Most helpful customer reviews
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating story, Jan 21 2007
As enjoyable as the other books in the series. With an amazing plot and highly credible character development of the protagonists and others in the book, the author made these with combination of his great concept and came out with an outstanding book that is worthy of read. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it to all readers who like unique books especially those set in Africa.Also recommended : The usurper and Other Stories,Triple Agent Double cross The Sunday Philosophy Club, as other nice stories to read
|
|
|
4.0 out of 5 stars
Complications of Married Life, Business and Courting, Jul 15 2006
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies continues the saga of Precious Ramotswe after her marriage to J.L.B. Matekoni at the end of The Full Cupboard of Life. Although nothing could have pleased her more than to finally become the wife of that good man, she finds many unexpected challenges in this book.
As the story opens, Precious is frustrated by the changes in Botswana from the good values of its past. She is discouraged to find out how hard it is to do the right thing when others don't. A woman scrapes another's car and drives off before Precious can write down her license plate number. Observing a theft in progress, she takes off in pursuit . . . only to be accosted by her waitress for attempted theft of her meal. The waitress then tries to extort money from Precious in exchange for not calling the police. You get the idea. It's been a tough afternoon.
Arriving home, Precious is puzzled. Things seem to have been moved. And whenever she lies down to rest, there's a strange sound. What could it be? Before long, that puzzle turns into an unexpected pair of trousers and a pumpkin. Whatever could be going on?
At the garage, J.L.B. Matekoni is overwhelmed with work. Charlie is acting up, and taking too much interest in an older woman who drives a Mercedes. What can they do about it?
While tailing Charlie and his lady friend in her white van, Precious is startled to see the two turn into J.L.B. Matekoni's house. In the process, she runs a cyclist off the road and his bicycle is broken. In this way, we are introduced to Mr Polopetsi who seems to be on his way to becoming a major figure in the series who initially divides his time between garage tidying and detective activities.
Mma Makutsi develops further as a detective, and earns a bonus that she uses to buy some dancing shoes and to pay for dancing lessons. During her classes, she finds herself avoiding painful encounters with her dancing partner . . . a very shy man with few dancing skills and a great stutter.
Before the story ends, Precious has to face an unpleasant truth about herself and decide what to do about it.
With the exception of one case (a Zambian financier who has fled shortly before funds were discovered to be missing), all of the mysteries in the book relate to Precious and her family's personal life.
The story's major theme is that society has lost touch with encouraging goodness, often punishing the good while encouraging those who do wrong.
The story is truly delightful. I only had two complaints that kept it from being a five-star effort for me. First, the dilemma that Precious faces has a slightly too easy resolution. The drama of the story could have been greater with a more complicated resolution. Second, untamed Africa itself plays a smaller role than in some of the earlier stories. When untamed Africa does appear, however, its presence brings utter joy for the reader. I also would have liked the story better if it had more detection for clients in it.
|
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
In the company of a good book, Jun 27 2006
Normally one to stick with a bestseller that EVERYONE is reading---you know the books I'm talking about---DA VINCI CODE by Brown or McCrae's KATZENJAMMER, I instead opted for this unusual book---IN THE COMPANY OF CHEERFUL LADIES. Our dear friends from Gaborone, Botswana, are back in rare form after the relative doldrums of "Full Cupboard of Life." They are faced with imposing challenges, both direct and subtle, that spring from the past as well as the present. Please do not let me cool your interest when I say that this book (and the series) is an extended, enjoyable meditation on the possibility of living an ethical life founded on respect and goodness. I am captured completely by the humanity and sweetness of these books even though my reading taste usually runs to Napoleanic naval bloodshed, nail-biting action or techno thrillers and police procedurals. If one had the power to populate one's neighborhood with characters from fiction, Mma Ramotswe, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni and Mma Makutsi would be my much valued next door neighbors.
|
|
|
Most recent customer reviews
|
by Alexander Mccall Smith
by Alexander Mccall Smith
