Cinnamon Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Chat about 'The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith here please! Love this book, in fact I adore the whole series & it was a real joy to read them again. They are so gentle & charming,with such lovely humor,but still address serious issues like domestic violence & AIDS. This is one series of books that I recommend to everyone,young or old,male or female Next book is the fabulous 'The Time Travellers Wife', which I will be taking away on holiday with me for a much looked forward to second read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I've just finished reading The Miracle at Speedy Motors. I find these such easy gentle books to read. There is a very gentle humour and a sense that the stories are based on real people with real lives. I particularly like Precious' pride in Botswana, the country and the people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I adore these books. they are written with so much respect adn love for the country and its people; the characters are people I really care about; and the plot lines are both funny and truly moving. I recommended this to my book group: not all were convinced, sadly but i think there's a 'Sunday night' charm about them, if you know what I mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 They are lovely books! They conjure up such wonderful colourful images of Botswana and daily life there. The characters are just wonderful - I love the way she never refers to her husband by his first name! And her assistant is just fantastic... They are the sort of book you pick up, and don't really want to put down until you are finished. Unlike other "detective" stories, these books are about way more then just the crimes or mysteries she is given to solve, they are about day to day life in a wonderful country - far away from the hustle and bustle of London Life!! And unusually, the film and the TV series were really true to the books, and the characters retained their "book" personalities, if you know what I mean! Oddly though, I didn't like Alexander McCall Smith's other series set in Scotland... Not sure I can read the Time Travellers Wife again - very nearly embarrased myself on the train reading that, when I had no tissues... Lovely book though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Like the others I love these books. Gentle, easy to read and oddly compulsive. Although on rereading for this discussion I'd forgotten how bleak the start of the first is, in it's account of Precious marriage to Note. I was going to give the books to my ES to read but was unsure whether he was too young after re-reading the start I was a little disappointed that the author didn't develop any real storylines around the children. They felt a little like props to me. I felt his treatment of depression was very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 3, 2009 Author Share Posted July 3, 2009 Although on rereading for this discussion I'd forgotten how bleak the start of the first is, in it's account of Precious marriage to Note. The power of TV - I actually like Note now that I have seen him on screen played by the truly divine Colin Salmon Shallow - me??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I love these books I cant really add anything other than agree with what others have written I actually bought this on cd, and my mum stole it (she ran out of the house saying "its mine, its mine, you'll never see it again ") cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Pretty much ditto to whats been said. I love this series. I can almost smell the dust and feel the heat when reading them. My ED has also read them, and loves them too and she's 12 (was 11 when reading them). I can't remember which one we got up to, but I have a list of the rest of the series which I need to buy. I love the respect thats shown by the older generations and the fact the young people are desperate to be like westerners and want material things. Its a nice gentle detective series and sometimes its almost incidental you find out who did it and why. It also got me wanting to try Red Bush tea, which I now love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Palmer Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I love these books too and have just bought myself 'The Miracle at Speedy Motors' to read when school finishes. Mma Ramotswe's pride in Botswana is always evident and I love how she enjoys being a 'traditionally built' woman! My 11 yr old son was very taken with the tv series and my 15 yr old ended up watching it too. Maybe I'll introduce them to the books this summer. I agree with C&T. I've read the 44 Scotland Street books and although I've enjoyed them, many of the characters irritate me and I often feel little has happened by the end of the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
