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The Full Cupboard of Life: More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Paperback)

by Alexander Mccall Smith (Author)

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Vintage Canada (Jan 25 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0676975712
ISBN-13: 978-0676975710
Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.2 x 1.5 cm
Shipping Weight: 182 g

Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #24,376 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Precious Ramotswe is on the case again in this delightful fifth installment in the bestselling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, this time assisting the self-made founder of a chain of hairdressing salons who wants to unearth the real intentions of her four suitors, each possibly more interested in her money than her heart. As fans know, though, sleuthing takes second place to folksy storytelling in McCall Smith's wry novels. This time around, Mma Ramotswe is distracted by her long-prolonged engagement to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Gaborone's best mechanic; it seems she will never be married, despite her fiancé's honorable intentions. He installs an extra large seatbelt in her car to keep her safe (she is quite comfortable with her "traditional build," despite the new, slender fashion of modern woman), but an altercation with another mechanic and the prospect of a charity parachute jump keep his mind off matrimony. A drive for decency motivates Mma Ramotswe and her friends-among them Mma Potokwani, the imperious matron of the local orphan farm, and Mma Makutsi, assistant at the Ladies' Detective Agency and founder of the Kalahari Typing School for Men-and Smith's talent is in portraying this moral code in a manner that is always engaging. As readers will appreciate, Mma Ramotswe solves her cases-more questions of character, really, than of criminal behavior-in good time. Traditionally built ladies living in the African heat don't tend to hurry, and, at the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, there's always time for another cup of tea.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–In this fifth installment about the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe and her assistant, Mma Makutsi, tackle the case of a wealthy woman who wants to know which of her suitors is only after her money. On a personal note, Mma Ramotswe worries over when her fiancé will set a date for their marriage, and more urgently, who will replace him in performing the parachute jump, a charity event to raise money for the Orphan Farm. The charm of this series set in Botswana is its wealth of very real characters. By Western standards they may be economically poor, but in terms of pride, love, and happiness, they are rich indeed. Readers will be seduced by the beauty of the land and intrigued by local customs. They will learn about drought and irrigation, about growing pumpkins, braiding hair, and dealing with poisonous snakes. The cases Mma Ramotswe handles are more about solving problems than crimes. Her behavior is governed by good manners, politeness, and honesty, and her favorite tool in the art of detecting is tea, preferably Bush Tea. The book has lots of humor, and optimism softens the tough realities of life. It also has a delightful surprise ending.–Sheila Janega, Fairfax County Public Library, Great Falls, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars delightful read for a summer's day, Feb 22 2007

By	Shemogue (New Brunswick) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I don't read much fiction -- and mysteries, not at all-- so I had ignored earlier volumes in this series about Lady Detective Mme Ramotswe. Then I found "The Full Cupboard of Life" on a half-price sale & decided, since it was set in Africa, to give the author a try.
I'm so glad I did! What a delightful read for a hot summer day under a tree in the back yard. It also brought back happy memories of my travels in Africa. Since the focus is more on character & setting than on plot or mystery, it was especially enjoyable to me.
Now that I have made the acquaintance of Mme Ramotswe so late in the game, I am determined to get her life story straight by getting all the other books in the series and reading them in the correct order.
So much one hears of Africa is doom and gloom, hopelessness, poverty & war; it is a nice change to read about its people having what we westerners would consider a normal life.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful read, April 6 2005

By	Mikhail "mike" (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

An entertaining read though not as entertaining as the previous novels. Dwelling more on character building, it will certainly serve to build on further stories in the series. I particularly liked the gentle humor and wisdom in the novel. A recommended red though, along with titles like:

The Girl who married a lion, The usurper and Other Stories, Triple Agent, Double Cross

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5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, Warm, Wonderful Characters, May 26 2004

By	Totally Anonymous (Private) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Full Cupboard of Life (Audio Cassette)

I don't know how anyone could fail to love the Mma Ramotswe novels of Alexander McCall Smith. Mma Ramotswe and her fianc�, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, are such lovable people and Smith's writing is so fluid and beautiful that the books in this series really transcend the mystery genre. Of course, unlike most conventional mysteries, the Mma Ramotswe series concentrates more on character than it does on mystery and therein, I think, lies its enormous success.

In THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE, Mma Ramotswe really only has one case: she's hired by a wealthy woman, who, like Mma Ramotswe, was blessed with girth rather than height, to investigate her five suitors, which Mma Ramotswe does in her typically humorous and no nonsense fashion. But that's just the spine of the story. Much more happens in the book and it's every bit as interesting as Mma Ramotswe's detective work.

If anyone has stayed away from this series of books because they're set in Botswana, they're making a huge mistake. These books portray the universality of human behavior, not their differences. And, they're filled with so much warmth and gentle humor it would, I think, take a cold-hearted person not to fall in love with the characters and want more.

Smith lavishes as much love and care on his secondary characters as he does on his primary ones, all to the book's credit. Mma Makutsi plays an enlarged role in this book, experiencing one heartbreaking event as well as one dream come true. Mma Potokwane is also featured as she contemplates writing a book and attempts to sort out the marriage plans of Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni.

THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE is a warm, wise, witty book told with, above all, plenty of heart. Authors wanting to learn how to create wonderful, engaging characters can learn a lot from Alexander McCall Smith and this wonderful series of books. Readers can gain hours of pleasure with wonderful people they'd love to know and spend time with in real life. I don't think a book can earn much higher praise than that. It's really wonderful to see well-written, charming books filled with warmth, humor and humanity reach the bestseller list. It restores my faith, at least partially, in the book buying public.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Troubled by one part
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I did the other four -- the pace, the writing, the gentleness of the characters were all wonderful-- I was troubled by one central... Read more

Published on May 16 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Feelings On This One...
I give this novel a weak 4 stars. As an avid Precious Ramotswe fan this book was like a fast food version of the series I've grown to love. Read more

Published on May 12 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars WIT AND WISDOM ON EVERY PAGE
Life is good. Precious Ramotswe is back. Of traditional build and generous heart she's the indefatigable, irresistible proprietress of Botswana's No. Read more

Published on May 3 2004 by Gail Cooke

4.0 out of 5 stars People Are People All Over The World
In Smith's 5th book in the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, he again concentrates on many of his recurring themes. Read more

Published on May 2 2004 by Jon Linden