No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

[speedymama]

I've just finished "The Kalahari Typing School for Men". I've read 4 books so far. They are so relaxing too read and I really love the characters that Alexander MaCall has created. Precious Ramotswe is wonderful and I cheered for Mme Matsui when her business idea for the typing school became a reality because it meant that she had more money to improve her life.

Reading these books makes me feel humility for what I have. They also highlight how individuals in developing countries who on the face of it lead supposedly less privilege lives than we do in the UK, have similar challenges, ambitions, anxieties, disappointments, joys, temptation and loneliness.

Does anybody know how Mme is pronounced in the Botswanian language (I forget what it is called)? I say Madam but please correct me if I'm wrong.

I've just read the first two and enjoyed them very much. They are an easy read while being informative. I like the humour and charm in them, as well as the fact that they have that rare thing nowadays, a happy ending!

I wondered the same thing when I first read the books, and found this page which has sound clips of Botswana words and phrases including Mma

The other thing that surprised me when I first started reading these book was that Alexander MaCall was white and Scottish. I don't know much about life for the black Botswanians but it appears to me that he understands the society, history, culture etc. Are his books are fair reflection of life there or does he view it through rose tinted glasses that whites often do when they live in these countries because in truth, they don't live the poverty stricken lives that beset these countries?

I suppose if the books bring pleasure and make people want to learn more about the country, does it matter? I'd be interested to hear the viewpoint of indigenous Botswanians.

Thanks Franny, that is excellent.

Anorak, agree, I love the happy endings!

I love these books.
I thought I had read all of them. Imagine my joy when browsing through Amazon a couple of weeks ago, I realised that there was a no.6 that I hadn't read!
I have just started it and it is thoroughly enjoyable.
They are such colourful books. I love the way the characters speak and, yes, I love the happy endings too!

Are they bad?
I've just ordered the whole set!