Review Of Alexander McCall Smith's Books Featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, The Charismatic Detective

I know Botswana well; I only left the country a few years ago, after teaching art and crafts in a Secondary School in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana for eight years.During this time, I grew to know the country and its people.As such, I consider that this review of Alexander McCall Smith's series of twelve novels featuring Mma Ramotswe, the main character of 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency', is made from a perspective of authority.Although the twelve books of the series featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe are classified as fictional, I can recognize many of the characters in the people I knew and dealt with daily.I did not meet Mma Ramotswe as she does not exist, but I have met Mma Sechele, the Chairperson of the Botswana Girls' Guides and I feel that they could have been closely related as there is so much similarity in their personalities. I have met Mma Molawa, our school Head and I believe that if Alexander McCall Smith had written about a female Headmistress, she
would have been like Mma Molawa. I have met Mma Sebina, a dedicated teacher, a good colleague. Although her name was not Mma Makutsi, like her, she was a hardworking employee. She used to be as proud and serious about her duties in the school as Mma Makutsi's character is described to be in her office next to the fictional Speedy Motors in Gaborone.Mma Motlogelwa, the counselor in our school, epitomizes Mma Potokwane from the book. She cared as much about the students as we can read that Mma Potokwane cares about the orphans in her charge. Many of the children in our school were orphans too, due to the killer disease AIDS and that was of great concern to us.I had less contact with the men of Botswana, so perhaps I shouldn't comment on Mr. Matekoni, the "good husband material", in this comparative note since we had mostly lady teachers in our school. The few male colleagues were all too young to be able to show if they were good "husband material". They all were still learnin
g how to be one, mostly through experience, by trial and errors.My years in Botswana were the happiest of my life. My heart is warmed every time I remember one story or another because life in Botswana could be described as a succession of unfolding stories. It is no surprise that one special storyteller eventually came along to put them into the series of twelve books that feature Mma Ramotswe, the principal character of 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'.Following Mma Ramotswe in her daily activities, the readers get to know the country and the people as she interacts with them. The reality and rhythms of life in Botswana are exactly as described by the author and the tender empathy that sets the emotional background to the stories is real too. It is the way of life in Botswana.The books have had great appeal throughout the world. The people living in Botswana do not know how and why people from other countries, with different lifestyles and cultures, find themselves so
moved by Mma Ramotswe's successful investigations for her clients, fellow countrymen and women or the odd visitor. The people of Botswana firmly believe that life should be the same everywhere and everyone should try to get along well together, tolerating differences and celebrating what there is in common, without making a big fuss. According to local wisdom and tradition, this is the obvious recipe for happiness.Each of the twelve novels has a distinct intrigue, some involving the great and good of the country, some about the everyday people. There is a small stock of regular characters that we quickly get to know and love. They take the reader through the novels like old friends and it is easy to follow the storyline.There is excitement when a bad person is intruding, for such people should not exist in Botswana or indeed in the world. Mma Ramotswe brings her common sense to bear and scrutinizes the actions of the bad people. At the end she always finds the solution that
readers will feel to be right and just.Each book has a positive ending with a message of hope that every individual has a better side to their nature. It does happen sometimes in the books that a bad character turns good; it would never happen that a good character turned bad.Besides the mysteries and adventures of a line of investigating activities, the books show the author's insight into a little known nation's identity. Alexander McCall Smith shares this precious knowledge with his readers, allowing the nation of Botswana to be loved by the entire world.

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