From the last year's Calcutta Bookfair when I had seen this book, I seemed to recollect the name appearing in one of the Daily's declaring this to be a best seller. Maybe this was wishful thinking on my part but I was generally attracted to the title. A little web surfing told me that this book is indeed popular and so I decided to give it a try some other time, not only due to its popularity but the word detective attracted me like anything. Well, a year or so had passed and from time to time I had gathered some information about it. That it was related to mystery was ok but it seemed it was also related to society in general and the African culture was also another aspect for which the book had gained popularity. Though I had never been very keen on literatures drooling on social and cultural issues but my recent acquaintance with K.R. Narayan's Malgudi had changed my views considerably. So when I finally acquired the book, I immediately tried to gobble up the content. But here there was the first hitch that I came across! This book is not meant to be read hurriedly. Rather it has a steady meandering pace of its own that should be respected to be fully enjoyed.
The book starts with Mma. Precious Ramotswe and describes her simple headquarter set in a scenic surrounding at Botswana. During one of the idle moments during her office hours she was seen contemplating, under the shades of a acacia tree, on her past and to the day when her father died leaving her with the farm that he had set up from scratch. It was her father's wish that the little Precious would sell the farm and start a business of her own. That whether he would have agreed to his daughter' wish to set up a detective agency was not certain but when Mma. Ramotswe had started with her job, she was, within days very popular and there was a great demand of her services. Infact, she was convinced that had her father been alive, she would be very proud of his dear Precious.
She recollects one of her earlier cases when the identity of a lady's long lost father was to be validated when the old man returned after a very long time. The way she reveals the truth seemed to be childishly simple but her intuition and above all her sincerity will win many hearts, not only of her clients but also of her fans.
The next few chapters dwells chiefly on her father about how he raised a living and a family, doing hard toils in the mines. Precious lost her mother at a very early age but the void was soon filled by her aunt, who came to live with them, after her husband deserted her. It was she who gave the early educations to Precious and thus before joining school, she could read, count numbers, recite verses and a tendency to be inquisitive was naturally imbibed in her. Then came her first job and her first case hand in hand when she pointed out some corruptions in her uncle's business. But her youth had not been all too smooth sailing due to her horrible and nightmare experience in love followed by an even horrible conjugal state. Fortunately she survived that and as soon as the torturing husband deserted her, she took shelter at her father's and served him till his death did them part. Then, in essence, began her career as the only lady detective in Botswana. Yes, she was critical about her status as a lady detective as the Botswana that she lived was more adept to find men in important jobs and thus as a woman, she made it clear to the high brows that she meant no nonsense doing her business.
Her courage to set up a new type of agency in a place without proper knowledge of running a detective business seemed to be awarded right on the 1st day with her secretary Mma. Makutsi being the harbinger of the case. But sadly the case never promised a happy ending but the way it was solved prompts the reader to applaud on the instinct of the sleuth. But sometimes the subjects she was dealing with were too much for an amateur and instances were there where they humoured her in novel ways. Sometimes a peculiar case would come as of Alice Busang who wanted to get proof of her husband's disloyalty and was left just furious when Mma. Rammotswe actually produced the proof. Infact it was very obvious that there was a high chance of misunderstanding in the solution to the case.
She also specialized in fraud cases and the most interesting point in the narratives are they just follow the thinking of an ordinary woman whose clear insights ultimately solves the mysteries. But one thing that may disappoint the avid readers of suspense is that in most, the perpetrators of crime are hinted by the clients themselves and Mma. Ramotswe only gathered proofs with her ingenious methods. But sometimes, as was the case of Dr. Komoti, with the client being his boss Dr. Maketsi, the solution or rather the diplomacy in punishment seemed not at par with the naivety of Mma. Ramotswe.
For some cases a bit of a prologue has been aptly briefed. Also cases where the words of the mechanic J.L.B. Matekoni, the wise man came in handy, particularly while investigating a car theft. Matekoni was more than a friend to Mma. Ramotswe as apparent from several chapters and the sentiments that they each cherished for the other have very subtly but definitely expressed throughout.
J.L.B. Matekoni also helped Mma. Ramotswe once by inadvertently stumbling across a clue that set the detective in the trail of some serious villain. But the trail seem to lead to one of the most powerful persons in the country and though he tried to dissuade her, but Mma. Precious felt it her resposibility to bring a social evil and a cruel practice to end. So she set up an elaborate plan to trap the evil brain and Rra. Matekoni, much against his wish, collaborated in introducing the detective with the murderous criminal. But disappointingly for adventure lovers, the climax is quite bland than what seemed to be expected.
The best thing about the stories are that these are narrated from the perspective of the sleuth and thus nothing is hidden from the readers and the making of a detective is appreciated well by the stylish way of story telling by the author. Also the making of the detective in Mma Ramotswe is drawn very clearly as with the evolution of each of the chapters, evolved the character of the detective. Thus the naive woman in her younger days became a lady smart enough to rattle the most powerful man in the place and the courage in her heart could earn the respect and reverence from the acquaintances. Though in the process, the ambience sometimes swings to a sombre mood but quickly changes right when the solution is approached.
The narrative is filled with African cultures, their customs and it surprises me when I found the ululation, that is so common at our marriage ceremonies, also is a part of African culture. Also the basic philosophy of life is sometimes being subtly hinted upon that always reminds the readers about the necessities of life that drives the human force. These actually occurs mainly where Mma. Ramotswe reminisces about the land, the barren grasslands and hearing the roaring lions at Kalahari and Africa in general. Also the African flora and fauna finds their place, sometimes dangerously, on the course of a case. Romance, too, had found its place in the story and in this too the author had been sincere yet emotional and the readers will thoroughly enjoy the novel. Everything in the narrative is nice but for certain printing errors in the final chapter that though are small but seems very much disproportionate with the clarity of the rest.
The book starts with Mma. Precious Ramotswe and describes her simple headquarter set in a scenic surrounding at Botswana. During one of the idle moments during her office hours she was seen contemplating, under the shades of a acacia tree, on her past and to the day when her father died leaving her with the farm that he had set up from scratch. It was her father's wish that the little Precious would sell the farm and start a business of her own. That whether he would have agreed to his daughter' wish to set up a detective agency was not certain but when Mma. Ramotswe had started with her job, she was, within days very popular and there was a great demand of her services. Infact, she was convinced that had her father been alive, she would be very proud of his dear Precious.
She recollects one of her earlier cases when the identity of a lady's long lost father was to be validated when the old man returned after a very long time. The way she reveals the truth seemed to be childishly simple but her intuition and above all her sincerity will win many hearts, not only of her clients but also of her fans.
The next few chapters dwells chiefly on her father about how he raised a living and a family, doing hard toils in the mines. Precious lost her mother at a very early age but the void was soon filled by her aunt, who came to live with them, after her husband deserted her. It was she who gave the early educations to Precious and thus before joining school, she could read, count numbers, recite verses and a tendency to be inquisitive was naturally imbibed in her. Then came her first job and her first case hand in hand when she pointed out some corruptions in her uncle's business. But her youth had not been all too smooth sailing due to her horrible and nightmare experience in love followed by an even horrible conjugal state. Fortunately she survived that and as soon as the torturing husband deserted her, she took shelter at her father's and served him till his death did them part. Then, in essence, began her career as the only lady detective in Botswana. Yes, she was critical about her status as a lady detective as the Botswana that she lived was more adept to find men in important jobs and thus as a woman, she made it clear to the high brows that she meant no nonsense doing her business.
Her courage to set up a new type of agency in a place without proper knowledge of running a detective business seemed to be awarded right on the 1st day with her secretary Mma. Makutsi being the harbinger of the case. But sadly the case never promised a happy ending but the way it was solved prompts the reader to applaud on the instinct of the sleuth. But sometimes the subjects she was dealing with were too much for an amateur and instances were there where they humoured her in novel ways. Sometimes a peculiar case would come as of Alice Busang who wanted to get proof of her husband's disloyalty and was left just furious when Mma. Rammotswe actually produced the proof. Infact it was very obvious that there was a high chance of misunderstanding in the solution to the case.
She also specialized in fraud cases and the most interesting point in the narratives are they just follow the thinking of an ordinary woman whose clear insights ultimately solves the mysteries. But one thing that may disappoint the avid readers of suspense is that in most, the perpetrators of crime are hinted by the clients themselves and Mma. Ramotswe only gathered proofs with her ingenious methods. But sometimes, as was the case of Dr. Komoti, with the client being his boss Dr. Maketsi, the solution or rather the diplomacy in punishment seemed not at par with the naivety of Mma. Ramotswe.
For some cases a bit of a prologue has been aptly briefed. Also cases where the words of the mechanic J.L.B. Matekoni, the wise man came in handy, particularly while investigating a car theft. Matekoni was more than a friend to Mma. Ramotswe as apparent from several chapters and the sentiments that they each cherished for the other have very subtly but definitely expressed throughout.
J.L.B. Matekoni also helped Mma. Ramotswe once by inadvertently stumbling across a clue that set the detective in the trail of some serious villain. But the trail seem to lead to one of the most powerful persons in the country and though he tried to dissuade her, but Mma. Precious felt it her resposibility to bring a social evil and a cruel practice to end. So she set up an elaborate plan to trap the evil brain and Rra. Matekoni, much against his wish, collaborated in introducing the detective with the murderous criminal. But disappointingly for adventure lovers, the climax is quite bland than what seemed to be expected.
The best thing about the stories are that these are narrated from the perspective of the sleuth and thus nothing is hidden from the readers and the making of a detective is appreciated well by the stylish way of story telling by the author. Also the making of the detective in Mma Ramotswe is drawn very clearly as with the evolution of each of the chapters, evolved the character of the detective. Thus the naive woman in her younger days became a lady smart enough to rattle the most powerful man in the place and the courage in her heart could earn the respect and reverence from the acquaintances. Though in the process, the ambience sometimes swings to a sombre mood but quickly changes right when the solution is approached.
The narrative is filled with African cultures, their customs and it surprises me when I found the ululation, that is so common at our marriage ceremonies, also is a part of African culture. Also the basic philosophy of life is sometimes being subtly hinted upon that always reminds the readers about the necessities of life that drives the human force. These actually occurs mainly where Mma. Ramotswe reminisces about the land, the barren grasslands and hearing the roaring lions at Kalahari and Africa in general. Also the African flora and fauna finds their place, sometimes dangerously, on the course of a case. Romance, too, had found its place in the story and in this too the author had been sincere yet emotional and the readers will thoroughly enjoy the novel. Everything in the narrative is nice but for certain printing errors in the final chapter that though are small but seems very much disproportionate with the clarity of the rest.
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