The second installment of Mma Ramotswe's adventures--lighthearted, yet food for thought to me again. I enjoyed Mma Ramotswe's discussion with Mma Makutsi about whether (and when) it is okay to lie. Some felt that the book was overly moralizing, but I didn't think so--the characters never came to a definite conclusion about this issue of lying. Is it all right to lie to a "bad person" in order to help a "good person"? There is a lot of moral gray area there and it makes for interesting discussion.

I was always taught that lying was one of the worst possible things I could do, so I fell more into Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni's camp there. I don't think I would make a very good detective. ( )

Precious, against her better judgment, takes on a sad case from an American woman whose son went missing in #Botswana ten years ago. But she’s an intuitive and intelligent private detective, and brave. Meanwhile her engagement to Mr JLB Matekoni brings many surprises!! The second in an entertaining series, I’m anxious to read the next book! ( )

(audio) Mma Ramotswe runs the only detective agency in Botswana. She tries to find a man missing in Africa for 10 years while newly engaged to JLB Matekoni.

Light enjoyable read. At some stage read the next in the series. ( )

A nice, light read. ( )

Good sequel, review to follow ( )

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. ( )

These books are sort of a guilty pleasure for me. They're a little like children's books in some ways; the bad guys seldom win, good triumphs over evil, etc. No dark humor or grisly killings, etc. But I still like them, although I can see getting bored with them before too long.

One of the big stories in this book happens after the engagement of Precious Ramotswe, the detective, and Mr. JLB Matekoni (that's what everyone, including Mma Romtswe, calls him). He gets roped into adopting 2 young kids, on in a wheelchair, without telling his wife to be. He's to embarrassed to tell her about it, but she comes upon them during a shopping trip, and they have a little talk, which goes about how you'd expect if you've read any of the books.

It's nice to read about Africa in such a positive light. It almost makes me want to visit. ( )

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? ( )

Much of the focus it on Mma Ramotswe upcoming marriage to J. L. B. Matekoni; as well as J. L. B. Matekoni's personal life.
There is a case of a missing American boy who was last seen 10 years ago.
Mma Makutsi gets the opportunity become an assistant detective. ( )

Another charmer. ( )

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. ( )

mechanic acquires two foster children Mdme finds lost American boy

Tears of the Giraffe (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) by Alexander McCall Smith (2003)

Love this series...read it many times. ( )

Really enjoyed the further adventures of The #1 ladies detective agency. I also found the notion of the tears of the giraffe a lovely thing. ( )

This is both tender and funny at once. I am really glad I chose to do a series read-through. Mma Ramotswe is a shero for the ages. ( )

The first book in this series was mostly an introduction to the characters and the setting. Unlike many mystery novels, there wasn't One Big Mystery tying everything together. I had expected this book to revert to the standard form. It doesn't. While there is an ongoing murder mystery that is resolved at the end (definitely not in a standard way!), the fun of the book again comes from the episodes along the path. ( )

Another heartwarming story by a lovely writer. ( )

Éste es el segundo libro de la serie sobre Mma Ramowtse. Leí el primero hace poco y estoy enganchado a la serie. Hay dos más (cuatro en total), según me comunica mi especialista en literatura (gracias, Diego, hermanito). Son libros fáciles de leer, muy sencillos en su planteamiento y redacción, pero en los que se puede intuir el amor por África del autor y alguna crítica o alabanza, según el caso, a los estilos de vida africano y occidental. Me encanta la sensación de inocencia que transpiran los personajes, únicamente preocupados en ser felices y procurar felicidad a los que les rodean. En este segundo libro de la serie hay un diálogo que rescato al completo porque merece la pena. En el orfanato, hablan la directora -mma Potokwane- y el Sr. Maketoni, que ha ido a arreglarles el motor de la caldera:

- Hay gente a la que le cuesta dar dinero a los huérfanos -afirmó Mma Potokwane-. Tiene que ver con la manera en que sus madres les educaron. Hay un médico muy famoso, el doctor Freud, que ha escrito muchos libros sobre esas personas.
- ¿Vive en Johanesburgo?- preguntó el señor Maketoni.
- Creo que no. El libro es de Londres. Pero es muy interesante. Dice que todos los niños están enamorados de sus madres.
- Natural -repuso el señor Maketoni-. ¡Está claro que los niños quieren a sus madres! ¿Por qué no iban a quererlas?
Mma Potokwane se encogió de hombros.
- Eso mismo pienso yo. No veo qué hay de malo en que un niño quiera a su madre.
- Entonces, ¿por qué el doctor Freud está preocupado por eso? -prosiguió el señor Maketoni-. Lo que tendría que preocuparle es que no las quisieran.
Mma Potokwane parecía pensativa.
- Sí, pero aún así le preocupaban estos chicos y creo que intentaba impedírselo.
- Eso es absurdo. Seguro que tendría cosas mejores que hacer con su tiempo.
- Seguro que sí -afirmó mma Potokwane-, y a pesar de este doctor Freud, los niños siguen queriendo a sus madres, como debe ser.

Mi nota: Altamente recomendable, al igual que el anterior.
( )

It is a book that brings me peace when I read it. Learning about the life in Botswana and this bright woman that is achieving the things she believes in is just so inspiring and amusing! Great book! ( )

Mma Ramotswe feels her connection to her father, renowned for being a good and honorable man, and wonders, in Tears of the Giraffe, how people can be 'just themselves' rather than defined by kinship groups. I don't think that anyone really is so. In some areas I am known by my grandfather (either or both) and in other places I am known by my mother. I may have had objections, particularly some time ago, but that remains how many people define me. Dad and I had some terrible differences but in the end I remain his daughter, and despite his flaws he was a good man. But without extensive family networks like Botswana seems to have, it can be lonely. And we are still not really free to define ourselves anyway. Context is so much part of what makes us who we are. Family shapes and nearly defines, certainly frames, how we see the world and what could be possible in the world. Family can even limit what we hope for the world.

What hope for the world? A world where every person is free to travel anywhere, and where every person has a key to a very small flat -consisting of one room, well insulated, with a small kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, and a bed. For free, with absolute usage lifelong rights. Also free would be brown rice (or similar equivalent grain), green leafy vegetables, and dried beans. That is the bare minimum that a person needs to live, and that (along with free Public Library borrowing rights) should be totally free without question to every person at all times. Whether they work or not, deserving or not. No paperwork, no hassles. But for anything else a person should contribute to society. That is what I would like to see -[b:Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?|211888|Where Do We Go from Here Chaos or Community?|Martin Luther King Jr.|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358780869s/211888.jpg|2686535]

Read, Write, Dream, Teach !

ShiraDest
22 February, 12016 HE
( )

It is a book that brings me peace when I read it. Learning about the life in Botswana and this bright woman that is achieving the things she believes in is just so inspiring and amusing! Great book! ( )

In this continuation of the series, Mma Ramotswe, is working the case of a young American man who disappeared over ten years ago. His mother has decided to check once more into the case after the government and the police found nothing. Meanwhile, in her personal life, Mma Ramotswe is decided how best to join her life and Mr. J.L.B. Matikoni. He has an odd little house that is very cluttered and not properly cleaned by his maid. These are all small problems that Mma Ramotswe is confident she can fix. However, the lazy maid is not prepared to take this unwanted intrusion lying down!

Mr. J.L.B. Matikoni also has at least one more surprise for his fiancee when he accidentally adopts two children from the orphan farm. Hopefully his wife-to-be will not be too upset!

This charming series is so serene and lovely. ( )

Mma Ramotswe feels her connection to her father, renowned for being a good and honorable man, and wonders, in Tears of the Giraffe, how people can be 'just themselves' rather than defined by kinship groups. I don't think that anyone really is so. In some areas I am known by my grandfather (either or both) and in other places I am known by my mother. I may have had objections, particularly some time ago, but that remains how many people define me. Dad and I had some terrible differences but in the end I remain his daughter, and despite his flaws he was a good man. But without extensive family networks like Botswana seems to have, it can be lonely. And we are still not really free to define ourselves anyway. Context is so much part of what makes us who we are. Family shapes and nearly defines, certainly frames, how we see the world and what could be possible in the world. Family can even limit what we hope for the world.

What hope for the world? A world where every person is free to travel anywhere, and where every person has a key to a very small flat -consisting of one room, well insulated, with a small kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, and a bed. For free, with absolute usage lifelong rights. Also free would be brown rice (or similar equivalent grain), green leafy vegetables, and dried beans. That is the bare minimum that a person needs to live, and that (along with free Public Library borrowing rights) should be totally free without question to every person at all times. Whether they work or not, deserving or not. No paperwork, no hassles. But for anything else a person should contribute to society. That is what I would like to see -[b:Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?|211888|Where Do We Go from Here Chaos or Community?|Martin Luther King Jr.|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358780869s/211888.jpg|2686535]

Read, Write, Dream, Teach !

ShiraDest
22 February, 12016 HE
( )