The Full Cupboard of Life

More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Lisette Lecat

New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith's critically acclaimed No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series continues in this engaging book that won the first ever Saga Award for Wit, given to the wittiest British book of the year.

Mma Ramotswe has been engaged to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni for quite some time, and they still have no wedding date. But she doesn't want to be too pushy, for Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has much on his mind. Mma Potokwani, who runs the orphan farm, has tricked him into performing a parachute jump to benefit charity. While Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni tries to wiggle out of his responsibility, Mma Ramotswe keeps busy investigating four men, all who wish to marry a very wealthy woman. What exactly are their intentions?

The cupboard of life is full indeed in this charming, gently funny novel that vibrantly captures the fascinating culture and landscape of Botswana.

Listen to the other titles in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.©2003 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Solo Narration (Female), 2005

"Delightful series." (Booklist)
"Admirers of Alexander McCall Smith's best-selling novels about Precious Ramotswe...will not be disappointed." (The New York Times Book Review)

Simple Wisdom

I love the books in this series. Precious Remote is a wise woman,and the gentle humor of the characters and situations makes the insights into human nature a delight to absorb.

So good.

As always, I quite enjoyed another book in this series. Now it's on you the next one. I love listening to Lisette Lucat's voice and Alexander McCall Smith always writes such interesting stories.

Not as exciting, but heartwarming nonetheless

I am far from an independent judge: I truly LOVE these books! I have been through them in print and am now doubly enjoying them on Audible. After I finish these, the whole series, or maybe before then, depending on my mood, I intend to binge on the BBC series of the same name. I enjoyed it so, so, very much when it was on (only six episodes. *sigh* )
Ms Lecat has some new names to twist her tongue around in this episode, one of which begins with “S” and she does it so well! I tried to pronounce it myself, but came short.Good luck with that word, everyone!
The famous parachute jump finally happens, from the last volume... but not as we expected. Mma Ramotswe does not finish one of her cases, and just more great episodes.
Not everything is really exciting, unfortunately- life is like that. Oh, and Mma Makutsi has a change also!

Heartwarming

This is a very interesting, engaging series set in modern day Botswaina. What first attracted me to this series were the investigations taken on by the First Ladies Detective Agency. However, this particular book features more incidents of the daily lives of the characters with a few twists and turns that are resolved by the all wise Mme. Ramotswe. I would have liked to hear more interesting investigations, hence my four star rating. But this book does leave you warm and satisfied in the goodness of the characters and wanting to hear more about their lives.

Pondering Life & the Old Morality of Botswana

The fifth in the series of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is another delightful listen, finding Mma Ramotswe engaged (for some time now) to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Both busy at their respective businesses, as well as caring for others, the two adhere to the old morality of Botswana, when much of the country has moved to a much cruder way of living. I love these gentle stories of the old days, when Mma Ramotswe’s father still lived, in the same house where she now lives, and some of his old friends still come to visit. And Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's volunteer work at the orphan farm, where Mma Potokwani is forever trying to wrangle him into some scheme or another (this time jumping from an airplane to raise money for the orphan farm). Written with such wit and charm, I could listen to these stories almost every day. Mma Ramotswe’s investigation into four men wishing to marry the wealthy woman, could well be a parable in the Bible . . . the determination which she came up with in the end was both humorous and wise. . . and altogether an unexpected and humble admittance by all accords. The ending of the book was just perfect.