Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 3)
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The adventures of Mma Ramotswe, the strong, feisty, proud but compassionate lady detective (the only in Botswana, maybe Africa) continue in MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, the third novel of the No.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY series. Things are not going too well for Mma Ramotswe - the agency is facing money problems, and her fiance, the kind and up-till-now ever reliable Mr. JLB Matekoni starts behaving very strangely and looses all interest in everything, including his passion, being a mechanic a...more
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Like so many other readers, I really enjoy McCall Smith's stories of Mma Ramotswe, and her Botswana detective service. Mma Ramotswe is a remarkable character, and I love her simple and moral nature. Yet, of the three books I have read in this series, I found _Morality for Beautiful Girls_ to be the weakest story so far.
Mma Ramotswe is pulled in many different directions in this book, and only a few of the circumstances really go anywhere. Nearly a whole chapter is devoted to a young boy that i...more
Mma Ramotswe is pulled in many different directions in this book, and only a few of the circumstances really go anywhere. Nearly a whole chapter is devoted to a young boy that i...more
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Curioser and curioser. In the previous book, Mma Ramwotswe (sp?) gets engaged to the respected mechanic in town, and he proves himself to be a loving and thoughtful future husband.
In this next novel, the mechanic is basically gone. If this were a tv show, I'd assume he had pulled out of the show for some unexpected reasons and that was the reason he was "Sir Not Appearing in This Film." But there is just no plot-based reason for this disappearance. And the few details we learn in...more
In this next novel, the mechanic is basically gone. If this were a tv show, I'd assume he had pulled out of the show for some unexpected reasons and that was the reason he was "Sir Not Appearing in This Film." But there is just no plot-based reason for this disappearance. And the few details we learn in...more
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Read in May, 2008
Much as I recently gave up on Tony Hillerman, I feel like I'm reaching the end of my ability to read Alexander McCall Smith, or at least the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. I just can't shake the feeling that the series of books chronicling the exploits of Precious Ramotswe is deeply, deeply condescending. "Oh, look at the simple people of Africa, aren't they just adorable with their backward notions and earthiness?" I get that everything is conveyed with love and affection, maybe e...more
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Read in November, 2005
Dritter Fall von Mma Ramotswe, die in der Hauptstadt von Botswana eine Detektei aufgemacht hat. Bei der Lösung ihrer Fälle hilft Mma Makutsi, die außerdem noch die Werkstatt von Mma Ramotswes Verlobten auf Vordermann bringt. Dort hat die weibliche Hand im Büro schon lange befehlt.
Die Bücher dieser Reihe sind keine Krimis, hier geht es nicht um Mordfälle oder ähnlich schwerer Delikte. Stattdessen wollen die Mandaten häusliche Probleme geklärt haben oder wissen, wer sich am besten al...more
Die Bücher dieser Reihe sind keine Krimis, hier geht es nicht um Mordfälle oder ähnlich schwerer Delikte. Stattdessen wollen die Mandaten häusliche Probleme geklärt haben oder wissen, wer sich am besten al...more
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Read in April, 2008
Mma Ramotswe is encountering her share of problems as founder and owner of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. She is having financial difficulties which she resolves by spending more. Her fiancee the reliable Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is not taking an interest in anything. Of course Mma Ramorswe solves this problem also.
This time Mma Ramotswe is asked to find out who is poisoning an important Government Man's family. Her agency is also asked to investigate the characters of the four finalists of ...more
This time Mma Ramotswe is asked to find out who is poisoning an important Government Man's family. Her agency is also asked to investigate the characters of the four finalists of ...more
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Read in July, 2008
As the previous two books from this series, I quite enjoyed the stories about Mma Ramotswe. I found myself really liking Mma Ramotswe's 'Assistant Detective' Mma Makutsi, especially in her dealings with the lazy apprentices at the Tlokweng Speedy Motors garage!
It was a bit of a shame that McCall Smith didn't really develop the story about the 'wild boy', given that an entire chapter is devoted to setting up the story. Bit disappointing that nothing much happens with the boy then.
But the ...more
It was a bit of a shame that McCall Smith didn't really develop the story about the 'wild boy', given that an entire chapter is devoted to setting up the story. Bit disappointing that nothing much happens with the boy then.
But the ...more
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Read in July, 2007
"In Morality for Beautiful Girls, Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of the only detective agency for the concerns of both ladies and others, investigates the alleged poisoning of the brother of an important "Government Man," and the moral character of the four finalists of the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest, the winner of which will almost certainly be a contestant for the title of Miss Botswana. Yet her business is having money problems, and when other difficulties arise at...more
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Read in September, 2007
Third novel in his Lady Detective agency. It's a lovely book, old fashioned in its slow pace, very low key plot.It's a slice of life from a world that moves at a different pace from ours. In this we meet our detective Mma Ramotswe again facing the daily shores of a business woman (her business is not making enough money to cover Mma Makutsi's raised in status and pay), an engaged to be married woman (her fiancé Mr. Matekoni is acting strangely). Mma Makutsi takes on her first case and the appre...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
McCall Smith fans
Third in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective series.
Mma. Makutsi plays a more important part in this book. When Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni suddenly loses interest in his shop, Mma. Makutsi gets yet another promotion, to acting manager. She does a great job, managing to motivate the two lazy apprentices while also earning a large fee for the detective agency.
Meanwhile, Mma. Ramotswe tries to help Mr. J.L.B. Motekoni conquer his bout of depression. She reads everything she can find on the subject and ...more
Mma. Makutsi plays a more important part in this book. When Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni suddenly loses interest in his shop, Mma. Makutsi gets yet another promotion, to acting manager. She does a great job, managing to motivate the two lazy apprentices while also earning a large fee for the detective agency.
Meanwhile, Mma. Ramotswe tries to help Mr. J.L.B. Motekoni conquer his bout of depression. She reads everything she can find on the subject and ...more
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Read in November, 2007
Ada 4 kasus dalam buku ketiga serial ini. Serupa dengan kasus-kasus sebelumnya, kasus-kasus yang terjadi sangat dekat dengan kehidupan di Botswana atau dengan kehidupan sehari-hari kita. Dan seperti biasa, jangan harapkan kasus yang rumit dan menegangkan di serial ini :D.
Pada akhirnya ada kasus yang dibiarkan tidak terungkap. Ada pula kasus yang membuat kita menunggu bersama waktu, sampai suatu saat nanti akan terungkap juga. Setidaknya demikianlah harapan si pembaca (=aku :P) terhadap kasus Mr...more
Pada akhirnya ada kasus yang dibiarkan tidak terungkap. Ada pula kasus yang membuat kita menunggu bersama waktu, sampai suatu saat nanti akan terungkap juga. Setidaknya demikianlah harapan si pembaca (=aku :P) terhadap kasus Mr...more
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It took me awhile to get into the voice and tone of this book. But it turned out to be well worth the effort. Now I think I may be up for a commitment to the whole series.
It is witty without being overstated. There were so many times throughout the book I had to make sure that "Alexander McCall-Smith" was really a man because his writing and observations are just right on about women. Yet there are no cheap shots like you would see taken in a "Kathy" comic. Also, w...more
It is witty without being overstated. There were so many times throughout the book I had to make sure that "Alexander McCall-Smith" was really a man because his writing and observations are just right on about women. Yet there are no cheap shots like you would see taken in a "Kathy" comic. Also, w...more
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One theme in this book questions is women that are beautiful have any morals. Do beautiful women have an easier life than average women? Do beautiful women work hard or need to work hard? The discussions are set in a country in Africa but is easily transferred to the lifestyles in the U.S. especially when the author alludes to older men seeking younger women and how that effects society. I am enjoying how McCall Smith tackles so many ethical issues while keeping the storyline interesting an...more
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Read in March, 2008
I can't decide about the no 1 ladies detective agency books. They have there moments for sure, but at other times I get so bored! But there was a part in this book about how we overweight women should just sit on the skinny ones to make them stop pestering us, or something like that, and I just laughed out loud. So I will have to read them all, which I am close to doing, just completely out of order. I've just started the other series Isabel dalhoise? its ok so far but i'm not very far into...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Africa lovers, novel readers.
Ah! Finally a book that does not have anything to do with childbearing or the like. This book, the third in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, is a great quick read. McCall Smith does a wonderful job of capturing the intricate aspects of culture in southern Africa and Botswana in particular. Like the other books, the story is engaging and fun to follow. This is a light book with slightly more serious undertones, but a fun read that ends on a positive note.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
those who like this series
3rd in the series this book is a bit more lengthy and less interesting. It rehashes just about everything (details and all) of the previous books. Because I have been reading the books in series this is annoying I hate having to reread detail. Also, in the previous books the author has explored telling a story in more than one perspective and I felt like in this book this style was overused. Lengthier descriptions and less of a climax than I hoped for
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recommends it for:
Julie Self
This is part of a series called "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency". There are currently 8 books in the series (6/07). It is a story set in Botswana and even though all of the books are very similar, I never get tired of the view of the Botswana people and of all of Africa, both its people and its physical characteristics, that the books show. My husband, my mother-in-law, and I love these books - and we rarely agree so well on books.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
Aunt Barb and Daisha
This series by McCall Smith is a good read as break from more heavy, emotionally or intellectually demanding material. I like his way of writing about small details in life, like drinking tea, and making them seem peaceful and inviting. He main character is approachable, and likeable, and "clever" in a suprising way . . . always reminds me of Aunt Barb.
I read this book after reading "Kalahari typing school for men".
I read this book after reading "Kalahari typing school for men".
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Finished number 2 in this series and couldn't wait another day to start this one! I am going on vacation next week. I will be camping on the Washington coast with my family and was hoping to take this book with me to read on the beach. I bet I'll be done with it by then...better make a trip to the bookstore and buy the next couple so I will be able to read them...I am going through these too fast!
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Read in June, 2008
These books are so sweet. I just find myself smiling at Precious Ramotswe's kind nature. In this volume, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency investigates an unusual orphan, the moral character of the finalists in the Botswana Miss Beauty and Integrity contest, and a possible murder of an important "Government Man"'s family member. We also get to spend more time at Mr JLB Matekoni's garage.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.00 (3319 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.89 (3211 ratings) number of reviews: 179
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"Mma Ramotsew accepted her large slice of cake and looked at the rich fruit within it. There were at least seven hundred calories in that, she thought, but it did not matter; she was a traditionally built lady and she did not have to worry about such things."
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