Themed Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

My theme for Wendy's Challenge was to read books that feature strong, quirky female heroines. I barely finished this one, in the end counting both the first and second book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency for this challenge. The latest in Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series was my final selection, but I haven't got around to buying the book yet! Thanks for hosting a great challenge, Wendy!

Books Read:

1. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich (finished 16 February 2008)
2. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith (finished 4 May 2008)
3. K is for Killer by Sue Grafton (finished 15 January 2008)

4. Tears of the Giraffe - Alexander McCall Smith (finished 17 June 2008)

Favorite: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, what a great introduction to a wonderful series!

Least Favorite: Lean Mean Thirteen, the storylines are starting to get too formulaic and repetitive for me.

Authors new to me: Alexander McCall Smith

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Title: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Country: Zimbabwe/UK

Year: 1998

Pages: 235 pgs.

Rating: 5 out of 5

First sentence: Mma Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill.

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple has long been my favorite on the mystery scene. However, she now has strong competition with Mma (Precious) Ramotswe, the one and only lady detective in all of Botswana.

After her father's death, Mma Ramotswe sells her inheritance, a herd of cows, to set up shop as a detective in Gaborone, Botswana. Her agency, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, is the only one of its kind, and it is not too long before clients begin seeking out her services. This book, the first in the series, seems to be laying the groundwork for future adventures.

Precious Ramotswe is a delight! She is a warm, compassionate, intuitive African lady, and is the embodiment of all that modern Africa is striving to be. With a love for the red desert earth she grew up next to, she is proud of her country, and I loved to read about her reflections of Botswanan life.  Her sense of humor is contagious, and I look forward to reading more of the series. And, although I have been to South Africa before (Mma Ramotswe lives very close to the Botswana/South Africa border), I can now add Botswana to the list of countries I would like to visit!

Lean Mean Thirteen

Title: Lean Mean Thirteen

Author: Janet Evanovich

Country: USA

Year: 2007

Pages: 320

Rating: 3 out of 5

First sentence: For the last five minutes, I'd been parked outside my cousin Vinnie's bail bonds office in my crapola car, debating whether to continue with my day, or return to my apartment and crawl back into bed.

I read the latest in the Stephanie Plum series for both the Themed Reading Challenge and the Series challenge. Some of the latest books in the series haven't been the best, and this one would fall under that category, but is still gave me a few laughs. I particularly enjoyed the comedic takes on the problems of getting the cable company to come out and fix anything. That is something I can completely relate to.

What is really starting to bother me about this series is it is becoming way too predictable, and there is no longer any progression forward in the over-arching story line or further character development. I am quickly becoming tired of the love triangle between Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger. Stephanie keeps getting into the same situations, makes the same mistakes, and plays the same games with the two men in her life. It's getting a bit old; it might be time for this series to start to wrap up.

K is for Killer - Sue Grafton

Title: K is for Killer
Author: Sue Grafton

Country: USA
Year: 1995
Rating: 3 out of 5
Pages: 320

I typically don't review series books, but since this is part of two challenges, I thought I would mention it here. This one is not quite as good as most of the previous Kinsey Millhone books, especially the ending. The story line appears contrived, especially when compared o the other books in the series.

I aim to catch up with the series by the end of the year. I said the same thing last year, and obviously didn't get very far. I am reading lighter reads this year, so hopefully I will make it this time!