Tears Of The Giraffe: Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the huge international phenomenon, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and the Sunday Philosophy Club series. He is a professor of medical law at Edinburgh University. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland.

Chapter Four

"He parked his truck under the shady boughs of a money-bread tree. several children had already appeared, and skipped along beside him as he made his way to the office block."

Chapter Six

Mma Tsbago directed her to a house on the edge of the village. It is a well-kept place, slightly larger than its immediate neighbors, and had been painted in the style of the traditional Botswana house, in reds, and browns and with a bold, diamond pattern etched out in white.

Chapter Twenty

This was a dry land, but now, at the beginning of the rainy season, it was beginning to change. The early rains had been good. Great purple clouds had stacked up to the north and east, and the rain had fallen in white torrents, like a waterfall covering the land. The land parched by months of dryness, created, and within hours, a green tinge had spread over the brown.



These photos are for Skywatch Friday. They are not from the wonderful paperback book but rather one of my many trips to the San Diego Safari Park. How I love the vast open space, especially seeing the colorful mother and baby giraffe eating together.

• Amazon Description

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Book 2

Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective.  In this charming series, Mma  Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi, and the occasional cup of tea.

Precious Ramotswe is the eminently sensible and cunning proprietor of the only ladies’ detective agency in Botswana. In Tears of the Giraffe she tracks a wayward wife, uncovers an unscrupulous maid, and searches for an American man who disappeared into the plains many years ago. In the midst of resolving uncertainties, pondering her impending marriage to a good, kind man, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, and the promotion of her talented secretary (a graduate of the Botswana Secretarial College, with a mark of 97 per cent), she also finds her family suddenly and unexpectedly increased by two.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Friday 56

"You are a fortunate man," said the jeweler. "Not every man can find such a cheerful, fat woman to marry. There are many thin, hectoring women around today. This one will make you very happy."

-- Alexander McCall Smith

I read Book #1 and absolutely loved it! I'm really enjoying Book #2 and can't put it down. I love the writing because it makes me feel like I am in Africa, along with all the characters in the book. How about you... do you like your book choice this week?

Tears of the Giraffe was selected as one of  The Guardian's top ten Fiction Paperbacks of the Year.

Tears of the Giraffe (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 2)

-- LadyD

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