This might be one of my favorite titles in the series—the idea of Blue Shoes brings up a vivid mental image, and the cover of the book is gorgeous, with a blue trim to match. I myself am a shoe person, and so I was curious to see what blue shoes would be doing in the book. The events from In the Company of Cheerful Ladies have continued on: Mma Ramotswe has solved a deep personal problem and is now looking forward to helping Mma […]
18: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
And now I’ve gotten to new territory in the Mma Ramotswe books! Huzzah! I’ve never read anything beyond The Full Cupboard of Life, so I have lots of new Mma books to polish off. I honestly don’t remember how many years ago my aunt bought me this copy, but I knew it’s been over ten. I am excited to read the unread books on my shelf, and that number is now under 20. Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni have finally married, thanks to the […]
17: The Full Cupboard of Life
I’m absolutely determined to continue reading the Mma Ramotswe books and finish off the series this year. I’m slowly making my way through the tomes, and this is the last book I’ve read before. I’m excited to tackle the books I’ve never read! That said, this entry maintained its usual comforting and entertaining tone, and I’m excited to go through the books I’ve never read before. A hairdresser comes to Mma Ramotswe with a request: she wants her potential suitors to be screened, so that […]
7: The Kalahari Typing School for Men
I’ve so been enjoying my foray into the Mma Ramotswe books, especially since I have never done a re-read with the series, or even finished reading the series. This is going to be a great reading year, I can tell. As always, there is a specific formula to the series, but Alexander McCall Smith knows how to balance the familiar and surprising all at once. And that’s perfectly fine by me. With The Kalahari Typing School for Men, we find out more about Mma Makutsi. […]
6: Morality for Beautiful Girls
Alexander McCall Smith addresses pertinent issues that face people around the world, and he does so in a way that is both funny and tender, so that you don’t feel too raw at once. This time, he looks at depression. And while his solution may not ultimately be practical—after all, we can’t all just pack up our loved ones to an orphanage for a few weeks for treatment!—he does examine the mindset that many of us have when it comes to mental illness. This book […]
5: Tears of the Giraffe
Two books into the Mma Ramotswe books, and I’m just as much in love. Not all of the books follow the exact same pattern (large overarching mystery and several smaller mysteries), but that’s part of what makes them so enjoyable. Smith knows a winning formula when he sees one, but he also knows how to provide a little variation when necessary. And that brings me to Tears of the Giraffe, which I have not re-read ever. Mma Ramotswe is trying to build a sturdy client […]