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Mar 14, 2008

Writerlibrarian rated it:

Fourth installment in this amazing series. You don't read Mma Ramotswe novels for the action or even for the mysteries. You read them for the gentle rhythm of the narration, the wise philosophy of the characters. In this we rejoin Mma Ramostwe as she waits for her fiancée to set a date for their wedding after his illness. Mr Matekoni is slowly coming out of depression and finds his motor repair shop in the good hands of Mma Makutsi who shares her time between the detective agency and the auto re More...

1 comment like (11 people liked it)

Jan 31, 2012

Linda rated it:

These books drive me crazy, but instead of talking about what I don't like about them, I want to say what I do like. I keep reading them for some reason, so I think it is about time I figure out why.

The first reason is that the author, clearly, has an affection for Botswana. He describes cattle in a way that makes me want to love cows. He describes a desert in way that makes me want to vacation there.

The second is that I can appreciate a book that isn't in a hurry, More...

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Jul 05, 2008

Lauren rated it:

The story of _Kalahari Typing School for Men_ was much like its immediate predecessor, _Morality for Beautiful Girls_. The novel focuses a great amount on the development of some characters, and leaves others "out to dry", and ultimately strays away from the things that made books 1 and 2 of the series so good: the cases, the interactions, and the values of the Botswana people. That is not to say that this book does not have any detective cases, but I find the novels have shifted from More...

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Jul 22, 2007

Rhonda rated it:

Just as with all the other books in the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series, this one evokes a clear sense of place and characters. Simply put, it makes me want to be in Botswana right now. One of the things I like best about Alexander McCall Smith's writing is the way he develops his characters through their lives and actions and not much in the way of a narrator's analysis. The author seems to feel a great deal of affection for his characters even when they make unwise choices. These book More...

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Aug 22, 2011

Patty rated it:

My bookclub discovered The Number One Ladies Detective Agency in 2005, and we just loved it. A couple summers ago, I began a tradition of reading one book in the series during my annual beach vacation. This one is the fourth book, and I think it's the best since the original. The author is masterful at conveying a sense of charm without allow it to feel "precious" (no pun intended with regard to the lead character). I have never been to Botswana, but there is something about both the n More...

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Jun 29, 2011

Annika rated it:

This is not the best book in the series, but it was still a good read. It felt a lot shorter than the others and The Case wasn't as riveting. It didn't even have a very sunny ending. And I like these books to be long, interesting and sunny. If I wanted to read books about the problems different African countries face today I would not have chosen these books. What I like most about them, and probably what someone from Botswana would like the least, is how simple the characters and choices are. I More...

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Aug 16, 2010

Stephanie rated it:

My colleague and I have recently groused together that a certain novelist who writes a certain set of trashy novels to which we are both addicted, is such a poor writer that even though the novels are set in Lousiana, when we read the dialogue what we hear in our minds' ears are the voices of people just like us who live in the Pacific Northwest. And upon reading these admittedly addicting trashy novels, I have no reason to picture the heat and damp and mosquitos with which I know Louisiana mus More...

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Aug 01, 2010

Amy rated it:

I think it's incorrect that many people consider these Mystery Novels. Yes, there's the Detective Agency in the title; however, these novels are much less about solving cases than they are a study of the characters, and praise of tea and the "old Bostwana morality". And that's really fine, if that's what you want in a book. But, when I read a mystery, I expect to find out why a child smells like he's been raised by lions; if the case involves 4 suitors, I'd like to learn about all 4 su More...

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Jun 24, 2010

Dennis D. rated it:

This is the fourth book in Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. I read the first three a while ago (pre-GoodReads) over a span of a couple of years, and haven’t been back to the well lately. I remember grabbing the first book because I was looking for something a little out of my wheel-house, and a tale of a lady detective in Botswana seemed to fit the bill. I loved that first book, No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and quickly became a fan of Smith’s writing.

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May 11, 2010

Kate rated it:

Fourth in a series about The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency of Botswana, The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith is an easy read. There is nothing terribly exciting or riveting about this novel, but the simple storyline will make you smile.
In The Kalahari Typing School for Men Mma Precious Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi run a detective agency. Business is slow and a competitor has moved into town so the ladies are forced to develop new ways to earn business and More...

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Mar 24, 2010

Laura rated it:

More slow charm and gentle truth seeking from our friends at the #1 Ladies Detective Agency, who now have a competitor in the form of the Satisfaction Guaranteed Detective Agency (“Don’t take any chances! Entrust your inquiries to a MAN!”). A ten year old could see the competition isn’t going to be that stiff, but the lack of subtlety is one of the most delightful qualities of these books, partly because it reminds me that most people really aren’t that adept at hiding unpleasant traits, and par More...

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Oct 21, 2009

Lori rated it:

In Alexander McCall Smith's latest installment, the reader is once again treated to the unfolding life of Mma Ramotswe and the cast of characters that make up the world of the No. 1 Ladies Dectective Agency. In this story Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has recovered from his debiltating depression and lends a wonderful richness to the storyline. His character as always is understated and charming and we wonder when the the engaged couple will actually get married. Mma Makutsi figures prominently in the plo More...

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Sep 26, 2009

Aaron rated it:

Mma Ramotswe is back, and this time she is being challenged by a new detective agency in Gaborone. The new detective is a gentleman who claims that the fact that he was trained by the CDI in South Africa, has experience working in New York, and has lots of streets of smarts amkes his agency far superior than the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. It is frustrating to hear such sexist advertising, but our hero is never one to let that kind of thing get her down. She continues to pursue her cases to a More...

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May 12, 2009

Visha rated it:

Definitely liked this one better than the two previous, although the first book in the series is my favorite so far. We still don't hear a lot about Mr. JLB Matekoni's depression and what he was babbling on about; we don't hear any more about the little wild boy found in the last book; still haven't heard anything about that cubic zirconium... helllllloooooooo! But this book lets Mma Matukusi shine and she's a dandy character. Lots of morality going on; more mentions of Christianity and AIDS, More...

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Sep 13, 2011

Natasha rated it:

It has become somewhat apparent that while reading McCall Smith's, the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, there must be some unforgettable quotes. My favourite lines in this particular book are when Mma Ramotswe contemplating about men and marriages thought that boring men should 'seek out a dull woman, of whom were slow-moving and not very exciting, and should marry one of these bovine ladies..but the problem was that dull men often had no interest in such women...'. Hahaha...so true.

An More...

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Dec 16, 2009

Tim rated it:

Smith's exploration of the moral universe of Botswana where he grew up, and Africa, and the many small places within them so much like his current home of Scotland continues in this delightful story.

In an unlooked-for place, the author himself makes an almost invisible appearance in this particular novel, drawing sharply his own moral connection to his writing and to the world of which it is part (p. 156):

"Who is this?" asked Mma. Ramotswe, pointing to a photogr More...

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Jun 17, 2009

Anne Hawn rated it:

In this book, Mma Makutsi, is becoming a better defined character. She is always looking for a way to use her training at secretarial school and her extraordinary 97% score. She decides that men need to know how to type in this computer age and thinks that they are reluctant to study with females in their class because they have come lately to a skill that has been associated with women in the past. She begins her school and is delighted to find that it is very successful.

Mma Pa More...

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Oct 31, 2010

Abigail rated it:

Despite that fact that Precious Ramotswe owns the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency, I feel that these books are more about the people and less about the mysteries. The pacing is slow, and the small case slowly appears during the course of the story (not at the beginning as in most traditional mystery novels). This book is more about the atmosphere and African philosophy and culture. It is definitely written to evocate a lifestyle, so you either like the slow descriptive writing or you don't! More...

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May 01, 2011

Stacy rated it:

This is the first time I have read one of this series in Hardcover and it puts you in the mood right away by having African patterned end papers. You want to get your hands on some fabric and in the later pages of the book, someone is given a dress-length - nice.
The sensitivity, humour and insight of the chief characters still abound in the Botswana of Smith. Some of the humour comes from picking on men and this from a male author. Some of it comes from the ordinariness in Smith's choice More...

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Sep 19, 2009

Crystal rated it:

I predicted half of the ending, yet I still enjoyed the story. Which shows the strength of Mr. Smith's writing. Usually, when I figure out the solution to a mystery before the end, it spoils the story for me, or at least I keep looking for the next piece that fits my solution. In 'The Kalahari Typing School for Men' I didn't feel that it spoiled the rest of the book, because I wanted to learn how the author played things out.

I accidentally skipped the 2nd and 3rd books in the series More...

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Aug 12, 2011

Anne rated it:

I am a big fan of this series in general. As with any series, some of the books are better than others, but overall the adventures of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency are delightful, funny, and always well-told. This book expands upon the lives of the side characters from the previous books, especially Mma Makutsi, Precious Ramotswe's oh-so-eager assistant. I enjoyed the filling out of the side characters because it adds detail and heart to the larger story arc. One of the reasons I love Alexan More...

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Aug 28, 2010

Jessica rated it:

I'm not entirely sure, but I think Alexander McCall Smith made a sort of cameo in this book! Mma Ramotswe is looking at some photographs with a friend, and she sees a man in one of them, smiling, and asks who it is. Her friend says he is a nice man who stays with them sometimes, and writes books. "You would like him." "I'm sure I would." I giggled: I'm sure this is the author referencing himself!

But anyway: another delightful novel about Mma Ramotswe, her det More...

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Oct 25, 2008

Sarah rated it:

Yay for this series! I'm glad there are so many. It actually inspired me to read more about Botswana. Here is a nugget from this book:

"People's lives were delicate; you cannot interfere with them without running the risk of changing them profoundly. A chance remark, a careless involvement, may make the difference between a life of happiness and one of sorrow."
pg 164

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Apr 26, 2009

Purplycookie rated it:

"We must try to persuade her to value herself more than she does at present. We shall all change that, because it is possible to change the world, if one is determined enough, and if no one sees with sufficient clarity just what it is that has to be changed."

I must admit I have high expectations for this book since it comes from an international bestselling author & all. I remember all too well Roxanne's giddiness whenever she behelds titles by this author whenever we trai More...

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Dec 28, 2008

Dana rated it:

Another great book in a wonderful series.

Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency has competition in the form of an arrogant, sexist man who has opened his Satisfaction Guaranteed Agency. He believes that his agency is the only one who can help people as he is a man with experience.

Her adopted son has shown some disturbing behaviour in killing a bird and she doesn't quite know how to handle the situation.

Her assistant, Mma Makutsi, wants More...

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Mar 06, 2011

Emily rated it:

Another great book in this series -- I simply love this series & am excited to read more by this author.

Precious Ramotswe is the owner & lead detective of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. In this book, we follow a few of their cases, as well as their first competition in town! Her assistant detective, Mma Makutsi begins a new businness teaching men to type (hence the name of the book), and is looking for romance on the side.

I just love the main character, Precious. I admi More...

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May 05, 2011

Karen rated it:

Another cozy mystery from AMS. Again, the mystery is not really the focus of this book. The books spends more time explaining Botswana culture, especially the conflicts contemporary women face by trying to carry forward traditional ways while taking advantage of opportunities in school and the workplace. In this book Precious takes what she knows about Botswana in particular and the human race in general in order to solve mysteries that are more domestic crimes than civic ones. As the fourth b More...

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Jan 25, 2011

Elsje rated it:

Een geinig boekje, dit vierde deel van de No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency serie en prima leesbaar zonder dat je de eerdere delen las (dat was bij mij het geval).

Het verhaal speelt zich af in Botwana, volgens de hoofdpersoon het enige beschaafde land in Afrika. Zij, Mma Ramotswe, is eigenaresse van het No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency en krijgt de schrik van haar leven als haar bureau concurrentie krijgt. Gelukkig blijkt haar manier van werken nog steeds klanten aan te trekken. Zo ook de m More...

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Oct 07, 2010

Laura rated it:

I do love this series, and this book was another great addition. After the earlier books, this one had something to live up to, and while it may not have been quite my favorite, it was still a pleasure to read. I found it to be less complex and more predictable than some of the earlier books, with some answers perhaps coming too easily this time - or maybe I’m just learning what to expect from the books, which is inevitable. I’m not complaining -- it was a great read. In this book, the complic More...

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Jul 21, 2009

Ann rated it:

I love the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency books -- so sweet and naive -- but with a few twists and turns along the way!! You also get some lovely descriptions of Bostwana in there. At the end, everything is neatly wrapped up and all is well with the world! There is vague reference to the "sickness" that afflicts many people (AIDS?) -- but it never plays a big part in the books.

This is the last one I have read in the series (and I have to read them in order!!) -- and Preciou More...

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