Morality for Beautiful Girls [#books #review]

by Alexander McCall Smith

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
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Rating: 8.5/10

That's what Mma Ramotswe had said - or something like that. And if there was one person in Botswana - one person - to whom one should listen very carefully, it was Mma Ramotswe.

(Page 193)

I enjoyed this reading very much, because following Precious Ramotswe in her investigations, her deductive processes and her personal events, is always a pleasure. Sometimes I must admit that I found all the "goodness" of Mma Ramotswe and the simplicity with which certain problems are solved, a bit excessive. But I also admit that this is in part why I like these novels so much: in addition to being interesting, engaging and with a beautiful setting, they're also a bit of a balm for the soul, they make me feel better.

Quotes

Mma Ramotswe, the daughter of the late Obed Ramotswe of Mochudi, near Gaborone, Botswana, Africa, was the announced fiancee of Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, son of the late Pumphamilitse Matekoni, of Tlokweng, peasant farmer and latterly chief caretaker of the Railway Head Office. It was a fine match, everybody thought; she, the founder and owner of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Botswana's only detective agency for the concerns of both ladies and others; he, the proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and by general repute one of the finest mechanics in Botswana. It was always a good thing, people said, to have independent interests in a marriage.

[incipit]

However great the suffering of the people in Africa, [...] there was still so much in Africa from which one could take real pride. There was the kindness, for example, and the ability to smile, and the art and the music.

(Page 29)

She decided to turn to that first line of information and consolation on all matters of doubt or dispute: the Botswana Book Centre.

(Page 94)

You simply could not help everybody; but you could at least help those who came into your life. That principle allowed you to deal with the suffering you saw. That was your suffering.

(Page 117)

Women, as usual, were expected to behave better than men, and inevitably attracted criticism for doing things that men were licensed to do with impunity. It was not fair; it had never been fair, and it would probably never be fair in the future.

Un pensiero di Mma Makutsi

(Page 210)

Do not be ashamed to cry, Rra. It is the way that things begin to get better. It is the first step.

Mma Ramotswe

(Page 226)