I last read The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency about two and a half years ago for my ENGL 2000 class, and which I reviewed for CBR 7 (aka, the only time I ever managed more than a triple cannonball, which gets more exhausting to reach each year). I have never made it through the entire series yet, but that’s one of this year’s goals. I was excited to read it again, because I find the gentle humor to be soothing in a time where we’re living a year in a week. And I enjoy reading about Mma Ramotswe so much.
I’m linking to my CBR7 review of the novel, so you can see my previous summary, and also I don’t like reinventing the wheel. Instead, I’ll focus this review on new takeaways. Something that really gripped me this time was the incredible decency of the good people on the show. I know, it’s a sad state of affairs when decency is refreshing and seemingly rare. In an era of political engagement and listening to nastiness all the time, it felt surreal to see a kind woman doing good for other people and helping people better their lives. There was also a part of me that amused myself by wondering how Mma Ramotswe would discuss 45 and his ilk to her friends (I’m betting that Alexander McCall Smith does NOT approve of him and would have plenty to say on the subject—maybe a goal for a future book?).
What I want to say most about this book is how much it energized me. The mystery is interesting, and Mma Ramotswe’s logical process is enjoyable to follow, also because she’s not a jerk to other people. That’s what makes it more entertaining than a lot of mystery books—we get her logic without having to resort to loner tropes or asshole stereotypes. Win!
Cross-posted to my blog.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.