it’s a testament to my mind-blearing life lately, but i haven’t been reading much. i can’t hold any words in my head. (i even gave up sucker-punching my way through jonthan norrell and mr strange because it just wasn’t assuaging my bb-gunned soul.) desperate, i picked up this tiny little african surprise at the library.
people have been recommending this book to me for months. but i avoided it. sure, i had my nancy drew phase, my agatha christie phase, my (gasp, keep this hush-hush) robin cook phase, but i haven’t been too interested in detective series in years.
to my utter surprise, i loved this book. the prose style is simple: you won’t find this novel turning your notion of humanity upside-down. but our protagonist, precious, is just that. the details of african life alone make this book worth your afternoon.
it’s a straightforward, tightly written, easy little jaunt. take it with you to the beach this summer. (and take me with you to the beach this summer or i might be due for an ice pick frontal lobotomy.)
hahaha. loved this post. my brain needed a break too so i picked up bridge from terabithia at my mom’s. haven’t read since 5th grade…can’t remember a single thing so it will be good!
after willful creatures will definitely be #1 LDA
Jessie,
I am so happy that you liked No.1 ladies…I thought your literary tastes were way too sophisticated to enjoy such a book, and now feel that I could actually mention a book I like for your consideration. Russ got me another Alexander McCall Smith book that was even better, I thought, than the Botswana series. I think it was called 44 Scotland Street (I’m not at home so I can’t check.) It was written as a serial in a newspaper, so at the end of every chapter you are left in a state of suspense…I won’t tell you any others yet because I don’t want to bore you!
love to all various and sundry,
Polly