Comfort, Comfort, Comfort

It is with thorough approval that I declare "The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon" to be just exactly like all the other Mma Ramatswe stories.

Predictability, reassurance, comfort are not bad things in every case, and Alexander McCall Smith keeps reminding us why. In a modern, fast-moving, cynical world it's a wonderful pleasure to put up your feet in front of the fire, relax, and listen to the superb Lisette Lecat reading about the good woman of Botswana. Reader and character are never cloying, never "cute" - just a reminder that simplicity and goodness can still exist.

I like that this world changes little, that the quiet humor and unfailing kindness and tolerance of our lady detective can be depended upon.

These gentle books are not for every mood, to be sure. But I hope they keep coming - I love these visits!

13 people found this helpful

Delightful

I have read all of the 1st Ladies Detective Agency series and can hardly wait for the next book to be released. “The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon” is the newest book; I believe it is number 14. McCall Smith manages to portray the leisurely pace of Africa in the book. I love how he weaves philosophical arguments into each of his stories. In this story the philosophical arguments are about good and evil, on importance of friendship and to a discussion of traditional vs. modern beliefs. His writing is excellent and he builds such unique and believable characters. In this book Mma Grace Makutsi is pregnant then later delivers a baby boy. Phut Radiphut’s aunt moves into the house with Mma Makutsi and Phut which creates a difficult situation as she insist on following the traditional ways and Grace the modern way. Precious Ramotswe takes on 2 puzzling cases. The first one is for solicitor Mma Sheba, who is the executor of the will of a farmer Edgar Molopo. She thinks the man who came forward to claim the inheritance of a farm is not really his nephew. Mma Sheba asks Mma Ramotswe to find out if he is actually the nephew. The second case is of Mma Soleti the owner of the Minor adjustment beauty salon who received a bad omen in the mail and is now under attack of rumors about poor service of her salon. How she goes about solving these problems is delightful and why I love Alexander McCall Smith stories. Smith’s descriptions of the countryside, the markets, and the people make me want to travel to Botswana. Lisette Lecat was the narrator of the story. She is from South Africa and does the accents and is able to pronounce all the names with great accuracy and with the rhythm of Africa and makes it a delight to listen to.

13 people found this helpful

Missing last two chapters??

What did you like best about The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon? What did you like least?

Always a pleasure to head back to Botswana and I was immediately engaged in the tale. When it ended, I thought there must be some mistake, I double checked that it had downloaded correctly! It's one thing to solve the "mysteries" and another to just talk about solving them--which is what the novel did. It seemed like the last two chapters must be missing.

Would you recommend The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon to your friends? Why or why not?

No, although I loved it while it lasted, I am still frustrated by the lack of resolution and abrupt ending.

5 people found this helpful

About the Characters Not the Mystery

After the first couple of books in the series one only reads them for the characters because there are little or now mysteries. However the characters, Africa, and the life of simple pleasure and morals make it a life affirming read. The reader is the same for all books and is always out-of-this-world perfect.

My only warning if you are considering the series start at the beginning. My wish for the author would be to put a bit more mystery back into the books although he probably knows people like me are addicted to his characters. I'm typically a guy that likes thrillers, with lots of violence and action. There is none of that in these books but Precious, the main character, is my guilty pleasure.

5 people found this helpful

I feel very happy now…I love to laugh and smile...

Somehow I don't feel like I am the only listener who pines for the next installment of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (read by Lisette Lecat). Each new installment is like a visit by a lovely old friend.

Dang…I feel so positive when I am done listening to each book…if I needed therapy I would choose Mma Precious Ramotswe as my shrink…she can fix just about anyone except Violet Sephotho.

This series makes me want to do two things: rejoin the Peace Corps and drink Red Bush Tea (which I now have in my pantry). That picture to the left is me in Liberia in 1978.

Friends, here is another spectacular winner in a long series of great listens written by A.M. Smith.

10 people found this helpful

Another Sweet Story

How nice to be able to listen to the wonderful narration of Lisette Lecat telling the tale of another phase of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency! Always a pleasure to slow down a bit and continue the story of Precious, Grace and their families. If you've read others in this series, you certainly won't be disappointed with this one.

3 people found this helpful

This one is for the faithful

Fans of the series, here is another book that will strengthen our friendship with the people we've come to know and love. This series has become that wonderful annual conversation you have with the closest of friends that you don't see often, but have strong feelings for.

This is not a series where you can start in the middle, it requires you to put in the time to get to know the players and the rhythm of the narrator - - who is marvelous. This story is slightly less family-friendly than some of the others, so a slight note of warning if you're listening with small ones. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy the trip back to Botswana.

7 people found this helpful

Thank you, Alexander McCall Smith!

What made the experience of listening to The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon the most enjoyable?

I've been a fan of the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency books since book 1 in 1999. I started getting hard covers then I started listening - usually on the day they were released. I've been looking forward to this addition to the series for 2 months! And I was not disappointed - it was well worth the wait.

No, these are NOT traditional mysteries although there are always a couple of puzzlers for Mma Precious Ramotswe to work on. The main thrust of the series is the growing relationships between the major characters. In The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon Grace Makutsi is married and having a baby. Regular readers will know who she is married to, how they met, what sorts of troubles they have. But Smith is good and does a bit of background work - not overdoing it. If necessary the book can stand alone.

One criminal plot thread involves a possible gaining an inheritance meant for someone else. Another small crime involves the slander of a beauty shop (hence the title). And winding through this book is the theme of modern Botswana vs old fashioned Botswana in several aspects.

Listening to Lisette Lecat is a joy. I smiled all the way through and occasionally I laughed out loud.

6 people found this helpful

New depth

Every episode is warm, wise, and beautiful and this one offers us new depth about the ladies' relationship and continues to illuminate friendship, tolerance, and forgiveness -- plus some engaging mysteries. As for Ms. Lecat, she's probably the best reader of all time.

2 people found this helpful

Exquisite, as always

Sheer perfection. Perfect story, perfectly performed. Thank you for another wonderful book, Mr. McCall Smith.

5 people found this helpful