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A review by bickleyhouse
From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the newest in a long series of books by Mr. McCall Smith, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. It is the second one that I have read. While I plan to go back to the very beginning (as soon as the first book is returned to my library), I chose this one to fill a reading challenge in my Facebook reading group, which is "Newest book from a series." Also, I had already checked it out for my mother to read, so I just grabbed it after she finished it.
This is a delightful book, as was the other one that I read last year. Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi work together in the detective agency, and have a wonderful relationship. In this latest book, there are several mysteries that need to be solved. There is the case of a so-called singles' club that turns out to be filled with men who are already married, looking for some side-action by deceiving single ladies. There are some shocking developments as apprentice Charlie is allowed to investigate that case. Then there is the case of a woman who has come all the way from Indiana to see if Mma Ramotswe can help her find some people that may be related to an ancestor. The place where these people live happens to be the home place of Precious.
There is, as there was in the previous book, much humor in this story. The way Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi talk to each other . . . actually the way most of them converse . . . is delightful and amusing.
This story has sadness in it, as well, as there are some unintended consequences in the case of the Cool Singles Evening Club. There is sadness in the other case, as well, as people turned out to not be what they seemed, at first.
But to me, the big theme of this book is forgiveness. I saved a quote from page 142 that is something we would all do well to remember: "Forgiveness, she thought: we all need forgiveness for something."
This is a delightful book, as was the other one that I read last year. Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi work together in the detective agency, and have a wonderful relationship. In this latest book, there are several mysteries that need to be solved. There is the case of a so-called singles' club that turns out to be filled with men who are already married, looking for some side-action by deceiving single ladies. There are some shocking developments as apprentice Charlie is allowed to investigate that case. Then there is the case of a woman who has come all the way from Indiana to see if Mma Ramotswe can help her find some people that may be related to an ancestor. The place where these people live happens to be the home place of Precious.
There is, as there was in the previous book, much humor in this story. The way Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi talk to each other . . . actually the way most of them converse . . . is delightful and amusing.
This story has sadness in it, as well, as there are some unintended consequences in the case of the Cool Singles Evening Club. There is sadness in the other case, as well, as people turned out to not be what they seemed, at first.
But to me, the big theme of this book is forgiveness. I saved a quote from page 142 that is something we would all do well to remember: "Forgiveness, she thought: we all need forgiveness for something."