This series (I’ve lost count of how many, and I’m always behind since I wait for the latest to come out in paperback) is Smith’s tale of the magnificent Precious Ramotswe and her gentle friends, family, and colleagues, as they work and play in Botswana. The books chronicle the ups and downs of the detecting work of Precious’ agency, her husband’s prosperous business, the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and the cast of characters—good and evil—that pass through the town. These books are best read in order, but it is not essential.
The first one I read, I fell in love with, and was amazed how a white man from Scotland could so beautifully capture the thoughts and philosophies of an African middle-aged woman. I am not, however, so enamored of his other series, including the Sunday Philosophy Club books, the German Professors series (can’t remember what these are called), or the other books I’ve read by Smith. They are good, too, and often funny, but in no way do I think they compare to the world of Precious that Smith created. Makes me wonder if the sisterhood that I—a white middle-aged American—feel with Precious as portrayed by Smith isn’t based on the fact that I don’t have a clue how a person in Botswana really thinks or feels. Because I do have some clues about how middle-aged Scots and academic Germans think, perhaps that is why I’m not so intrigued by Smith’s other books.
The first one I read, I fell in love with, and was amazed how a white man from Scotland could so beautifully capture the thoughts and philosophies of an African middle-aged woman. I am not, however, so enamored of his other series, including the Sunday Philosophy Club books, the German Professors series (can’t remember what these are called), or the other books I’ve read by Smith. They are good, too, and often funny, but in no way do I think they compare to the world of Precious that Smith created. Makes me wonder if the sisterhood that I—a white middle-aged American—feel with Precious as portrayed by Smith isn’t based on the fact that I don’t have a clue how a person in Botswana really thinks or feels. Because I do have some clues about how middle-aged Scots and academic Germans think, perhaps that is why I’m not so intrigued by Smith’s other books.
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