Here we are with the Fall Reading Challenge, and I've already finished a book! Of coures, it helps that I have a book club meeting to host this Thursday.
Last night, I finished reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith. It was a charming read, but I found it rather slow-paced and trite for a detective novel. The stories were all fairly easy to figure out, and I far prefer my Agatha Christie when it comes to mystery. Of course, this book is more about Africa, Botswana, and the lovely Precious Ramotswe than it is about her cases. The end result was a book that was too easy to put down and leave. I would never have finished it, had it not been for our Book Club this week.
All in all, it was a sweet read, but I have little desire to read any of the sequels.
Now onto some fun nonfiction--The Tightwad Gazette II! I have no doubt I'll have it finished within a day or so, as I devoured the 1st and 3rd books in less than a week.
8 comments:
Hi Emily,
I found your blog through Katrina's fall into reading challenge. I was really interested to read your review as I love Alexander McCall Smith. I agree that the mystery's aren't really mystery's and Agatha Christie is much better (I have never worked out one of her plots!) but I really like his style of writing and it is much better suited to his 44 Scotland Street series.
Anyway great to find another book blog, look forward to reading more of your reviews
Alix
Emily, I have read a few of the First Ladies Detective books and like you I found them a little slow and at times boring (to tell you the truth). But I've heard that his other series is much better.
It's nice to see others agree with my take on #1 Ladies. I read the first and doubt I will ever read the others.
I really enjoyed this book. I guess I never really thought of it as a "mystery" but rather as more of a character study -- a peek into the life of an African woman, who happened to run a small detective agency.
I agree that it is slow and you definitely have to adjust your pace to appreciate it. But I'm thinking I'd like to read the others in the series.
I have picked this book up several times at the library but have never brought it home. I need a fast paced book to hold my interest. It sounds like this book isn't it. Thanks for sharing.
I just read and reviewed No. 1 Ladies and loved it! Sorry it wasn't your style.
I'm trying to think, I may have read this book. If I did, then I think I didn't like it either. I have to go look it up :)
Ok I found it on Amazon. I had heard really good things about it & check it out. I don't think I was able to get into it & I didn't end up reading much of it. I will have to look at the series mentioned in the comments though. I have heard great things about the author, I just wasn't able to read this series.
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