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    To the Land of Long Lost Friends
    To the Land of Long Lost Friends
    To the Land of Long Lost Friends
    Audiobook9 hours

    To the Land of Long Lost Friends

    Written by Alexander McCall Smith

    Narrated by Lisette Lecat

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In the latest book in the widely beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Precious Ramotswe takes on a case for a childhood acquaintance and finds that family relationships are always a tricky proposition—even for Botswana's premier female detective.

    Mma Ramotswe has reconnected with an old friend who has been having problems with her daughter. Though Precious feels compelled to lend a hand, she discovers that getting involved in family affairs is always a delicate affair. The young woman appears to be involved with a charismatic preacher. But are his ministrations entirely of a godly nature?

    Elsewhere, Charlie is also struggling with a tricky matter of the heart. He wishes to propose to his girlfriend, Queenie-Queenie, but he's struggling to come up with a bride price that will impress her father. When Queenie-Queenie's brother offers to help by giving him a job, the offer may not be quite what Charlie expected.

    As always, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni will offer wise counsel, Mma Makutsi will weigh in with her opinions, and Mma Potokwane will be there with her welcome fruit cake. But in the end it will be up to Mma Ramotswe to reflect on love, family, and the nature of men and women in order to resolve family dramas and remind everyone about all the good things they have in life—so many, in fact, that it would take far too long to count them.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateOct 22, 2019
    ISBN9781501998935
    To the Land of Long Lost Friends
    Author

    Alexander McCall Smith

    Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the award-winning series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and he now devotes his time to the writing of fiction, including the 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie series. He is the author of over eighty books on a wide array of subjects, and his work has been translated into forty-six languages. Before becoming a full-time writer he was for many years Professor of Medical Law at Edinburgh.

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    Reviews for To the Land of Long Lost Friends

    4/5

    114 ratings5 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Lisette is a great reader! The Botswana stories are very entertaining!
    • 1/5
      Well, he just keeps churning them out, doesn't he? I've been a regular reader since the first book in this series, which was touching and charming. But I think McCall Smith is scraping at an empty mine, and the diamonds are long gone. Perhaps his intent is to provide enough background in each book that it can be read on its own, or in any order, but after a few volumes, we've heard these stories before... multiple times. There are also numerous (and repetitive) musings on the relationship between men and women, over and over and over, to the point that the story grinds to a halt to let Precious rehash the pages-long memory of a conversation on this topic. Enough already!

      The stilted tone of "innocence," presumably intended to be charming, has become twee and tiresome. Problems are solved simply, easily, and always happily. This has surely engendered the great popularity of the books as sweet, pleasant pastime reading, and that's fine. But it's just become a little... boring. And I never thought I would say this, but: the unvarying (albeit respectful and obviously affectionate) depiction of this entire country of happy, kind, good Africans now feels romanticized and, um, superficial? McCall Smith was born in what was then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe - how his heart must ache for what has become of that country), but moved to Scotland when he was 17. He went back for 3 years in the early 80s, then returned to Scotland for good. Dare I suggest that his affection for Africa has become, over the years, tinged by more than a little nostalgia? Maybe it's time for him to let Precious Ramotswe and her friends carry on with their lives without this aging Scot chronicling the cute parts. I for one would rather chuckle over Bertie and his horrible mother in Scotland Street.
    • 4/5
      Precious Ramotswe attends a wedding, and thinks she sees a ghost--an old friend whom she hadn't seen in years, and whose death had been reported in the newspaper months ago. It turns out the friend is very much alive, and the newspaper reported the death of a woman of the same name, and mistakenly used the wrong picture. The friends reconnect--and the friend, Calvinia, has a problem she'd like Mma Ramotswe to look into. Her daughter, an adult with a good job, has started avoiding her mother. Calvinia is hurt, and can't find out why her daughter has cut contact. Can Mma Ramotswe?Another old friend of Mma Ramotswe and Calvinia has apparently been swindled of all her money by a charismatic preacher.Meanwhile, a paying client wants the detectives to find out that her husband is having an affair. They are unable to oblige; he's taking math lessons. But is something else really going on? Charlie, who started as comic relief, has been developing into a real and worthwhile character, and makes a useful contribution in this case.Charlie also wants to marry his girlfriend, Queenie-Queenie, but her family is both rich, and rather traditional. Charlie has no cattle and no money, and Queenie-Queenie suggests that her brother give Charlie a job in his business. It might be an offer Charlie can't accept, even to be able to marry Queenie-Queenie.As we've come to expect, the issues here are not crime and danger, but moral choices, mutual respect, communication, and understanding. Both Charlie and Mma Makutsi are flawed but fundamentally decent people, trying to make the right choices. Mma Ramotswe, and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, on much stronger ground, nevertheless still find challenges from which to learn and grow.Mma Potokwane, matron of the orphan farm and reliable purveyor of fruitcake, provides a couple of rather different delights in this story, and demonstrates that you should never tick off someone who has successfully managed an orphan farm for many years.A very pleasant, enjoyable visit with old friends. Recommended.I bought this audiobook.
    • 3/5
      This latest entry into the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, finds Mma Remotswe anxiously waiting for the winter rains to arrive. She is at a wedding when she sees an old friend she thought had died and has a joyful reunion with her and finds that she has become estranged from her daughter. Of course she says she will try and help remedy this situation. She finds that her daughter has become involved with a popular evangelical preacher and has started driving a silver Mercedes Benz. Is it possible that that fact & her connections to the preacher are suspicious?Then there is the ex-apprentice Charlie who is still wooing Queenie-Queenie. He wants to propose but has no money for the bride price. Quuenie-Queenie's brother says he wants to help and offers Charlie a job which seems to skirt the edge of what is legal. What will Charlie do.As always Mma Ramotswe with the help of her #2 detective Mma Makutsi along with her husband JLB Matenkoni and Director of the Orphan Farm Mma Potokwame find the solutions to these problems the way they usually do: Through kindness and common sense. These books always give me hope for the human race.
    • 4/5
      A dose of A. McCall Smith is indispensable every now and then. Filled with goodness, humanity, decency, irresistible good humor and warmth, this installment of "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" is a true delight.