Title: Living Love: In Conversation with the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series
Abstract: Living love: in conversation with No. 1 Ladies' Detective agency series, by John Inge. Werrington: Inspire, 2007. xv, 122pp. ISBN 978-1-905958-04-7. £5.99.. John Inge, now Bishop of Worcester, has cleverly drawn on first seven of Alexander McCaIl Smith's NoJ Ladies Detective Agency series to draw out themes related to Christian life. His book has seven chapters in which he examines and evil, forgiveness and reconciliation, friendship, service, here and hereafter and finally the divine drama. This last is motif round which various themes are built, with Christian life being seen as drama in five acts, final one of which has yet to happen. He considers that Jews saw themselves in three act play, Creation, Israel and Messiah, but this is not case for Christians who presently are in Act 4 and must not succumb to temptation of Western Europe that life is one act play which is predominantly secular and pragmatically atheist. Precious Ramotswe might not be first person to come to mind as an example of good Christian, but message of cheerful approach to life and common sense way of dealing with problems, whether they are her own or other people's, glows through books and this is featured in booklet under consideration here. The influence of her father, described as a good man in simple but endearing manner of original, is example that she tries to follow in her own life. had been kind to her... and His kindness was manifest again, this time in appearance of Mr. J.L.B Matekoni, good kind man. God had sent her husband. She sought to live good life and remains permanently optimistic - one might not think that Botswana, poor, though peaceful country, and by African standards, trouble-free one, was an idyllic place to live, yet it is presented as just that. Suffering is presented as way of life, and Bishop draws lesson of empathy from way in which characters in books deal with local situation, and especially suffering caused by HIV/ AIDS which has one of highest incidences in this country of entire African continent. McCall Smith has been criticised as white male for writing books in which heroine is black woman but point is stressed that there are lessons to be learnt across cultures and that suffering causes similar emotions world over. …
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot