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"A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured upon purpose to a life beyond life."
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
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The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
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13 journalers for this copy...
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The No. 1 Ladies just arrived in yesterday's mail -- thanks very much, arturogrande and macdonv! I'll start this just as soon as I've finished the book I'm reading right now, and promise to have it back in the mail by the end of the month (probably long before that, actually). (Photo at left: pumpkins in the Byward Market in Ottawa last week.)
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I started reading this book late last night, and so far I'm really enjoying it -- much more than I thought I would, actually, given earlier comments about the language being simplistic (it just goes to show you that in writing -- as elsewhere -- sometimes less is more!).I found this article about author Alexander McCall Smith (left) in the Guardian's online edition. |
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In the final analysis, I find I have such mixed feelings about this book! On the one hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet, simple tale of Precious Rambotswe and her efforts to do the right thing for the Batswana. I liked Mma Rambotswe’s crisp, straightforward morality, made all the more human by her occasional lapses -- like when she insists the only reason she raised the matter of her fee with her Daddy’s former physician was to advise him there "wouldn’t be any fee". I got a kick out of Precious’ digs at men (particularly bearing in mind she is the creation of a male author), and I loved how unashamed she is about her size ("they are nice blouses … and I hope you sell them to some nice small person"). So at one level, I enjoyed just relaxing my mind and soaking up this gentle story.But. From a more critical perspective, I feel concerned about the wildly sanitized version of life in contemporary Africa depicted in this series. The Africa of No. 1 Ladies is a place seemingly untouched by hunger, AIDS, tribalism and genocide. It’s Afro-Disney. Sure, McCall Smith has argued (see the article linked from my last journal entry) that "those who portray an aggressive, vulgar, debased attitude towards life are conniving in that life". But it may also be argued that those who promulgate a sanitized and rose-tinted version of reality are participating in a kind of deceit. As much as I enjoyed No. 1 Ladies, I must ultimately conclude that I like my fiction a little less watered down. Sleone and jendudley asked to be skipped, since they have already read this book, and I was unable to contact digitaltempest (no response over 4 - 5 days). I'll be mailing the book to tantan in Queensland, Australia on Monday, October 25, 04. Of course it goes without saying, arturogrande, that I appreciate you sharing this book! Thanks very much, as always. |
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Released 3 yrs ago (9/28/2008 UTC) at Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
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Released 2 yrs ago (8/17/2009 UTC) at Soffitta1's 5th Bookbox (Film Theme), To the next participant. -- Controlled Releases CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
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