Tears of the Giraffe

Book two in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, featuring the only lady detective in Botswana. These books, or at least the two I've read so far, are like photographic negatives of a standard detective story. The detective plots, while interesting enough, sort of happen in the background, while most of the novel focuses on the characters' personal lives, along with some gentle musings about the past traditions and modern realities of Africa. The result is oddly, wonderfully charming. This one may have been slightly less so than the first one, if only just because it was less of an unexpected surprise, but it was a pleasant read nonetheless.

Great to visit the warm and gentle characters in this series "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency". I read about the phrase "Nicecore" about certain movies or tv-series where the main characters act out of kindness to solve problems - you can think of the recent Mrs. Harris goes to Paris (excellent movie). And this book and series is exactly that - Nicecore.

This was another warm hug of a book from this series, full of gentle humour and delightful characters. I’ve known about this series for years but only recently read the first novel. This was another 99p Kindle bargain for me and I enjoyed it as much as the first! The detective investigation is almost incidental to the story, I just enjoyed learning more about Mma Ramotswe and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni. A quick read and a totally enjoyable one, I look forward to reading the next.

Lots of people are very fond of this series about a "traditionally built" Botswana woman who starts her own detective agency after her father's death. She solves simple cases ("is my husband seeing another woman") and difficult and dangerous ones ("was my child taken by witch doctors to make medicine with his body parts"). She uses her intuition to solve her cases, and sometimes she gets very lucky.
These books sell very well and seem to be well liked, but I keep getting annoyed with the simplicity of the language, of the conversations, and of the situations. I can't help but feel that this is meant to reflect on the characters, making them look like simple but noble people, childlike, albeit full of inner wisdom. If I were from show more Botswana, I think I might be offended by this simplistic portrayal of my people and society.
The books are an easy read, but I got this one from the library and I will not be tempted to read another one soon. show less

In this second book in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe is newly engaged to her friend Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Her fledgling detective business in Gaborone, Botswana, is doing well, and she takes on several new cases, including those of a cheating wife and a son who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. She also learns that her secretary, Mma Makutsi, has some detecting talents of her own.

What is quickly becoming one of my favorite aspects of the books is the subtle ways the author provides small morsels of cultural information to the reader. Although chances are small I’ll ever be fortunate enough to visit myself, I feel like I’m slowly getting to know Botswana.

A second gentle, simple quick read in this series. I find Precious uncomplicated and deeply intuitive. The setting is slow and human with a sweetness to life and routine. I noticed a tighter writing approach in this second book...was I simply adjusting to the author's style or did he know his character better?

Casually concentrating on the subtle, more quiet and less noticable while pointing out the big issues. MsCall Smith manages to interest the reader without even trying, enters and leaves your mind without upseting your inner "furniture". His is the gentle way and he keeps at it with great success. I assume Mc Call Smith is like his books and the writing comes naturally, like some actors never attempt to take other characters on, simply being themselves over and over again. Pleasant and calming, establishing and confirming a certain order in the world.