A Song of Comfortable Chairs (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book 23)

Product Information

I read No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels for philosophical asides such as this: It was a curious thing, she thought, that a person's eyes should tell you so much about what was going on inside them. There were so many ways in which people might reveal their thoughts and emotions — gestures of the hands, smiles, shrugs. The repertoire of human body language was an extensive one. The Double Comfort Furniture Store has been selling finely crafted furnishings proudly manufactured in Botswana for two generations. Bills are mounting, accounts are in the red and Rra Phuti Radhiphuti is contemplating mounting a close-out sale. The happy couple could lose their home, as well as business and create financial hardships for their employees. Patience is visibly troubled, and the detectives learn that Patience recently escaped from a horrible abusive man in her home town. Patience and her 14-year-old-son Modise are now living with a nice man in Gaborone, but Modise's rebellious sullen behavior may get them ejected. So Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi hatch a devious plan to try to rectify the situation. Alexander McCall Smith has managed once again to write another wonderful tale where our leading lady, Precious, encourages us to slow down and express gratitude. To many it might seem simplistic, yet truly speaking, it is the superb craftsmanship of Alexander that provides devoted readers with a gentle reminder to be more open minded and extend warmth to those around us. This is such a comforting read with wonderful outcomes for all concerned. Yes, I confess, it did seem a bit fluffy, especially compared to some of my other grittier reads, however if I pay attention in my daily walk of life I notice that I am surrounded by people who reach out to others through small gestures of care and consideration that make their day just a bit brighter and their hearts a little lighter. My favorite quotes are about tea and comforting others:

To summarize, A Song of Comfortable Chairs is the kind of book you want to sit with on cold noon and warm your heart. It isn’t a typical cozy mystery or drama. It’s a comfort read that’ll make you think and smile at the same time. MY THOUGHTS: This was not at all what I expected and, to be quite honest, I felt cheated. Does it not say #1 Ladies Detective Agency? There is not much detecting takes place.What a happy occasion! The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series ( Pantheon), written by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith, debuted in 1998 with the novel by the same name, and since the first book’s publication, the series has become a worldwide publishing phenomenon.

Most people longed for the day when they might tune into a news broadcast and hear the announcer say, 'I'm sorry, everybody, but nothing has happened. There is no news today none at all.' That day had never come to pass, as far as she knew, but you could still hope. That was what you could always do - no matter how bad things seemed to be - you could hope.’ In this latest installment in the beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Grace Makutsi encounters a pair of quandaries that will require all of her and Mma Ramotswe’s cleverness and generosity to resolve. The books have sold millions of copies and have been translated into more than 45 languages. While they are loosely categorized as “crime fiction,” there are no serial killers on the loose leaving grisly murders to be solved and a dearth of violent crimes, making these more so “cozy mysteries.” They are refreshingly innocent and full of charm with a gentle philosophy of adhering to a high moral standard, ethical behavior and performing good works. The series does deal with vital social issues, such as domestic violence, game poaching and the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana, which has left many orphans, giving the otherwise light and comfortable series a little more depth. The office case-load is light as they are selective about their clients and making money is not their primary objective. They rather prefer to right wrongs and restore harmony. ONE RIVAL FURNITURE STORE COULD BRING RUIN It was important, she felt, to keep your working life separate from your home life; she knew far too many people who allowed the cares of the job to intrude upon their home life, and these were the people who tended to become depressed or suffer from something that she had recently read about in a magazine - something referred to as burn-out.’Meanwhile, Charlie, the part-time mechanic in Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's garage, and part-time trainee detective, is pushing for more responsibility and recognition of his growing detective skills. He manages to insert himself into a case Mma Ramotswe doesn't think his help is needed in.