Thursday, October 6, 2011

Book Review Thursday - 10/6

 The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party is the newest book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoy how the books in the series are light and uncomplicated and I usually forget that Mma Ramotswe is a detective. There is generally one major investigation in each book, but the side stories that occur are just as interesting.

In this book, Mma Ramotswe is asked by a seemingly scared cattle man to investigate who is killing his cows. As the investigation begins, Mma Ramotswe begins to wonder if he himself is involved in the crime. Grace Makutsi is in the final stages of planning her wedding and needs shoes for the event. And, as is usual, there is drama with one of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni’s apprentices.

I have always listened to the books in this series and the narrator is fantastic! I had to get over the “Mma’s” and “Rra’s” in the first book, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have looked forward to listening to each one as they have been published. The series is set in Botswana and it is interesting hearing about the way of life in that country. I also enjoy hearing what goes on in Mma Ramotswe’s mind and her rationalizations for things that she does or things that go on.

A great addition to the series and I already can’t wait for the next one!


The second book I finished this week was A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard. Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Jaycee was kidnapped in 1991 and held in captivity for 18 years before she was recovered with her 2 daughters. I wasn’t sure whether I really wanted to read the book, but so many people on Facebook said that it was such a good book.

I’m not gonna lie, there were some parts that made me cringe. I can’t believe some of the things that Jaycee was put through. But her outlook on life is amazing considering all that she went through. There are some people who probably would have turned to addictive behaviors to deal with the circumstances, but she seems to be a very down to earth woman and she doesn’t dwell on the “what if’s” and the “why me’s.” The way that she is coping and adjusting to normal life again is amazing. It will be interesting to see what she does now with her Foundation.

3 comments:

Melinda said...

I am currently on number 5 in the series, A Full Cupboard of Life. Her books are such easy reads - I especially like them for driving in the car. Sounds like the latest book continues to entertain.

Deanna said...

Such a lovely series! I really enjoy them.

Brenda said...

This is hard to write. I also read Jaycee's book. I was in the store, looking for something light to read, something to just, eh, simple, fun, easy.... and I had one in my hand - then I saw her book..... and I was never going to read this book. But I found myself drawn to it, and I put in my cart - the other one got put on the shelf. Well, my daugher put it on my bed when we got home, and me, who is in bed my 11 usually, did not go to bed till one..... I knew the book was there, I think I was avoiding it. Well, I moved it so I could go to bed and though, well, I'll read the first page..... at 6:40 I told myself I really needed to go to sleep, so I put it down. At 7:43, I was awake and reading again. At 10:14 the book was done. And I cried and cried and cried. All weekend.
So, yeah, this book affected me. Alot. And how she managed to hold it all together, I will never know. The one question I had for myself - could I have done it??

Powerful book. Just though I would share. Maybe I shouldn't have, but, I did.