Book review: The Cleverness of Ladies

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By Alexander McCall Smith 

 Synopsis: There are times when ladies must use all their wisdom and good sense to face life's problems and mysteries. With his trademark gift for storytelling, international bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith brings us five tales of love, heartbreak, hope and the cleverness of ladies.

 How did this book end up in my hands? I borrowed it from the library in view of a short train journey. I don’t read on electronic devices if I can help it and this little book was a perfect fit for my handbag.

 Was it a page-turner? You know how easy it is to finish a whole punnet of cherries in one go because you just can’t stop? Well, these five short stories are like cherries!

 Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? I didn’t even read the synopsis. The name Alexander McCall Smith was all I needed to want to read this book.

 Did I like the ending? Every short story has the perfect ending.

 Did the book leave me with unanswered questions? No, but this is not to say that I would be disappointed if every short story was suddenly turned into a full-length novel!

 Three words to describe it. Funny. Clever. Quick.

 Do I like the cover? I do but the figure on the cover is supposed to represent Mma Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and she is not ‘traditionally built’ like the famous detective.

 Have I read any other books by the same author? Yes, I have read several books from the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

 Will I want to read other books by the same author? Oh yes!

 Will I be recommending this book? Yes, it’s short and sweet – perfect if you don’t have a lot of time and want a quick read or if you’re in a bit of a reading slump and need a sure pick-me-up.

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