A suggestion of Roger Palmer
The first in a series of, at the moment, eighteen
books, Alexander McCall Smith introduces us to “The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency”
The setting for the book is Botswana, a
country the size of France, but one of the most sparsely populated countries in
the world with a population of around 2 million. We discover that 70% of the country is
desert, the Kalahari desert. It is one
of the fastest growing economies in Africa, helped by having a stable
representative democracy since independence from the UK in 1966.
The book begins with the story of Mma Precious
Ramotswe, her upbringing as the only child of Obed Ramotswe, her abusive
marriage to the jazz trumpet playing husband Note Mokoti which eventually
breaks down. The death of her father who
seems to have brought her up in a different way to the traditional role of
women in Botswana gives her the strength and personality to start again. On the death of her father, she sells his
cattle which he has bought over a number of years. Although 50% of the population apparently own
cattle, a large percentage are owned by 5% of the population so in Botswana
terms one assumes he is a fairly wealthy man as the ownership of cattle is
regarded as a symbol of wealth in the country.
The sale of the cattle enables her to buy a house and set up in
business. Presumable the father would
have preferred that she set up a grocery store but she opted to open the first
lady detective agency in Botswana. She
appears to have no knowledge of the business apart from reading a book by a
famous American private detective. Despite
this she ploughs ahead and demonstrates her resourcefulness in finding work and
solving problems. The book deals with
many issues; witchcraft, infidelity, abusive relationships and has a strong
moral code running through it, a reflection of Mma Ramotswe’s desire for
justice.
The book is a very easy read but does deal
with serious issues in a light hearted and humorous way. Our group particularly enjoyed the way Mma
Ramotswe cuts corners in order to solve a case.
Getting an errant husband to be photographed kissing her to prove to his
wife that he is unfaithful, has very humorous consequences.
We are also introduced to J.L.B. Matekoni
the resourceful mechanic, useful to owners of worn out white vans and secretary
Mma Makutsi.
I love the language that Alexander McCall
Smith uses, he really seems to get under the skin of the Botswana society. His reference to the women being “Traditionally
Built” makes us consider the obsession with being thin in the west, in a
light-hearted way. It is refreshing to
read a book that makes you think without feeling you are being lectured to. One I would recommend
