иначе, тя беше дама с традиционно телосложение и нямаше нужда да се тревожи за размера дрехи, който носи, като онези нещастни, невротизирани хора, които вечно се гледат в огледалото и мислят, че са твърде дебели. А и какво значи „твърде дебел“? Кой има право да казва на другия какъв размер дрехи да носи? Това беше форма на тирания от страна на слабите, но тя нямаше намерение да я приема. Ако тези слаби хора станеха още по-настоятелни, щеше да се наложи по-щедро надарените хора направо да им натрият носа. Да, щяха да ги научат те! Ама-ха!"

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*Добър ден (сетсуана)

This is a wonderful thought provoking book and Alexander McCall Smith doesn't disappoint. Highly recommend this series. :)

I continue to love this fabulous, funny series

This is a soothing, gentle read, like a nice cup of tea. The characters are endearing, and the setting of Botswana is charming. Wisdom and humor abound. The author's writing style just lulls me. If you want to relax, this is the book for you.

Precious Ramotswe, can look upon her life with pride: she has a house, two children, a good fiancé -- Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni -- and many satisfied customers from her newly established detective agency. Instead of mystery, this 4th book in the series deals with guilt. Her adopted son is responsible for the dead hoopoe bird in the garden; her assistant, Mma Makutsi, wants a husband and needs help with her idea to open the Kalahari Typing School for Men which leads to a whole other problem, and Mma Ramotswe’s sexist rival has no trouble opening his Satisfaction Guaranteed Detective Agency across town. Ramotswe’s delightfully cunning and profoundly moral methods are very welcomed in this fast-paced society that we live in today.