The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

[Mrs Magpie]

HIV is mentioned in the books, but obliquely, which is actually how it's often referred to Africa. I know that in Kenya it's still called 'Slim'. I found that quite 'authentic' if you like. At the time that first book was written no one in Africa was talking about it openly, and it often still isn't.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Erm? I know?
He is, however, a white Rhodesian Born lawyer, and I am not making assumptions, I am offering my opinion.

So where someone is born and what they do makes you uncomfortable? OK.

 

[selamlar]

No. Books about the happy little lives of black Africans, written by members of the ruling class of white colonial states, make me uneasy.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I was shocked by the voice over at the end.

Eh? I missed that.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

OK,selamar, I'll go back to reading books about how ghastly the lives of Africans are. I'll never read books about women written by men and vice-versa. In fact I'll never read fiction again unless I carefully check out the credentials and political worthiness of the authors first. I'll go and burn all my Philip Larkin first.

 

[selamlar]

OK,selamar, I'll go back to reading books about how ghastly the lives of Africans are. I'll never read books about women written by men and vice-versa. In fact I'll never read fiction again unless I carefully check out the credentials and political worthiness of the authors first. I'll go and burn all my Philip Larkin first.

Look, its the combination of the content and the author that unsettles me, ok?

<loses will to live>

 

[clandestino]

Didn't actually see this program, but, although the No1 etc books are enjoyable, I also find them slightly uncomfortable. Being written by a white, Rhodesian born lawyer, they are a little too close to the 'happy darkies working in the fields' type story for my liking.

I know what you mean and last night's film (I haven't read the books) was very straightforward - problems solved easily, only hints of emotional darkness. My heart did sink a little when I saw that Richard Curtis was the co-screenwriter, as I know he specialises in sentiment. My gf, who has read the books, mentioned that it was a little like the "Love Actually" version of the book rather than the book itself.

However...

I do think it's a very middle class thing to decide that there is only one story to be told about a certain area, and that anything else - anything lighter perhaps - is patronising. For example, I live in Brixton, an area famed for crack addiction and violence, but there are stories happening here that have nothing to do with either. Are they less valid? Is a story about Botswana that isn't about HIV and poverty less valid than one that is?

 

[Vash]

For example, I live in Brixton, an area famed for crack addiction and violence, but there are stories happening here that have nothing to do with either.

Isn't it more famed for high house prices now?

 

[_angel_]

well quite.

which is one reason why i didn't bother with the film (although i might try it on watch again thingy just to see....)

i thought the books were pap. fluffy bollocks with no depth.

I didn't really like the one I started.

 

[moonsi til]

I didn't know a TV prog had been made till I read the Guardian review today. Im sadly very excited about watching it on IPlayer. I have hearted all the books and just waiting for the new one to come out in paperback.

I do think that people often miss just what is so good about the books.

 

[clandestino]

Isn't it more famed for high house prices now?

That's what inspires the violence!

 

[krtek a houby]

The critics can be as snooty as they like about it. It was a mostly upbeat portrayal of an African country and its people and how one can read racial undertones into it is beyond me. The acting was great, the scenery superb and the warmth and it made a change from all those worthy films about Africa and its problems.

A fitting swan song for Mr Minghella, I reckons.

 

[London_Calling]

Erm? I know?
He is, however, a white Rhodesian Born lawyer, and I am not making assumptions, I am offering my opinion.

While you're in the business of offering opinions, why do you think he might have chosen Botswana of all the possibilities to locate the stories?

 

[London_Calling]

Didn't actually see this program, but, although the No1 etc books are enjoyable, I also find them slightly uncomfortable. Being written by a white, Rhodesian born lawyer, they are a little too close to the 'happy darkies working in the fields' type story for my liking.

I don't recall one white face in the whole piece, including in the modern offices scenes, the lawyers, the local legal system, the estate agents, the self-employed, the business start-ups, the professional classes . . . make a point by all means, but what scenes are you relying on for your seemingly glib and inaccurate 'happy darkies' comment?

 

[Melinda]

Eh? I missed that.

I was just surprised when it was announced that the program was a one off, I had the impression that the all of books had been serialised.

There'll be nothing now until next year.

 

[felixthecat]

Didn't actually see this program, but, although the No1 etc books are enjoyable, I also find them slightly uncomfortable. Being written by a white, Rhodesian born lawyer, they are a little too close to the 'happy darkies working in the fields' type story for my liking.

Never got that feeling from the books at all - really enjoyed them as nice, uncomplicated reads. The way he portrays Africa makes me feel he loves the place very, very much.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

What I love about reading is that it takes me places I'd never go. I don't drive, I don't do planes, in fact I barely travel anywhere except to work. I read. I haven't got on with his other novels, but I love the Precious Ramotswe series.

Incidentally, I recommended them to an African girl (not from Botswana, from West Africa) at school as something to take out from the library a few weeks ago, and she loves them. She didn't like my last suggestion of Buchi Emecheta because it was 'too depressing'.

I read a lot (up to 6 books a week) and although I read a lot of non-fiction (it's been my entire education since I was 16) there's nothing wrong with a 'nice uncomplicated read' as felixthecat so succinctly puts it.

 

[killer b]

it was splendid, i thought. jill scott was a revelation - always loved her music, but she isn't a too shabby actor either.

i didn't read the grauniad review today, 'cause sam wollaston is a shit writer, and his opinion is worthless. nancy would've liked it...

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

I only got about half way through the book and then gave up on it. I wanted something to happen, but it seemed to me more like one of those books or films where just going through the motions is the whole point of it.

 

[krtek a houby]

Never got that feeling from the books at all - really enjoyed them as nice, uncomplicated reads. The way he portrays Africa makes me feel he loves the place very, very much.

Totally agree.

 

[secretsquirrel]

I really really enjoyed it but - rather than Heartbeat - it made me think more of something like Ballykissangel transferred to Africa - delightfully eccentric 'sorts', gentle whimsy, simple wisdoms... And I don't mean any of that in a bad way just something that struck me. Is Botswana the new Kerry?!

 

[Orang Utan]

I read the book and it was a twee overload, so was keen to avoid the telly programme

 

[Orang Utan]

Didn't actually see this program, but, although the No1 etc books are enjoyable, I also find them slightly uncomfortable. Being written by a white, Rhodesian born lawyer, they are a little too close to the 'happy darkies working in the fields' type story for my liking.

Quite

 

[Bob]

Yeah, I enjoyed a whole swathe of R4 adaptations which then left me feeling a bit like that... specially when I read that Botswana has the second highest rate of HIV infection in the world (about 1/4 to 1/3 of the population), which of course never gets a mention. Not very Heartbeat, that.

(Mind you, I'm still going to watch it on the iplayer.)

Actually in the first episode the one fingered guy is dying of AIDS. It's not majored on but that's the whole point of why he feels the world is unfair, and he's doing it for a whole set of orphans (who are predominantly there due to AIDS).

So it is mentioned but in a roundabout way - which (as far as I'm aware) is exactly how it would happen in Botswana. Certainly it was like that in Namibia (neighbouring country) when I lived there in the late 1990s - people rarely discussed AIDS explicitly but it was tacitly understood what all the middle aged people were dying of.

 

[Bob]

I really really enjoyed it but - rather than Heartbeat - it made me think more of something like Ballykissangel transferred to Africa - delightfully eccentric 'sorts', gentle whimsy, simple wisdoms... And I don't mean any of that in a bad way just something that struck me. Is Botswana the new Kerry?!

Pretty much. Botswanans really are like that in my experience.

Not suprisingly really - they've sustained a wealthy (by African standards) democracy for 40 years while all their neighbours (Namibia, South Africa & Zimbabwe) have had episodes of lunacy and ongoing very serious problems.

Even their HIV problem, although awful, is somewhat alleviated by the fact that good management of their economy means they can afford to pay for drugs for most sufferers. Not ideal but a million times better than their neighbours, let alone the worst African countries.

 

[RubyToogood]

Actually in the first episode the one fingered guy is dying of AIDS. It's not majored on but that's the whole point of why he feels the world is unfair, and he's doing it for a whole set of orphans (who are predominantly there due to AIDS).

So it is mentioned but in a roundabout way - which (as far as I'm aware) is exactly how it would happen in Botswana. Certainly it was like that in Namibia (neighbouring country) when I lived there in the late 1990s - people rarely discussed AIDS explicitly but it was tacitly understood what all the middle aged people were dying of.

Yeah, they did bring it up in the programme (which I've now watched) at Mma Ramotswe's father's funeral. I did enjoy it. I think my discomfort came really from the radio 4 adaptation. By the end of that I felt that ALL of the characters were being portrayed as a bit unintelligent and laughable, and that made me uncomfortable.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Bump 'cos it's on tonight

 

[Melinda]

Yay Jill Scott!

Read a touching article abut how very different (and painful) filming was this time round.
Grieving for Anthony Miinghella in addition to dealing with severe morning sickness took its toll I think.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

This is the original one that's on tonight isn't it?

 

[Melinda]

I assumed it was the start of the new season?