Source of book: Audiobook from the library
Ah yes, another long road trip, another Mma. Ramotswe story to pass the time.
For those who want to brush up on the full set of McCall Smith books we have listened to:
#1 Ladies Detective Agency series:
The Tears of the Giraffe (#2 in the series)
Morality for Beautiful Girls (#3)
The Kalahari Typing School For Men (#4)
The Full Cupboard of Life (#5)
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (#6)
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (#8)
The Miracle at Speedy Motors (#9)
Sunday Philosophy Club series:
Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld series:
Other books:
La’s Orchestra Saves the World
***
Here we are, at the 10th book in the series. As I predicted, Violet Sephotho has become a recurring villain. Mma. Ramotswe and Mma. Makutsi explore further the labyrinth that gender and culture pose, and the little white van appears to come to the end of the road.
Unlike some of the books, this one limits itself to two main plots, with a pair of smaller subplots. The first one is the mystery of a football team. And by football, the book means soccer, of course. A local man who has made good in business (at the expense of his childhood dream of football) has bought a club. For a few years, it plays really well, but then it goes on a bad losing streak. The owner is sure that this is due to a traitor on the team who is sabotaging the games, and hires the detectives to discover who the rat is.
The other plot is about Violet Sephotho trying to steal Mma. Makutsi’s fiance, the kind but naive Phuti Rhadiputi, away from her.
The subplots in this case involve a brief case involving a woman by the name of Sephotho - who turns out not to be related to Violet, despite Mma. Makutsi’s suspicions, who has been keeping multiple boyfriends, and is now in a position where they will discover her duplicity - and the problem of the little white van, which appears to be terminally ill.
As usual, there are a number of fascinating investigations - anytime either of the ladies interviews others, there is a wealth of psychological and interpersonal insight - perhaps the greatest strength of the series.
And also as usual, there are interesting discussions of the intersection of gender and culture. Botswana’s culture is changing, and the traditional ways (and the “traditional build” of women like Mma. Ramotswe) are giving way to new ways and ideas. The role of women, particularly, is changing in the direction of greater equality for women. Among other things, this means that women like Mma. Ramotswe no longer have to suffer at the hands of abusive men, but can choose good, kind ones like Phuti, or the always delightful Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. (Never, ever, forget the entire name - Mma. Ramotswe certainly wouldn’t, even though he is her husband.)
Also notable in this book is that finally, we get to learn the name of the younger apprentice. Charlie, the older apprentice, of course, has featured in the series prominently. He chases girls, feuds with Mma. Makutsi, and does stupid things from time to time.
But what of the younger, quieter apprentice? Well, his name is Fanwell (Mma. Makutsi does not approve of this name), and he is essentially the sole support of his family, due to hard circumstances. The author really humanizes him in this book, and makes the questions about how to handle the apprentices, who aren’t all that competent. It isn’t as simple as the capitalist answer, to say the least.
Also complicated is the football issue. What is the role of a rich club owner? How about the coach? Is it even possible for one bad apple to throw games, particularly if it isn’t obvious to the fans? What role does luck play in wins? How about team chemistry? These answers may actually be more obvious to fans than to the owner. (Which is why the ultimate resolution to the mystery comes from a child - someone who doesn’t overthink it.)
And then, there is the metaphor of the van. Mma. Ramotswe’s beloved transport has come to mean a lot to her, emotionally. She cannot simply accept that mechanical things wear out. But it goes deeper. Is a soccer player who is aging simply like a worn out van, good for nothing except to be thrown away and replaced? And what about a husband? Or a romantic partner? Are they too disposable?
I have mentioned before that it was unexpected that my kids - at very young ages, as in kindergarten - loved these books and requested them for our trips. They are slow paced, contemplative, and not exactly typical kid fare. But there is something about the way they meander, and look at issues from a number of sides, that make them rise above their genre. And, honestly, if you want to learn to think ethically about a number of issues (abortion included) these are a great place to start. (I also highly recommend Terry Pratchett.) Mma. Ramotswe in particular utilizes her knowledge of human nature, and her understanding of the nuances of ethics in the real world (as opposed to the ideological world, or particularly the Right Wing Fantasy World) to untangle the complexities of real life. I am pretty sure that these books are one of the reasons my kids turned out to be so thoughtful about ethical issues. Or, perhaps, their thoughtfulness from young ages is why they were drawn to these books. In any case, the last 10 years of Alexander McCall Smith have been an interesting ride, and I am glad we discovered him for our adventures.
As usual, Lisette Lecat is marvelous as the narrator. A match truly made in heaven.
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