'The Kalaharl Typing School for Men' is the fourth novel in the widely acclaimed No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Following on from 'Morallty for Beautiful Girls' we find Precious Ramotswe, the founder of Botswana's only detective agency now running her business from the garage of her fiance, that most gracious of men, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni. Having recovered from his illness, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is back at the helm of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and plans for the couple's wedding need to be made. But when, If ever, will ...
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'The Kalaharl Typing School for Men' is the fourth novel in the widely acclaimed No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Following on from 'Morallty for Beautiful Girls' we find Precious Ramotswe, the founder of Botswana's only detective agency now running her business from the garage of her fiance, that most gracious of men, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni. Having recovered from his illness, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is back at the helm of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and plans for the couple's wedding need to be made. But when, If ever, will they wed? Intriguing cases present themselves and Mma Ramotswe juggles new clients with her usual formidable talent, but things become unusually complicated when her first-class assistant Mma Makutsi decides to expand the agency by opening a much-needed typing school for men. Amongst her puplis Mma Makutsl finds an admirer, but Mma Ramotswe, knowing how men are, decides to dig deeper. Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack's company Mirage will be co-producing The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency TV series with New Africa Media Films. 'I was enchanted by the character of Precious Ramotswe and the sly humour of Alexander McCall Smith's writing, his deft evocation of a culture.' Anthony Minghella 'The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency' received two Booker Judges' Special Recommendations in 1999 and was voted one of the 'International Books of the Year and the Millennium' by the Times Literary Supplement. 'Tears of the Giraffe' was selected as one of The Guardian's top ten Fiction paperbacks of the Year, 2000. 'The most entertaining read of the year.' The Guardian 'The author's prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. His descriptions leave one as if standing in the Botswanan landscape. This is art that conceals art. I haven't read anything with such unalloyed pleasure for a long time.' Anthony Daniels, The Sunday Telegraph 'It is not difficult to see why the director of 'The English Patient' and 'The Talented Mr Ripley', Anthony Minghella was so keen to produce the television series of these books in Africa. Smith is a careful, emblematic writer who is beyond gifted, he is a natural storyteller. Smith has once again charmed the sarongs off of us.' The List
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Seller's Description:
Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. Noticeably used book. Text is legible but may be soiled and have binding defects. Heavy wear to covers and pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Possible ex library copy, with all the markings/stickers of that library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, and dust jackets may not be included.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials.
This book lives up to his previous works - the insight into another culture just proves that we are all basicly the same.
Grace P
Dec 13, 2010
Read and enjoy
Well written and gives good chuckles. Good series.
Mardell
Sep 9, 2010
QWERTY, etc.
Who would have thought to start a typing school for strictly for men? Find a niche and fill it.
DustyTeacup
May 3, 2007
Too Simplistic
I feel the complaint of "too simplistic" can apply to all of the books in this series, and it is unfortunate that this is so, as the underlying idea, the characters, and the setting could have yielded a fabulous set of books. These books are appealing to those seeking respite from a nasty Western world, certainly. The descriptions of southernmost Africa are enjoyable, as is the notion of honest, good-hearted people in an honest, almost noble, country. But the characterizations are so broadly drawn (excuse a possible pun as to Mma R's girth) as to be somewhat insulting. Yes, the author lived there for a time, but his characters start and end with the idea of "noble savages." I could have told you, after two pages, that a white man was writing about a woman and an African nation. It just doesn't ring true, and in fact, it's rather insulting to the Africans, and to the character of Mma R, to cast them as simple yet honest folk thinking about snacking on a nice boiled pumpkin. The author doesn't care enough about his writing to keep up with his own details. I think this was just a moneymaker for him, and it's too bad, because we, the readers and the weary Westerners, could have used a more honest and heartfelt effort in portraying the characters and the country.
