The Colours of All the Cattle

Alexander McCall Smith touches on timely topics—politics, income inequality, and gender--in his latest Mma Ramotswe novel, "The Colors of All the Cattle." Precious and her partner in private detection, Mma Makutsi, continue to assist clients and, of course, enjoy their daily tea breaks. Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe's devoted husband and the owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, lovingly cares for his customers' automobiles as if they were human beings in intensive care. In addition, Mma Ramotswe pays frequent visits to her dear friend, Mma Potokwane, who operates her Orphan Home with love, compassion, and grit. So what has changed? There will be a council election in Gaborone, Botswana, and the malicious, ambitious, and greedy show more Violet Sephotho appears to be a shoo-in. Violet supports the building of the Big Fun Hotel near a cemetery, a proposed project that would garner a hefty profit for the developers, and lead to revelry next door to a graveyard. Sepotho's glamour is likely to attract male voters and, in addition, she makes extravagant promises to the electorate.

Mma Potokwane tries to convince Precious Ramotswe to run against Violet, a prospect that horrifies the modest and low-key founder of the No. One Ladies' Detective Agency. This plot line will resonate with readers who are put off by candidates who, like Violet, lie and exaggerate in order to obtain votes. Meanwhile, Charlie, the apprentice mechanic who has worked for Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni for years, plays a larger role than usual. This young man, who has become more thoughtful and mature of late, has a girlfriend, Queenie-Queenie, whom he truly cares for. However, she comes from a wealthy family, while he is virtually penniless. Charlie also lends a hand with an investigation concerning a hit-and-run that severely injured a kindly doctor.

As always, McCall Smith entertains us with humorous dialogue; an exploration of the ups and downs of relationships; and a demonstration of how Mma Ramotwe's kindness, humility, and integrity inspire her to behave in a way that would have made her late father proud. There is a memorable scene between Mma Makutsi and her husband, Philip Raduphuti, who argue about what women should and should not do. It is unfortunate that the author rushes his conclusion, which is too contrived and tidy to be believed. Still, "The Colors of All the Cattle" is a diverting and amusing tale in which McCall Smith demonstrates the value of toning down acrimony and rancor, and cultivating goodwill, generosity, and empathy, both in our private lives and in the public sector. show less

As always, the thing that is most clear in these books is that Alexander McCall Smith loves Botswana. This time (and perhaps every time, but this time I particularly noticed it), the mystery Mma Ramotswe is tasked with solving is merely a vehicle for one of the characters—in this case Charlie the apprentice—to continue his development. One of the things I love about these books is that the characters have continued to evolve, in ways that are believable and true. I love that this series deals with serious issues but nobody is an asshole. If only the world were really like that.

There is nothing outrageously phenomenal in McCall Smith's books. But then why do they (this one included!) always leave you with a clean, positive, good feeling about everything in this world? This installment of "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" was one of the best ones so far. What can you say against this little unrefined gem: "... sometimes the best thing we could do was simply muddle through, getting some things right but also getting many things wrong"?.. or: "Because hate makes you very tired"?... Truisms, yes, but in a very honorable meaning of this word.

Book number 19 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. These books in general are great comfort reading, and can often feel like the literary equivalent of a warm, fuzzy blanket. This one, I think, didn't give me as much of that as many of them. But the feeling it did give me was that of dropping in on old friends for a pleasant little visit and to see what they happen to be up to.

Which, in this case, involves being persuaded to run for the town council (Mma Ramotswe) and finally finding what might be a serious long-term relationship only to run into some romantic obstacles (Charlie). Oh, and investigating a hit-and-run accident while they're at it, although as usual the plot is not remotely the point and only serves to provide us show more more some character stuff and some gentle musings on morality. show less

Mma Precious Ramotswe began the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in Botswana and. It is possibly the only detective agency in that region of Africa. With people in the small villages knowing just about everything about everyone else, her cases are usually non-violent and relatively easily and tenderly resolved.
When a well-loved doctor suffers severe injuries by a hit-and-run driver, she is asked by him and his daughter to locate the driver, no small task since there is no evidence pointing to a particular person or vehicle. But, with the help of her friend and colleague, Mma Grace Makutsi, who sees herself as an equal partner because she graduated from a secretarial college, and Charlie, an enthusiastic though unqualified part-time show more trainee (who spend the rest of his day as an enthusiastic but unqualified mechanical apprentice at Mma Ramotswe’s husband’s garage), she sets out to find the perpretrator.
Gaborone, the city where they live, is also facing a major problem: A group of wealthy but unknown investors want to build a major hotel right next to a cemetery. The hotel will be called The Big Fun Hotel and is expected to be attractive to tourists. The townspeople believe the location is very disrespectful of the late people buried there.
There is a vacancy on the city council and Mma Ramotswe is approached by an influential and strong-willed woman to run for the office to prevent the construction. Running for public office is about the last thing that she wants to do. She sees herself as a humble person and does not want the public attention. Eventually she agrees and runs by stating that she cannot do miracles and will not make any promises except that she will do her best.
A third thread is Charlie’s relationship with a young woman whom he cares about deeply. Unfortunately, he doesn’t earn enough money even to take her to a restaurant. She doesn’t seem to care, but when he learns that she comes from an extremely wealthy family, he feels very inadequate.
Mma Ramotswe is a very calm and positive person, always looking for the good in people, quick to forgive and offer second chances.
THE COLORS OF ALL THE CATTLE, a gentle book, is packed with philosophy and humor.
Charlie takes everything literally. As the first meeting of Mma Ramotswe’s election committee opens, he is sitting on the floor and wondering why the meeting was called to order when there was no disorder. His confusion continues. Later on when the chairperson reacts to an interruption, she complains about interruptions from the floor. Charlie responds, “But I am on the floor. If we cannot hear from the floor, then I will be able to say nothing.”
Mma Makutsi’s husband is the wealthy owner of a furniture store. When she wants to use his business to get information, they have an argument about the roles of women and men.
Mma Ramottswe has a lovely outlook about the dead. “Late people are still with us..... They were with us in the things that they had said, which we remembered long after they had gone; they were with us in the love that they had shown us, and which we could still draw upon...; and, if...they had children, they were with us in the look in the eyes of those children, in the way they held their heads, in the way they laughed, or in the way they walked., or did any of the other things that were passed on, deep inside, within families.”
The last part hit home with me. My mother died 26 years ago. A couple years later, one of her first cousins told me I had my mother’s smile. No one had ever mentioned that before. I found a picture of her smiling and, sure enough, I had the same smile. That has been very comforting over the years.
Like all the books in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the people are treated respectfully and honestly. The plot does not use violence, sex, profanity;, car chases, etc., to make its point. While it takes place in Botswana, the people and situations are international. THE COLORS OF ALL THE CATTLE is a nice escape from current events and readers may learn something in the process. show less

The Colors of All the Cattle - McCall Smith
Audio performance by Lisette Lecat
3 stars

An antidote for United States election agony, to be taken with several cups of Trader Joe’s Rooibos & Honeybush Tea.

It’s election time in Gaborone. Violet Sephotho is the only candidate running for an open city council seat. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN. Mma Potokwani is on a mission to stop the construction of The Big Fun Hotel right next to the cemetery. (So disrespectful to the late people. So contrary to the old Botswana morality). Mma Ramotswe is not interested in a political career. Mma Potokwani says that it is her duty. We all know how that will end.

There seemed to be more turmoil in this book, a bit more of an edgy message from the author. But, show more not too much of an edge. This is very much a fictional Botswana. I wonder just what the actual residents of the real Gaborone think of this white man’s rendition of their country and their culture. I find it restful. Even this book which ramped up the real world tension a tiny bit, was still hopeful and peaceful at the end. show less

“The Colors of All the Cattle” (2018), the 19th No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novel by Alexander McCall Smith, finds Precious Ramotswe trying her hand at politics, against her will, and Charlie, the long apprentice mechanic and short-time apprentice detective, solving his first big case.

Running for a seat on city council is not Mma Ramotswe's idea. Mma Potokwane, who runs the Orphan Farm, wants Mma Ramotswe on council to oppose the Big Fun Hotel planned next to the graveyard. Mma Potokwane claims she does not have time to run for council herself, although she does have time to run her friend's campaign. Grace Makutsi, the former secretary who by now has promoted herself to "joint managing director" of the detective agency, also show more pressures Mma Ramotswe to run for office because the other candidate is her longtime rival, Violet Sephotho.

Meanwhile there is a case to solve. An aged doctor was struck and injured by a hit-and-run driver in a blue vehicle. He and particularly his daughter want the driver found, even though the police have given up on the case. Charlie has an idea, and Mma Ramotswe puts him in charge. The cases in these novels rarely involve violence of any kind, but this one does, putting Charlie to a true test.

In a third plot line, Charlie starts dating a girl named Queenie-Queenie, who turns out to be from a wealthy family. She also has a protective brother regarded as one of the strongest men in Botswana. Again Charlie's courage is tested.

Like every other book in this series, “The Colors of All the Cattle” (we don't learn the significance of the title until the penultimate page) entertains from beginning to end. show less