52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 16 & 17

Book # 16 

Morality for Beautiful Girls

by Alexander McCall Smith

More from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency!  In Morality for Beautiful Girls, Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of Botswana's only detective agency for the "concerns of both ladies and others", investigates the alleged poisoning of the brother of an important "Government Man', and the moral character of the finalists of the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest, the winner of which will almost certainly be a contestant for the title of Miss Botswana.  Meanwhile, the agency is having money problems, and when unexpected difficulties arise at the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, she discovers that her fiance, the reliable Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, is more complicated than he seems.

In the others of this delightful series that I've read, Precious Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni are already married, so this is an earlier story, even if written later.  I need to check the dates of the others!  One other part that really interested me is that her assistant, Mme. Makutsi, always seems a bit less competent than Mma. Ramotswe in the other stories.  In this one, however, she shows her talents at both detection and management!  

Always enjoy any and all of Alexander McCall Smith's books! In addition to the huge international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith is the author of The Sunday Philosophy Club series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, The Girl Who Married a Lion, and 44 Scotland Street.  He was born in what is now Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of  Botswana and Edinburgh University.  He lives in Scotland and returns regularly to Botswana.

Book #17

Smith College Class of 1962

50th Reunion Book

1962: Reflect, Relive, Rejoice!

While not a "regular:" book, this 50th Reunion special publication from my college is fascinating to read! I'm not planning to attend the reunion, although I have attended a few times over the years, and have very fond memories of my years in Northampton, Massachusetts.  Some of my best friends are classmates, even if we rarely see each other.

This 327 page book, which I've pretty much devoured cover-to-cover, contains something about each member of the Class of 1962, with very few exceptions - a few "lost" members.  The Senior photo of each is included, along with contact information and whatever other details the person cared to share - further education, professional &/or volunteer life, family, and more.  Each of us was invited - indeed urged - to send in a more recent photo and a brief essay about our life now and/or through the past 50 years.

When first flipping through the book, I was fascinated to see all the Senior photos and realize that "we all looked alike"!  I hadn't realized how accustomed we have become to our multi-cultural and very diverse current world - in stark contrast to the student body and the world we lived in fifty years ago.  After looking up all my special friends, I found myself reading everyone else's essays too.  It's so interesting to read about the lives of these several hundred classmates!  So sad to read about some who lived such short lives. What a wonderful project!  I'm so happy I sent in my photo and little essay and that so many others did too! I really appreciate all who worked so hard to bring this book to us, the Smith College Class of 1962!