In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 6)
by Alexander McCall Smith
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1727)
Read in March, 2008
I will never tire of Precious Ramotswe, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, and Grace Makutsi...ever! God bless McCallSmith for writing this delightful series - now to be made into a movie. Well, i have just googled for the latest update on the movie...and was disappointed to see that the actors did not do justice to the characters. For starters, they looked quite different from how i had envisioned them :P! I consoled myself by reminding myself that i was only 32 yrs old yet, and that i had my life ahead of m...more
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Read in January, 2008
I found this one to be more entertaining than some of the books in the series. I wouldn't recommend the "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series to just anyone, but I admit I have enjoyed it. The landscape of Botswana is depicted beautifully, lovingly throughout.
I haven't read critical reviews, but think some might NOT appreciate the idyllicism, the simplicity of characters, the repetition. The people and situations are charmingly simple (the style has been called utopian)and it reall...more
I haven't read critical reviews, but think some might NOT appreciate the idyllicism, the simplicity of characters, the repetition. The people and situations are charmingly simple (the style has been called utopian)and it reall...more
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Read in January, 2005
This is what I wrote about the book at my blog after finishing it a few years ago:
<blockquote>I do love to read about Precious Ramotswe, the No. 1 Lady Detective of Botswana! So when book six arrived I had to have it ;) Alexander McCall Smith tells his story with warmth and humor. I laugh out load at several occasions and love the way he makes me feel like I’m a little bit there together with them all. Even though I never been to Botswana my self.
This time Mma Ramotswe have to so...more
<blockquote>I do love to read about Precious Ramotswe, the No. 1 Lady Detective of Botswana! So when book six arrived I had to have it ;) Alexander McCall Smith tells his story with warmth and humor. I laugh out load at several occasions and love the way he makes me feel like I’m a little bit there together with them all. Even though I never been to Botswana my self.
This time Mma Ramotswe have to so...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
McCall Smith fans
Sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
Mma Ramotswe is dismayed to see the erosion of the traditional values of Botswana as modern life becomes more and more about material possessions. She does her best to set a good example, but falls short from time to time. Now married to Mr. J.L.B. Matekone, Mma Ramotswe continues to run the detective agency while many issues in her personal life cause her worry. A strange man breaks into her house, someone leaves her a pumpkin, her van...more
Mma Ramotswe is dismayed to see the erosion of the traditional values of Botswana as modern life becomes more and more about material possessions. She does her best to set a good example, but falls short from time to time. Now married to Mr. J.L.B. Matekone, Mma Ramotswe continues to run the detective agency while many issues in her personal life cause her worry. A strange man breaks into her house, someone leaves her a pumpkin, her van...more
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Read in October, 2007
"Precious Ramotswe, that cheerful Botswanan private investigator of 'traditional build', is now married to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. The Agency is busy, but Mma Ramotswe cannot ignore the plea which is made by a woman who comes to her with a tale of particular misfortune. Unfortunately, her attempts to help are interrupted by a close encounter between her tiny white van and a bicycle, and by a spectacular disagreement between her assistant, Mma Makutsi, and one of t...more
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There is something so comforting about this series. Even though life in Botswana is most likely very different than life in Canada, there is something about the tone or writing style that reminds me of life at my grandparent's house. I love the traditional values, the respect for people/property/manners. And most of all, I love that it is important to slow down and really be in the moment with those important to you. I know that the future installments become a little formulaic. However, ev...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
The entire #1 Ladies Detective Agency series is the most unique set of books I have ever read. I really believe McCall deserves all of the hype he gets for this series, as it has universal appeal.
Mma Ramoswe ponders the questions in life that so many of us do, (or would, if we would just slow down a bit!) But she is so human, too, and some of my favorite parts of this recent addition are the instances in which she muses about Mma Makutsi's "97 percent", but stops just shy of admitt...more
Mma Ramoswe ponders the questions in life that so many of us do, (or would, if we would just slow down a bit!) But she is so human, too, and some of my favorite parts of this recent addition are the instances in which she muses about Mma Makutsi's "97 percent", but stops just shy of admitt...more
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The books in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series will make you smile, and I think that's saying a lot. They are simple in the best sense of the word and heartwarming without being saccharine. The head of the detective agency is Mma Ramotswe, a Botswanan woman with a talent not just for solving mysteries, but also for setting things right. In addition to Mma Ramotswe and the unusual cases she take on, I especially look forward to reading the latest about her accomplished assistant.
Yo...more
Yo...more
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Read in November, 2006
This is the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series with take place in Botswana. The protagonist is a black woman, but the books are written by a white man who was born in Zimbabwe. I had heard skeptical (maybe liberal) readers express concern about this situation, but it didn't bother me any. I thought the voices sounded authentic, but who knows what my reaction might have been if I knew anything at all about any African nation.
The book is not great literature, it's not a ...more
The book is not great literature, it's not a ...more
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recommends it for:
anyone
I don't believe this is part of the boxed set (first five books) of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. I just can't get enough of these books. They demonstrate a kinder, gentler life with great lessons about common sense and how to treat others. You should read the books in order so you know the ongoing characters as well as the new ones introduced in each book. I love, love, love this series and it is appropriate for younger readers as well. What a great picture of Africa they give and what...more
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Read in October, 2007
The 3rd in the series and I'm expecting to start to see a repetitiveness, but no...each book is refreshing and new and I'm excited to dive into the next one. In number three, Mma Ramotswe must get involved in a family mystery and solve it with the best outcome for all involved, find a place to help her kind fiance recover from depression and move her offices to a new location allowing her protege to take over the detective business while she's away. Each and every character is wonderfully draw...more
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Read in August, 2008
There's not a lot of detection going on in this, the 6th of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books. Smith has added a Mr. Popetsi to his cast of characters and the usual suspects are all here. A gentle read and certainly not taxing, although the formula is now a little galling and some element of detection would have made this better than it is.
In terms of the series as a whole, I would have to say that this one is filler. I did like it nevertheless.
In terms of the series as a whole, I would have to say that this one is filler. I did like it nevertheless.
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Cute, a light read. Precious Ramotswe is endearing. The mysteries are very simplistic (not really murders) in the series, but she is so cute and full of life that you just want to read the books! Plus I like learning about the Botswana culture.Secretary Makutsi finds a man to marry and gets engaged! J.B. Matakone, Ramotswe's husband, is under a lot of pressure, and the two apprentices at the garage continue to cause problems.
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Read in August, 2008
I really liked this one!! I think the series is getting better book by book (though I did enjoy the first one a lot). I loved that this one had a bit more character depth and it wasn't all just happy and cheerful, but a little more on the "darker" side with the re-introduction of Note. Quite a few times I burst out loud, it was really quite hilarious! And Mma Makutsi and her addiction to weird shoes is right up my alley!!!
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Read in April, 2008
The reader Lisette Lecat (South African) has a lovely slow voice, but between the slow voice and a slow-moving story, I found that it dragged too much for me. However, it might very well be a good reflection on the pace of life in some parts of Botswana; I don't know.
I loved the sound of the names: Mma Ramotswe, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Note, Puti Radi Puti. (I'm not sure of the spellings since I only listened to it.)
I loved the sound of the names: Mma Ramotswe, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Note, Puti Radi Puti. (I'm not sure of the spellings since I only listened to it.)
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Read in March, 2008
I always turn to Alexander McCall Smith's books when I need a good book to cheer me up. I've been reading this series for some years now and never tire of it! Makes me want to go to Botswana too, as crazy as that sounds. :-) I heard that the TV adaptation was recently shown in Great Britain and I hope it comes over here soon as it was actually filmed in Botswana before the director, Minghella, died unexpectedly.
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Read in August, 2008
I grabbed this book from the library with no expectations. I would listen to it in the car while I drove. The book was interesting because it told of the culture in Botswana, but the book went in a lot of different directions and there was not one main point. When the book was finished, there really wasn't anything accomplished or left out there. It might be interesting to read others.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in October, 2007
I've read a few of the earlier books in this series, and enjoyed the cultural tidbits about Botswana, and his simple style of delivering the story. It describes such a simple, straightforward way of living, and the character's internal monologe is just as straightforward as the way they live their lives. However, I found this installment too predictable, and a little bland.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
As with the other No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books I've read, I'm listening to this one. The reader is great, the accent just right, not a whole lot of conflict, but wonderful characters. For those of you who don't think it's really reading if you are listening, well, too bad. Life is really short and there are a whle lot of good books out there!
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone
I love the characters of Mma Precious Ramatswe, Mma Grace Makutsi and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni and have gained appreciation for Botswana and the respectful attitudes of its traditional way of life. The books in this series have brightened my evenings.
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