Pages

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Fresh, witty, engaging, clean and simple, endearing, and culturally enlightening. Very few modern novels match my literary ideals or interests, but I am truly putting some effort into expanding my reading lists in order to expand my world. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency hit a spot that needed filled in my literary life. It was easy to read, illuminated a culture I am unfamiliar with, made me laugh, made me think and feel. In short, a perfect escape.


My reading list lately has been on the heavier side, emotionally or mentally, and I desperately needed something light but not fluffy. I picked up the second in the series, Tears of the Giraffe. I may have liked it even more than the first, and have purchased the third in the series to accompany me on my upcoming vacation. This is the first time in a great while that I have read more than one book in a series.

While the books do contain some mystery, they don't feel like traditional mystery novels. I most appreciated becoming acquainted with someone I would never have known otherwise, in a setting I should never experience otherwise. Precious Ramotswe, a traditional Botswana woman, is a delight to meet. After surviving a tragic marriage and the death of her beloved father, she pours all of her small inheritance into her own detective agency. The book touches on social issues, relationships, and life in a thoughtful and positive manner.

10 comments:

Sarah at SmallWorld said...

I SO love these books!

Skeller said...

Me, too, me, too! I SO love these books :-)

carole said...

Oh! My favorite easy fiction author!!! The series gets even better, I think. I have listened to a few of the books on CD and LOVE the narrator - who includes all sorts of lovely accents in the reading.

Also, I must recommend the Isabel Dalhousie series. And I also heartily endorse the 44 Scotland Street Series. Hmm ... What else has he written?

:)

I hope you're feeling better.

Ruth said...

I have enjoyed them as well. They made me smile and I have since developed a curiosity about Botswana. As the books progress the characters become more alive not less. Which has been the opposite with other series I have read in the past. I am currently on Blue Shoes and Happiness.

Laurel said...

I've only read the first and really enjoyed it. I also read a fascinating article about the author. He just churns these out with very little editing! Not fair:). Enjoy!

Sarah said...

Thanks! I have loved some of your suggestions to help me with home schooling (we got a few of the poetry books that you recommended). But I need to branch back out into some books for me. All I have read lately have been to or for my children, which I enjoy, but I was wanting something for me & didn't know where to start. It's amazing how caught up one can get with something. Thanks so much for the helpful suggestions, I'll get one ordered today.

Sheila said...

I love the Precious Ramotswe books! I recently finished book 7. They are so comforting and have such great subtle humor.

Lora @ my blessed life said...

Well, I will definitely have to check these out! They sound great. I'm a sucker for a good detective story (not the gory kind though).

Literary Feline said...

I really enjoy this series. It's like a breath of fresh air.

ibeeeg said...

These books are wonderful. They are breathe of fresh air in the detective type books. Enjoy!