Call number
MYST SMI
Collection
Genres
Publication
Pantheon (2009), Edition: 1st, 224 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Humor (Fiction.) The 10th entry in the internationally best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series finds Precious Ramotswe investigating a mystery that hits close to home. In this latest installment in the endlessly entertaining series, Precious Ramotswe faces problems both personal and professional. The first is the potential demise of an old friend, her tiny white van. Recently, it has developed a rather troubling knock, but she dare not consult the estimable Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni for fear he may condemn the vehicle. Meanwhile, her talented assistant Mma Makutsi is plagued by the reappearance of her nemesis, Violet Sephotho, who has taken a job at the Double Comfort Furniture store whose proprietor is none other than Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Makutsi's fiancE. Finally, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency has been hired to explain the unexpected losing streak of a local football club, the Kalahari Swoopers. But with Mma Ramotswe on the case, it seems certain that everything will be resolved satisfactorily.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Noofy
My favourite bit of this book was the scene where Mma Ramotswe is worried about Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni coming home late from work. Her love for him is something that is never specifically addressed before, being implied rather than spelt out, and the scene where she rushes from the car to greet him
The book itself as a whole was different from the others in the series. The cases that Mma Ramotswe solves are both slightly anti-climactic in their endings, fizzling out in a rather rushed manner. The focus in the book is more on exploring relationships so the cases are naturally given a back seat; however you are left feeling that the book should be longer in order to fully detail the cases.
Again, other characters are given development - Mma Makutsi continues to have some chapters told from her point of view (the weakest parts in my opinion as I struggle to like her character), and it is nice to get some insight into the character of the second apprentice. I get the impression that his story will be addressed again in future.
However, this slight shortfall doesn't ruin the book and this is a nice continuation of a very enjoyable series.
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was very touching.The book itself as a whole was different from the others in the series. The cases that Mma Ramotswe solves are both slightly anti-climactic in their endings, fizzling out in a rather rushed manner. The focus in the book is more on exploring relationships so the cases are naturally given a back seat; however you are left feeling that the book should be longer in order to fully detail the cases.
Again, other characters are given development - Mma Makutsi continues to have some chapters told from her point of view (the weakest parts in my opinion as I struggle to like her character), and it is nice to get some insight into the character of the second apprentice. I get the impression that his story will be addressed again in future.
However, this slight shortfall doesn't ruin the book and this is a nice continuation of a very enjoyable series.
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LibraryThing member frisbeesage
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built is # 10 in the series about Mma Ramotswe. The series is set in Botswana and centers around a small detective agency and car repair garage. In this installment Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutse solve a variety of mysteries including why the once famous
If you haven't read this series before you should start with The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and you will be in for a treat. These are gentle, cozy mysteries that remind you about what is really important in life. You will come to feel that all the characters are friends and you'll be eager to catch up with them in each new book.
If you've been following the series all along then you won't be disappointed. Its always a treat to see how all my old friends are doing! Mma Potokwane doesn't appear as much as usual, but we get to know Puso, the little white van, and the apprentices a little bit better. I found the book very satisfying and a nice escape from the stress currently in my life.
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soccer team, the Kalahari Swoopers can no longer win a single game. If you haven't read this series before you should start with The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and you will be in for a treat. These are gentle, cozy mysteries that remind you about what is really important in life. You will come to feel that all the characters are friends and you'll be eager to catch up with them in each new book.
If you've been following the series all along then you won't be disappointed. Its always a treat to see how all my old friends are doing! Mma Potokwane doesn't appear as much as usual, but we get to know Puso, the little white van, and the apprentices a little bit better. I found the book very satisfying and a nice escape from the stress currently in my life.
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LibraryThing member smik
An annual meet up with Precious Ramotswe, proprietor and founder of the No 1. Ladies Detective Agency in Gaborone, Botswana, is one of the pleasures of life. For me it is like renewing a friendship with an old friend.
For TEA TIME for the TRADITIONALLY BUILT is #10 in the series, the first of which
Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi are called upon to investigate why a local football team has begun to lose on a regular basis. Mma Ramotswe's faithful little white van has a terminal illness, and Mma Makutsi's fiance Phuti Radiphuti does not recognise a Jezebel when he comes into contact with one. There is a more detailed synopsis in my earlier posting.
If you are looking for a blood and guts read, then this is not the book for you. As always with all the books in the series, this is a gentle progress, characterised by investigations into the small problems that loom so large in ordinary lives.
While I enjoyed the book, it is not the best in the series. I thought it felt a little padded out, with descriptions and philosophising as Mma Ramotswe ponders the meaning of life.
For TEA TIME for the TRADITIONALLY BUILT is #10 in the series, the first of which
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was published back in 2008.Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi are called upon to investigate why a local football team has begun to lose on a regular basis. Mma Ramotswe's faithful little white van has a terminal illness, and Mma Makutsi's fiance Phuti Radiphuti does not recognise a Jezebel when he comes into contact with one. There is a more detailed synopsis in my earlier posting.
If you are looking for a blood and guts read, then this is not the book for you. As always with all the books in the series, this is a gentle progress, characterised by investigations into the small problems that loom so large in ordinary lives.
While I enjoyed the book, it is not the best in the series. I thought it felt a little padded out, with descriptions and philosophising as Mma Ramotswe ponders the meaning of life.
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LibraryThing member etxgardener
This is the 10th book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. As with the other books Mma Ramotswe and her eccentric assistant, Mma Makutsi are faced with several mysteries, none of which are earth shaking, but all of which are dealt with with gentle wisdom and understanding of the foibles of
In this volume Mma Ramotswe must face the fact that her ever-faithful tiny white van is probably on its last legs and try as she might she cannot find a way to get it repaired.
Meanwhile Mma Makutsi is faced, once again with her rival from the Botswana Secretarial College, the man-eating Violet Sephotho who has gotten a job working for Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti at his furniture store. Will Violet get her claws into Phuti, or will she be exposed for who she really is.
And finally, the owner of the local soccer team employs the ladies to find out why his once winning team is now losing every game they play. Is there a traitor on the team who is deliberately throwing the games or is the problem something else?
With the help of many cups of bush tea and the gentle nature of Mma Ramotswe's understanding of human nature, all things can be solved.
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human nature.In this volume Mma Ramotswe must face the fact that her ever-faithful tiny white van is probably on its last legs and try as she might she cannot find a way to get it repaired.
Meanwhile Mma Makutsi is faced, once again with her rival from the Botswana Secretarial College, the man-eating Violet Sephotho who has gotten a job working for Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti at his furniture store. Will Violet get her claws into Phuti, or will she be exposed for who she really is.
And finally, the owner of the local soccer team employs the ladies to find out why his once winning team is now losing every game they play. Is there a traitor on the team who is deliberately throwing the games or is the problem something else?
With the help of many cups of bush tea and the gentle nature of Mma Ramotswe's understanding of human nature, all things can be solved.
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LibraryThing member sarah-e
This is one of the more family-centered books of the series. Precious' love for her husband seems to almost catch her off guard when he is called out of town. Her relationship with Puso has improved since the Hoopoe incident a few books back. What I found most compelling was her devotion to her
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father and his traditional values. Her sentimentality is strong as she thinks about the good man he was, and as she goes so far to keep her tiny white van. I got the impression that she was doing it to hang on to a bit of her father. As always, life in Botswana is scandalous and mysterious, and Mma Ramotswe takes cases in stride. Show Less
LibraryThing member idiotgirl
Write your review
Audiobook. (I only listen to these books--a charming reading to say the least.) What can I say. Always predictable. Always enjoyable. Meandering narrative. I forgive it so much because of its easy stance. I always have this second sense reminding these books are written by a man. A
Audiobook. (I only listen to these books--a charming reading to say the least.) What can I say. Always predictable. Always enjoyable. Meandering narrative. I forgive it so much because of its easy stance. I always have this second sense reminding these books are written by a man. A
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charming man. But he likes his women charming, moral, feisty. But. . . . Still I'm a Ladies Detective completist. What can I say? Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, takes on an unusual case for the owner of a football team. Once the best football team in Botswana, the Kalahari Swoopers are on a prolonged losing streak. The owner believes someone on the team is deliberately causing the team to
Nothing much happens in these gentle African mysteries, yet I find these books difficult to put down once I start reading. Precious Ramotswe's musings about her beloved Botswana, her late father Obed Ramotswe, and human nature in general, always remind me of the non-material blessings I enjoy in my own small corner of the world – health, a comfortable home, a supportive family, good friends and neighbors, and the companionship of my sweet dog.
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lose. It's Mma Ramotswe's job to find out who. She will need help from her assistant, Grace Makutsi, to interview the many team members in a timely fashion. However, Mma Makutsi is distracted by her nemesis from the Botswana Secretarial College, Violet Sephotho, who has just been hired by Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti, to sell beds in his Double Comfort Furniture Shop. Mma Ramotswe must also deal with the loss of her beloved white van.Nothing much happens in these gentle African mysteries, yet I find these books difficult to put down once I start reading. Precious Ramotswe's musings about her beloved Botswana, her late father Obed Ramotswe, and human nature in general, always remind me of the non-material blessings I enjoy in my own small corner of the world – health, a comfortable home, a supportive family, good friends and neighbors, and the companionship of my sweet dog.
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LibraryThing member debnance
When people in Botswana feel stressed, they make tea. When I feel stressed, I read an Alexander McCall Smith book.It works like a charm for me.
LibraryThing member bell7
Mma Ramotswe has her hands full when Mr. Molofololo, the owner of a football (or soccer) team, asks her to look into why his team has been losing. After all, football is not one of her interests, and she could hardly be expected to keep track of everything going on in the game, let alone figure out
The tenth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is exactly what the doctor ordered for a sick day. Revisiting old characters was fun, and I was just in the mood for this light and sometimes funny tale.
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if any one player was throwing the game. But of course, she agrees to take the job and try to solve the case in her trademark manner.The tenth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is exactly what the doctor ordered for a sick day. Revisiting old characters was fun, and I was just in the mood for this light and sometimes funny tale.
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LibraryThing member elsi
Yet another delightful novel in McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Since I'm watching the mini-series on HBO every Sunday night, it was fun to read this new novel and visualize the characters and settings from the video.
LibraryThing member riverwillow
It seems unfair to quibble with this book when it delivers exactly what you expect from this series, charming and gentle as it is. But somehow I didn't enjoy this one as much as I have previous books in the series and I can't quite tell you why, maybe it is just that it is too much the same as all
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that has gone before. Although I did enjoy the reappearance of the conniving Violet Sephotho. Show Less
LibraryThing member khiemstra631
Ahhh!!! Few things rate higher with me than the latest installment of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. While the mysteries may be few and inconsequential in these books, the words of wisdom and way of life are always profound. And then, there's the ever-looming presence of Botswana. All of
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our favorite characters return in this book, and there are new things to be learned about each. Brew a cup of tea, relax and enjoy this wonderful book. It was worth the wait! Show Less
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
This 10th book in the series is as gentle and delightful a read as the previous ones. In this episode, Mma R's little white van finally bites the dust, and she is in mourning. Her side-kick Grace Makutsi is busy keeping her fiance Mr. Phuti Radiphuti out of the evil clutches of her nemesis from the
In the meantime, the agency is hired by Mr. Molofololo, the owner of a local football team, to look into why his team has been losing. Is, as he suspects, one of the players sabotaging the games? Neither Precious nor Grace knows a thing about 'football' (soccer) and it takes the help of Mma Ramotswe's foster son Puso to get the answer.
This series is one of my all time favorites. On the surface, it's hard to say why. It certainly is not in the same league of other 'mysteries' or detective stories, but the grace, gentleness, courtesy, and pleasant good writing guarantees that when I pick one up and read it, I will put the book down feeling good about human beings. In addition, McCall Smith's wonderful introduction and explanation of the customs, traditions and culture of Botswana are truly enlightening for someone who has never been there. If you are lucky enough to get it in audio, the cadence of Lisette Lecat's readings adds even more richness. These books were made to be heard, not just read.
Since Precious is still searching for her white van, an 11th book looks like a good bet.
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Botswana Secretarial College, Violet Sephotho.In the meantime, the agency is hired by Mr. Molofololo, the owner of a local football team, to look into why his team has been losing. Is, as he suspects, one of the players sabotaging the games? Neither Precious nor Grace knows a thing about 'football' (soccer) and it takes the help of Mma Ramotswe's foster son Puso to get the answer.
This series is one of my all time favorites. On the surface, it's hard to say why. It certainly is not in the same league of other 'mysteries' or detective stories, but the grace, gentleness, courtesy, and pleasant good writing guarantees that when I pick one up and read it, I will put the book down feeling good about human beings. In addition, McCall Smith's wonderful introduction and explanation of the customs, traditions and culture of Botswana are truly enlightening for someone who has never been there. If you are lucky enough to get it in audio, the cadence of Lisette Lecat's readings adds even more richness. These books were made to be heard, not just read.
Since Precious is still searching for her white van, an 11th book looks like a good bet.
Show Less
LibraryThing member gaby317
Synopsis:
The latest and tenth installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, we find the owner and proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mma Precious Ramotswe is approached by the proprietor of a local football team to help him discover the reason
All the while, Mma Ramotswe is heartsick with a problem of her own. While she is happily married to Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni, one of Botswana's most talented mechanics, she is dismayed to discover that her much-loved and battered white van is finally giving out. Mma Ramotswe is loyal and recalls all the adventures with her white van. She is not ready to retire the van. She calls upon the help of Fanwell, Mr. Maketoni's second assistant, to see if the white van can be brought back to life.
Mma. Ramotswe's assistant, Grace Makutsi is herself distracted by trouble brewing with her fiance, the owner of the Double Comfort Furniture Shop, wealthy and hardworking Mr. Phuti Radiphuti. Mr. Phuti has hired her nemesis from the Botswana Secretarial College, Violet Sephotho, as a new saleslady in his shop. Though Mr. Phuti is oblivious, Mma. Makutsi suspects that the beautiful and scheming Violet is plotting to steal him away. Mma. Makutsi searches for a way to remove the danger without alerting Mr. Phuti.
Review:
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built does not disappoint! As the latest in the series, we are happy to find Mma. Precious Ramotswe with her gentle and kind ways unchanged. She still pays respect to the traditional ways. She generously offers help and comfort to those who need it. As she gets to know Fanwell and his circumstances, you are glad to become better acquainted with the characters in her life. The constant sense of pride in Botswana and her love for her father are woven into the narrative but the book never dips to the maudlin, folksy or cute. This book is a very enjoyable way to pass a few hours!
I highly recommend it for fans of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, people fond of detective cozies, and someone looking for a heartwarming glimpse into another culture.
The latest and tenth installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, we find the owner and proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mma Precious Ramotswe is approached by the proprietor of a local football team to help him discover the reason
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behind the team's losing streak. Though unfamiliar with the rules and world of football, Mma. Ramotswe and her prickly assistant Mma Grace Makutsi enlist the help of Mma. Ramotswe's football loving and very observant adopted son, Puso. With their gentle prodding, interviewing and powers of deduction, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is tracks down the cause of the problem.All the while, Mma Ramotswe is heartsick with a problem of her own. While she is happily married to Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni, one of Botswana's most talented mechanics, she is dismayed to discover that her much-loved and battered white van is finally giving out. Mma Ramotswe is loyal and recalls all the adventures with her white van. She is not ready to retire the van. She calls upon the help of Fanwell, Mr. Maketoni's second assistant, to see if the white van can be brought back to life.
Mma. Ramotswe's assistant, Grace Makutsi is herself distracted by trouble brewing with her fiance, the owner of the Double Comfort Furniture Shop, wealthy and hardworking Mr. Phuti Radiphuti. Mr. Phuti has hired her nemesis from the Botswana Secretarial College, Violet Sephotho, as a new saleslady in his shop. Though Mr. Phuti is oblivious, Mma. Makutsi suspects that the beautiful and scheming Violet is plotting to steal him away. Mma. Makutsi searches for a way to remove the danger without alerting Mr. Phuti.
Review:
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built does not disappoint! As the latest in the series, we are happy to find Mma. Precious Ramotswe with her gentle and kind ways unchanged. She still pays respect to the traditional ways. She generously offers help and comfort to those who need it. As she gets to know Fanwell and his circumstances, you are glad to become better acquainted with the characters in her life. The constant sense of pride in Botswana and her love for her father are woven into the narrative but the book never dips to the maudlin, folksy or cute. This book is a very enjoyable way to pass a few hours!
I highly recommend it for fans of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, people fond of detective cozies, and someone looking for a heartwarming glimpse into another culture.
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LibraryThing member Clara53
What is it about this writer?... What is it about his "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series that makes you feel so good, so protected, so optimistic, so loved, - as if you are given a warmest hug and told that everything shall be all right, always, no matter what... He is not uncovering any
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unknown truths, solving any philosophical riddles, and yet why is the simplicity of his narrative so appealing?... Plus his generous humor... Botswana. How much farther AND further can it get? And yet, A.McCAll Smith places us right in the middle of it and we feel at home!... I just hope he never stops writing!... Show Less
LibraryThing member CatheOlson
I was really disappointed in this latest of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series. The first couple of chapters were pretty much recapping the rest of the series and even after that, the book was pretty dull -- with just a few bright spots. Worst was that Mma Ramotswe came off really condescending and
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martyrish to Mma Makutsi. Show Less
LibraryThing member whimsicalkitten
Charming, as always, although Ma Romotwe's grief over her little white van was a little hard to swallow. Interesting perspective on the cases was that not every case truly has a solution.
LibraryThing member seoulful
The dominant theme of this latest No 1 Ladies Detective Agency offering from Alexander McCall Smith is the weakness of men, which though settled opinion, does not detract from a woman's desire to have and to hold onto her man. Mma Makutsi decries the weak men who "may know they should look for the
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finer qualities in a woman, but they do not do it. They see instead the clothes that a woman wears and they look at her figure and the way she walks..." On another occasion, Mma Ramotswe laughs, "...men are always like that. They need us Mma. What would they do if we were not there to tell them where their clothes are? They would be walking around with no clothes on because they would not be able to find them." The story revolves around a formerly successful football (soccer) team that suddenly and mysteriously begins losing games. The case is once more solved by the observant eyes and deductive powers of the lady detectives of Gabarone, Botswana. The usual fine writing but a rather weak storyline. Show Less
LibraryThing member hailelib
Another installment from the series featuring Mma Ramotswe. While I have enjoyed everything I've read by McCall Smith, the No. 1 Ladies' series remains my favorite. In this one the little white van finally gives up and her husband buys Mma Ramotswe a "new" one and there are the usual clients and
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personal ups and downs of the series regulars. These books make good bedtime reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member devenish
Alexander McCall Smith is,I think,some sort of genius.Why ? Because no one else could write a series of (up to yet) 10 books about A Botswana Ladies Detective Agency,in which little or nothing of importance ever happens,yet are very popular and readable.
'Tea Time for the Traditionally Built' is no
Not at all the stuff of serial killers,fast car chases and thrill-a-minute novels that are the norm these days - but somehow,against all odds,they work,and work well too.
A throughly pleasant and enjoyable read once again. A true joy to brighten this rather gray age that we live in.
'Tea Time for the Traditionally Built' is no
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exception. There is a case regarding the local football team and why they are losing all of their games. There is the potential demise of Mma Ramotswe's little white van and the heartbreak attached. Also Mma Makutsi's troubles with he old rival Violet Stephotho,when she plots to steal Mma Makutsi's future husband.Not at all the stuff of serial killers,fast car chases and thrill-a-minute novels that are the norm these days - but somehow,against all odds,they work,and work well too.
A throughly pleasant and enjoyable read once again. A true joy to brighten this rather gray age that we live in.
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LibraryThing member chmessing
So, now I've read all the books written in this series. Debating giving one of the author's other series a try...
LibraryThing member catarina1
Still charming but not quite as good as previous. There really is only one big mystery in this one for Mma Romotswe to solve. The tiny white van was sent to the junk yard, but Mma Makutse and Charlie are still bantering with one another, and we can still sit quietly and enjoy red bush tea.
LibraryThing member rightantler
As always an enjoyable read. I feel the ending was a bit rushed and a bit overly simple, but that didn't prevent the enjoyment
LibraryThing member nyiper
This is not really a review except to say that I absolutely love this series--the valuable life lessons are both amusing in their presentation and delightful to listen to on the audio versions of the entire series. Lisette Lecat is exceptional as the reader and I just hope this is not the last we
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hear from Precious Ramotswe. Show Less
LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
I didn't enjoy this as much as previous books in the series. I don't know if I was just not in the right mood for it, or if the book wasn't that compelling. All of the books have a very comfortable feel to them, like hanging out with interesting neighbors. In this book, the neighbors are having an
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off day.The mystery of the under-performing football team led to some interesting observations on human nature. I think there are a lot of similar conversations happening locally as we have the mystery of the under-performing hockey team. I didn't have any problems with this story line, but it wasn't enough to carry the book.A second storyline involved Mma Makutsi and her nemesis from her secretarial school days, Violet Sephotho. Violet has decided that Mma Makutsi's fiancé, Mr. Phuti Radiphuti, is too good for Mma Makutsi,and she decides to claim him for herself. I liked the storyline, but I had some problems with how it was handled. Fairly early on, we have a couple of scenes where the reader sees Violet with Mr. RadiPhuti, putting this plot line in action. Everything after that we see from Mma Makutsi's POV. I would have liked this to be consistent through the book. Either POV would have been fine with me. In addition, although the Violet story is wrapped up, I didn't feel a sense of resolution at the end with Mma Makutsi and Mr. Phuti Radiphuti.I'm not sure if the fate of Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van makes it to plotline, or if it is a running thread. It is a sweet story, and may be setting up a plot for the next book. There were a number of other small stories and themes running through the book. I think the cultural observations that came out of discussions of chairs and walking and other subjects were some of the most interesting parts of the books.Throughout the book, there was a lot of foreshadowing of dire events, which never came to pass. I'm not sure if this is a statement in itself, or another set up for the next book, or if I just have an over active imagination.I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was wonderful as always, and really adds to the experience for me.Fans of the series will enjoy this. Casual readers can decide whether or not they want to pick it up. I would not start reading with this book. Show Less
Pages
224
ISBN
0375424490 / 9780375424496