October 25, 2004
Straying from the safety net of a bestselling series (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
, etc.), Smith tells 40 traditional African folk tales with his by now signature humor, simplicity and reverence for African culture. With an introductory letter from No. 1 Lady Detective Mma Ramotswe as a preface, he sets the literary stage for a nostalgic stroll down his own personal memory lane. Born and raised in what is now Zimbabwe, Smith began collecting these stories as a child and combines them with several he gleaned from a friend who interviewed natives of Botswana. Many of the stories parallel classic Western tales, from Aesop to Mother Goose. The ubiquitous wolf-in-sheep's-clothing fable becomes a parable about a girl who unwittingly marries a lion. Other stories deal with familiar themes ranging from ingratitude (in "Head Tree," a man cured of a tree growing out of his head does not pay the charm woman her due) to vanity (in "Greater Than Lion," a hare outwits a conceited and boastful lion). However, many are uniquely African, such as the stories that explain why the elephant and hyena live far from people or how baboons became so lazy. These are pithy, engaging tales, as habit-forming as peanuts. Agent, Robin Strauss. (Dec. 7)
Forecast:
Many of these stories were originally published in a 1989 collection (
Children of Wax, from Canongate). This expanded volume arrives just in time for Christmas and should delight fans of
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and the first installment in Smith's new series,
The Sunday Philosophy Club.
August 1, 2004
A girl whose husband might be a lion. A boy made of wax whose siblings mold him in the form of a bird when he melts in the sun. These are some of the tales heard by Smith (author of the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series) while growing up in Zimbabwe.
Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from November 1, 2004
Spiteful leopards. Reprehensible hares. A proud, heartless hunter who goes from predator to prey. Moral flaws plague man and animal alike in this engaging gathering of traditional folktales from the best-selling author of the " No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" and its sequels. Scotsman McCall Smith, who lives in Edinburgh, was raised in Zimbabwe and pays frequent visits to Botswana (the latter's real-life village of Gabarone is home to his fictional detective, Mma Precious Ramotswe). Although this collection carries McCall Smith's byline, the stories themselves are the property of the generous, good-humored Africans who have told them for generations (the author--with the assistance of an interpreter--heard many of them firsthand). In the title selection, a girl weds the "king of the jungle," then wonders whether her two offspring are boys or wild beasts. These deceptively simple tales remind us that "we are not the masters of nature--we are part of it," writes McCall Smith in the introduction, a message that citizens of the Western world would be well advised to keep in mind. Preceding this spirited offering is a brief letter from Mma Ramotswe herself, who ponders the lore of her beloved homeland while preparing a pot of bush tea.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)
January 15, 2005
Smith, whose "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series took the reading world by storm, continues to celebrate the people and settings of Africa in this retelling of 40 traditional folktales from Zimbabwe and Botswana. Readers who enjoyed the sense of Africa in Smith's mystery series will find more rewards here. Told in direct and colloquial prose, these tales are powerfully universal despite their exotic flavor. The stories, which range from two to seven pages, each end with a lesson, although not all end happily; some of the stories are jovial, while others are darkly ironic. The characters, whether human or animal, are drawn well if quickly, and the brevity of the tales may frustrate readers at first. As one continues to read, however, the individual tales merge to create a greater story of Africa, drawing readers deeper and deeper into its heart. A compulsively readable collection for all folklore collections; public libraries should expect heavy demand based on Smith's popularity. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 8/04.] -Neal Wyatt, Chesterfield Cty. P.L., VA
Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.