The Miracle at Speedy Motors

I discovered this series only recently and I can understand why, as I found out, it is such a world-wide success and why Mma Ramotswe has become such an icon. It is not great, ponderous literature — it is much more than that! The plots are simple but well done; the writing very pleasant. However, in my opinion neither plot nor style, perfectly unobjectionable as they are, are these books’ main attraction. The characters are, and their interaction. The people come to life all the time: wise, funny, loyal, weak — completely human. There are great life lessons to be learned in these apparently simple books, from love for humanity, to the need for forgiveness and respect. Objects, and the land, also play an important and unforgettable role. I barely knew where to find Botswana on the world map before, and now it is so vivid in my mind as if I lived there for ever. One warmly given suggestion: read these books chronologically. You will enjoy them even if your read them in an hapazard order, but if you read them as they were written you will be drawn even more into this jewel of a world.

The characters remain true to themselves, the problems are real but solvable and the situations are interesting. The development of Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni’s character with his pursuit of a cure for Motholeli and the confirmation of Mma Ramotswe’s character with the sale of some of her cattle were particularly touching. I finished the book, smiled, closed my eyes and drifted off to a land of blue skies, lowing cattle, and loving people.

This installment in the “Ladies No. 1 Detective Series” continues to develop the familiar characters of the Agency and the Mechanic Garage where Mma Ramotse’s husband, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni works. There is a primary new case that the agency works, a case of a missing family. In addition, there is an attempt to restore the legs of Mma R and J. L. B. Matekoni’s foster children who is confined to a wheelchair.

Interwoven in the story seems to be the issue of trust. It is a story about those who can be trusted and those who cannot be. A story about information that can be trusted, and information that is somewhat less worthy of immediate acceptance. It is a story about how people can change and how people don’t change. These elements play the principle roles in this segment of the long saga of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

Smith notes that people can be on both sides of the trust line and sometimes, what seems to be untrustworthy behavior is anything but that. The good helper, Mr. Polopetsi, who contributes to the garage and the detective agency in his efforts is called into question. The trustworthiness of clients and informants is contemplated and sorted out. And the trust in doctors and the inexactness of science and medicine are illustrated.

Yet at its culmination, even with this equivocating nature of trust, there are miracles that are performed or come to pass. While not all miracles are huge miracles, they are miracles nonetheless. People need to understand that we should come to appreciate what we have, and always look to improve ourselves and our situation, without injury or malice to others. These are the basic tenets of McCall Smith’s most recent book. These are the things of which life is made. These are the things that we encounter each and every day, yet only a discerning eye and an empathetic understanding will help guide us through the maze of signs and occurrences that life brings to us.

The book is one more fine addition to a long and interesting story which deals very specifically with the ethics of life and the morality of human interaction. It is as all of the books in the series highly recommended to all readers who have an interest in understanding the actions of people in society and how people interact with others to make a world that is at best, unpredictable, but also can be greatly satisfying when people respect other people. It is very much worth the time to read this quickly moving story as an addition to the wonderful adventures of the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency.

“The Miracle at Speedy Motors” is a softer, gentler Precious Ramotswe story, but has an interesting enough episodic plot. As always with these “No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” books, the beauty parts are the interactions between the sweet and less sweet characters and the never failing wisdom and humanity provided by the book’s heroine, Precious Ramotswe. She is so much the embodiment of logic and kindness that you find yourself repeatedly wondering why can’t we all behave more like this?

In “Miracle,” Ms. Ramotswe takes on the dilemma of a client who recently been orphaned but who believes that her recently departed mother was not the woman who gave birth to her. The pursuit of the truth in this case and when to tell the truth in two other secondary stories, becomes the essence of the novel. As always, author Alexander Mccall-Smith, raises some basic questions about what is expected of us all as member of society. The answers are always common-sensical and reassuring.

“The Miracle at Speedy Motors”–or any of the books in this series–is a great book to read when you’re feeling a little blue, unsure or mentally bruised. Like flannel sheets on a cold night, it will restore your mood and while it provides a warm feeling.

Another wonderful adventure with Precious in Botswana. There’s a bit of heartache for some, a learning experience for others, while at the same time showing that the human experience is fundamentally the same, even under the vast vast African sky.

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