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Post by juliab on Jun 16, 2007 10:31:13 GMT -5
I just started listening to this on tape while I do my barn chores (I like to multi-task). Pretty soon my horses, barn cats and dogs will be extremely well read  I have only just started it but I am enjoying it very much. I used to live in Botswana where the story takes place, so that makes it even more interesting, but anyone would enjoy it. |
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Post by Bara on Jun 16, 2007 10:45:48 GMT -5
No! Julia! I'm from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, just 60 miles up the road. My brother taught at Plumtree for three years.
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Post by juliab on Jun 17, 2007 9:31:25 GMT -5
I visited Bulawayo a couple of times. We were in Gaborone with the U.S. Embassy from 1996 to 1999. It was by far my favorite posting and reading the book is bringing it all back for me.
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Post by Deb on Jun 17, 2007 10:45:33 GMT -5
Holy Macaroni, you two have a lot in common now that you know your a) one originally from Bulawayo and b) the other has been there!!
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Post by Bara on Jun 17, 2007 11:38:48 GMT -5
There you go! Not just horse-links. I can't imagine what Bulawayo (or Gaberones) would have been like in your day, Julia. I left mid 70's. But I can almost guarantee you had at least ONE lunch in The Highwayman restaurant in Grey's inn - 'chicken in the basket'.. I hope you managed to make the trip to The Matopos - but maybe the roads weren't too safe? |
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Post by juliab on Jun 17, 2007 16:14:21 GMT -5
No, I don't remember that restaurant. We were on our way back from Victoria Falls and spent the night at Bulawayo. Can't remember the name of the place we stayed but hubby said it had sort of a mock tudor look to it.
Did get to the Matopos, but we camped in the Kalihari several times at different places and also went to the Okavango. It was considered dangerous to travel in Zimbabwe unfortunately.
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Post by Bara on Jun 18, 2007 4:33:43 GMT -5
Pseud Tude?? In Bullies! Good grief. Oh - wait, yes! Was it on the Matopos Road? I'd have to ask my brother the name of it.
I lived in first Zambia - then Zimbabwe, from the age of 9 until I came back to UK when I was 27. So - Africa, and the bush, will always be 'home'.
Sigh. Yes, I suspected that it's not too safe around there, now. I used to work at ZTV - and we had a film crew abducted right near you. (Just to cheer you up!) err - we did get them back, you'll be pleased to know. Much silenced and chastened, but intact!
Okavango is now a huge tourist destination. Several sets of friends of mine from the stables have been on riding holidays there. In my day, it was called 'The Okavango Swamp.' Now, it is the 'Okavango Wetlands'. LOL
You must send me some pix!
Cheers
B
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Post by Rodger on Jun 25, 2007 11:27:48 GMT -5
I Love this series. I think it is one of the best written series of books from recent years.
Bara and Julia, is it as accurate a portrayal as it seems to be?
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Post by Bara on Jun 25, 2007 12:05:08 GMT -5
Oh, definitely, Rodger. Absolutely true. But just one perspective. But one who was there.
Botswana - the next door border to Zimbabwe - where I lived - next door to Zambia, where I went to school - well, they are artificial, 'colonial' borders. The African people, I believe, have similar values - south to north.
And those values are definitely in favour of traditional manners. I have been in some - err - hairy - situations. Particularly when I worked for ZTV (Zimbabwe Television). We had to penetrate warzones, we were captured on more than one occasion - taken to Botswana.
I was only 25/6. I was lucky. I know that. Others were murdered. But I was always accorded the best facilities a 'terrorist' camp could afford. A shower. A bed. Not murdered. I like to think people perceived that we were working to the same ends. The reality, I think, is that they were basically decent people - and that they saw that we were journalists, not politicians. Just trying to report the 'truth'. Whatever that is.
It matters! ;D
Alexander McCall-Smith, though a 'colonial' Scot, I believe has those values absolutely correct. I judge by the people I knew, growing up in the bush in Zambia. Mma Precious rings absolutely true to me. But it's universal. Down-home wisdom and values.
It's just one perspective - I know. I lived and worked through my early 20's in the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia war. And I know that when you are young, you are idealistic. But I believe I met every character in those books. Including the 'apprentices'!!
Sorry! A subject a bit emotive to me - though the story is 30 years old...
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Post by Bara on Jun 25, 2007 12:17:22 GMT -5
Gosh! That was meandering, and a bit more information than you needed. Sorry. I'm getting maudlin. Yes, Rodger. She is true to life!  |
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Post by Rodger on Jun 25, 2007 14:57:15 GMT -5
Oh no Bara ...not meandering at all. Thank you!
One more thing please...How do you properly pronounce Ramotswe???
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Post by Bara on Jun 25, 2007 15:03:22 GMT -5
As it sounds - err - Rah -mot- sweh!
In African languages, there is equal emphasis on each syllable. So it is three beats - Ra - mot - swe.
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Post by Rodger on Jun 26, 2007 9:50:16 GMT -5
Thank you! That was kinda-sorta-like where I was with it...but with names one can never be too sure.
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Post by juliab on Jun 27, 2007 8:26:07 GMT -5
I listened to the book on tape and the reader is excellent with the accents and pronunciations. I found Mma Ramotswe to be a very plausible character and the descriptions of Gaborone and Botswana and spot on too. It gives a good history of Botswana also and the justifiable pride the people have in their country and political system. The only thing that might derail them is AIDS - but I think they are trying hard to get that under control.
The library just got "Tears of the Giraffe" - the second book in for me and I'm picking it up today. I suspect I will be sorry when I have finished all the books in the series.
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Post by Lynne on Jun 27, 2007 8:37:56 GMT -5
*swear* *gnash teeeth* *throw heavy objects* You guys are making me spend more money. And you're educating me at the same time! And it's fun!!
What is the world coming to?
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