The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Series BOOKRING)

by Alexander McCall Smith | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 1400034779 Global Overview for this book
Registered by jamesmum of Richmond, British Columbia Canada on 4/5/2004
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12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Monday, April 5, 2004



A very refreshing book - not exactly a mystery novel, although the lead character does own a detective agency. This is the first book in a series by Alexander McCall Smith. The complete series is, in order:

1. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
2. Tears of the Giraffe
3. Morality for Beautiful Girls
4. The Kalahari Typing School for Men
5. The Full Cupboard of Life (April 20, 2004)
6. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (April 19, 2005)

BOOKRING!

I am circulating the first three books together as a bookring. PM me if you'd like to join.

1. SnowMyst (USA; international OK)
2. Brujula (France; Europe preferred)
3. AmarinDevinsMom (APO; US/Europe)
4. AbbyR (Arkansas, USA; US preferred) <-- asked to be skipped
5. FamFatale (Virginia, USA; USA only
6. BabyKittysMama (US; US only)
7. DHansen1019 (Wisconsin; US only) <-- asked to be removed)
8. Geniedances (US)
9. Kitten22 (US; US preferred) <--asked to be removed
10. Gill846 (BC, Canada; anywhere)
11. Flicki (Germany; anywhere)
12. Pam99 (UK; anywhere)
13. BookManu (Portugal)
14. Metropolitan (Brazil)


Journal Entry 2 by snowmyst from Romney, West Virginia USA on Saturday, April 17, 2004
I received this in the mail about a week ago along with the 2 others in this bookring.

This is a book I wouldn't have picked out myself. I joined the bookring for curiosity sake from what others had said.

So far I have been pleasantly surprised. I started to read the first few pages to get an idea and found I couldn't put it down.

I will contact the next person on the list. I hope to have the other 2 read and out in the mail by the end of April, if not sooner.

Journal Entry 3 by snowmyst from Romney, West Virginia USA on Friday, May 14, 2004
What a great read! Slow to get into, but boy did I get hooked. I can't believe how good this turned out.

Contacting Brujula to ship out.

Journal Entry 4 by snowmyst at on Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Release planned for Thursday, May 20, 2004 at bookring controlled release in Romney, West Virginia Controlled Releases.

on its way

Journal Entry 5 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Received yesterday together with the second and third books of the series.

Thank you snowmyst and JamesMum!
I hope it doesn't take me too long to read these.

Journal Entry 6 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Saturday, July 24, 2004
I couldn't resist to start this book as soon as I received it... It's really an enjoyable reading. Mma Ramotswe is an endearing character, and Alexander McCall Smith describes very well life in Africa. You can almost feel the atmosphere.

I'm afraid reading the two other books will take me a little bit longer, since I have other books waiting! But it shouldn't take me over four weeks.

Thank you jamesmum for this great novel!

Journal Entry 7 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Monday, August 16, 2004
Mailed today to amaradevinmom along with the two other books!

Journal Entry 8 by amaradevinmom on Friday, August 20, 2004
received today. Will read and get back out

Journal Entry 9 by amaradevinmom on Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I just finished this book. I really really enjoyed it. I can see why they are so popular. I like Mma Ramotswe and her cases are funny.
I am off to read the second one.

Journal Entry 10 by FamFatale from Chantilly, Virginia USA on Thursday, October 21, 2004
Received today from overseas. Have already read this particular volume but anxious to read its companions.

Journal Entry 11 by FamFatale at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, October 28, 2004
Released on Thursday, October 28, 2004 at about 7:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Released to babykittysmama

Journal Entry 12 by babykittysmama from Redondo Beach, California USA on Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Just received these and can't wait to start on them. Thanks!!

Journal Entry 13 by geniedances from Houston, Texas USA on Saturday, November 27, 2004
Precious Ramotswe runs her newly established detective business in a very realistic and straightforward way. She deals with clients in a down-to-earth manner often going with her instincts as the best way to handle a situation. I'd hire her in a minute! :- )

This book will travel to the next bookcrosser on the bookring list.

Journal Entry 14 by gill846 from Victoria, British Columbia Canada on Monday, December 27, 2004
Received this last week and am already halfway through it. What a lovely, charming book. I recently read Cry, the Beloved Country and am finding that the voice of this book is similar to that one, full of strong feelings, powerful storytelling and giving equal importance to both the land and the people.

I haven't decided yet whether I will read all three books at once or whether I want to spread them out. I will see how I feel when I get to the end of this one. Thanks so much for sharing!

Journal Entry 15 by gill846 from Victoria, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Well, this one is on its way to Flicki in Germany (surface mail). I really enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not remotely what I had been expecting. Not a reader of mysteries, I will occasionally read a couple of the most talked about ones so that I feel I am a more well-rounded reader; so that's where I thought #1 Ladies Detective Agency fit in: just another really popular mystery novel. Ha! Little did I know!

Of course, I now know that it is anything but that. I found myself truly loving the characters, especially Mma Ramotswe and her straightforward, down-to-earth approach to life. And Alexander McCall Smith made the setting come alive. Truly a beautiful book.

I did not read the other two books, because I am a bit of a slow reader and wanted to save them for another time, so I will get them from the library the next time I am in the mood to visit Botswana :-) Thanks so much for sharing!

Journal Entry 16 by Flicki from Aurich, Niedersachsen Germany on Tuesday, March 22, 2005
This book arrived today with the other ones! I'll start them as soon as I'll make it - check my bookshelf if you want to know! :-) Thanks a lot for sharing and sending!

Journal Entry 17 by Flicki from Aurich, Niedersachsen Germany on Monday, April 4, 2005
I have to admit that I was quite shocked when I finally noticed that I signed up for 3 books at a time instead of one! :-) But now I'm really happy about it: I so much loved the first of the books that I couldn't wait to start the second one immediately after the first! :-) The characters are so believable and their way of thinking so refreshingly different from mine. Thanks so much for the opportunity to let me read this! :-)

Journal Entry 18 by wingpam99wing from Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, April 23, 2005
All three books arrived safely in Scotland today, in a box that looks quite well travelled too! I'm just finishing a Dan Brown and will read these next.

Journal Entry 19 by wingpam99wing from Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, April 24, 2005
I'd wanted to read this for ages so got started on it today and read it sitting out in the garden... *bliss*! A lovely book, look forward to reading the other two now.

Journal Entry 20 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Tuesday, May 3, 2005
I received this book together with the next two in the series last night.

I'm really looking forward to reading it and the others in the series. I was born in South Africa and have been to Botswana on holiday.It's only about 4 hours drive from Johannesburg. I'm sure these books are going to make me feel right at home.

I have 3 bookrings ahead of these books. Will read and pass on a.s.a.p.

Journal Entry 21 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Monday, June 6, 2005
One down and two to go! I finished this book last night. Apologies for delaying the bookring,(I mustn't sign up for so many bookrings in future!). I intend to read the next two in the series by the end of this week.

It is written in a light easy to read style and draws the reader into Botswana's first lady detective's world.I agree with all of geniedances' comments a few journal entries before this one...I'd also hire Mma. Ramotswe, on the spot if I ever needed the services of a detective.

Journal Entry 22 by Metropolitan from São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
The books arrived safely, thank you. This will be next on my TBR list.

Journal Entry 23 by Metropolitan from São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil on Sunday, July 17, 2005
What an enjoyable read! The characters are endearing and Mma Ramotswe's love for Africa is very clear and heart-warming. I'm looking forward to the next two. Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 24 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, August 25, 2005
Thanks, everyone - this book had a long journey, and visited many countries along the way. Metropolitain has finished with them, and they will soon be back home again.

Journal Entry 25 by Metropolitan from São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil on Monday, November 7, 2005
The books have already been mailed and should be arriving home soon!

Journal Entry 26 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, November 29, 2007
Sorry - I forgot to journal when these arrvied back home, safe and sound.

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