#BookReview: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party - Alexander McCall Smith

The characters you've come to know and love are back in the 12th book of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.  Grace Makutsi is finally marrying her beloved Phuti Radiphuti.  Charlie, the mechanic's apprentice, finds himself in a bit of a situation when his girlfriend announces she is pregnant with twins.  And in between trying to figure out what is killing cows in Gaborone and what is really going on with Charlie, Mma Ramotswe keeps seeing the ghost of her late white van.

Alexander McCall Smith's books are known for being well written, well researched and easy reads.  He lives up to all three of these characteristics time and time again with this series.  I'm always happy to read the latest book in the series, but sad to know that it will be at least a year before I will have the opportunity to read the next.

What did you like about this book?
Mma Makutsi really gets a chance to play a leading role in this book.  She's such a funny character that any time she's highlighted, it's sure to bring a laugh to the reader.

What didn't you like about the book?
As always, my complaint is that the book goes by entirely too fast.

What could the author do to improve the book?
Though nothing can be done to improve the book, I would love for HBO to speed up their process in bringing movies based on the series to the small screen as they mentioned last year.  Am I the only person who would be okay with Jill Scott putting her music career on hold for a minute in order to get filming done? Just me? Oh, ok.

Published: March 2011
224pp

Theme: We Must Be in Love by Pure Soul

#BookReview: The Marriage Bureau for Rich People - Farahad Zama

What's a man to do when he retires?  When his puttering around the house starts to drive his wife crazy, Mr. Ali comes up with the perfect plan.  He starts The Marriage Bureau for Rich People.  

In India, a country where arranged marriages are still traditional for an overwhelming majority, author Farahad Zama has found the perfect setting for his story.  The criteria for picking a bride or groom can be extensive, so it's no wonder that families turn to Mr. Ali and his trusty assistant, Aruna for help.

The following factors are generally considered in Indian marriages to search for compatibility:

• Values and personal expectations: should match
• Age and height: girl should generally be younger and shorter
• Looks: should be acceptable to the other
• Religion: should be same, preferably same sect
• Mother tongue, caste: should be preferably same
• Diet (veg/non-veg/alcohol/smoking): may differ only if acceptable to the other
• Education: comparable educational levels or the boy should be more educated than the girl
• Profession: the profession should be acceptable to the other
• Financial: The boy's current and future financial situation should be acceptable to the girl.
• Astrological signs/attributes: should be compatible, if the two families believe in it.

From the attractive divorcee disowned by her family for choosing her career over a husband to the lonely valve salesman that can't seem to find a bride, each person that walks through the door of the marriage bureau has a story to tell in this hilarious tale.

What did you like about this book?
I loved the fact that in between the laughter, the author weaves in background information about Indian customs and castes.  It makes for a much richer reading experience, especially for readers unfamiliar with the culture.

What did you dislike about this book?
There were a few sections that moved slowly, but it did nothing to take away from the overall story.

What could the author do to improve this book?
No improvements needed.  I'd love to see a series based on these characters.

304pp
Published June 2009

Theme: We Belong Together by Dianne Reeves

#BookReview: Who Does She Think She Is? - Benilde Little

You know how you just know you've read a book already? I could have sworn I read this a few years back. I figured the cover had changed and that's why I was so thrown by it. Turns out I hadn't read it. If Sterling had been at the library that day, I would have known because he would have told me. You would think the library could store a list of what you've read in their database or something so that people like me could keep track, but I digress.

Who Does She Think She Is? is really nothing more than Dorothy West's The Wedding shaken, not stirred.  In both books the main character is a well brought up, slightly spoiled, young, black woman engaged to a wealthy white man.  Something, or someone, happens to turn their heads in the direction of another man, in both instances he's African American, and the ladies question their decision to marry.

Who Does She Think She Is? possesses an overbearing grandmother, The Wedding has an overbearing mother. The mothers in both books are currently in or were previously in bad marriages and project their issues onto their daughters.  The only real difference in these books is that one is set in 1950s Martha Vineyard, the other in present day New York.  The similarities aren't enough to detract from the story line of WDSTSI and if you enjoyed The Wedding, you'll certainly enjoy this.

What did you like about this book?
The author flows her words and the story together very well.  It made for a quick read.

What didn't you like about this book?
Other than the fact that I felt like it was a rehash of another book, nothing.

What could the author do to improve this book?
The ending seemed a little rushed and wrapped up just a little too perfect to be believable.

269pp
Published April 2005

My Cousin Got Married & Other Foolishness

Weddings are joyous occasions, at least that's what we're led to believe.  So what happens when I'm forced to sit through a budget/style/common sense lacking wedding? I live tweeted my cousin's wedding last year and my co-worker thought I should share it with you.  Below are my tweets from that tragic event.

Sitting @ my cousin's wedding. Noticing there R more on his side than brides. Is that a sign? We're glad 2 gv him away!  

Cousin Greg is jammin on the sax! All is not lost  

@jazzzyone popular nothing! We can't blv some1 wants his trifling tail   

Check out cousin diane with the fresh perm AND weave. Still ghetto though  

My favorite cousins r here. I lv 2 see black men who've bn raised well 

 I think it's a farce and I can't blv fam has traveled here for this lol   

I'm here 2 witness the foolishness and fuggery w my own eyes. And they're already behind schedule  

Okay wedding officially late. Aunt says they hv 2 wait on the clock to be on the upswing??  

I'm not understanding the parading of the mother of the bride back and forth in the front of the church.   

And why aren't the groomsmen already out here? F and F! 

Lawd geezus and baby geezus! My mother is singing a solo. Take me now!  

The groom looks like he's abt 2 cry  

Reverend looks like he's abt to fall asleep. I wonder what they're serving at the reception  

Why did my aunt gv a crying baby the evil eye? Lol  

Omg! Some nonsinging boy is jacking up luther and now the baby is really crying  

Groom and bride crying tears of joy. I'm crying cuz the singer sucks! 

No they don't hv reserved seats at the reception. I'm sitting where ever I feel lk it  

Don't gv me a ghetto wedding and try to change it up for the reception  

At a table with folks I don't know. They didn't get the memo? Nobody puts baby in the corner!  

Caterer my tail! I see church members throwing on aprons and firing up the sternos. Didn't I tell y'all?  

Aunt Jean is now directing table traffic  

Why is the plasticware wrapped in a paper napkin and tied with a box? It's paper and plastic no matter how u dress it up.  

My lovely plasticware!   

This chick's hair looks like something the cat's been sucking on. I want 2 gv her some Jane Carter's solution & a chi flat iron for real.  

I wish the old man that got a salad 4 his wife brought me 1. They're not serving yet, he's just gangsta  

This lil boy and his brother r sitting across  me trying 2 see who cn mk the strangest noises the loudest & their mom is iggin them FML 

I gv them the look and they stfu. Learned that from aunt jean  

:::banging my plasticware on the table::: feed me now! Feed me now! 

Aunt Jean fussin again    

(no, this was not taken at the wedding, but this is her typical fussing stance)

Sure, Rock the Boat is appropriate entrance music for the bride and groom  

Who set up the head table without enough chairs for the bridal party?? EPIC FAIL  

Now the bride and photographer r trying to move chairs around. Oy vey  

Yep. A pepsi too if u hv one RT @jazzzyone: @Reads4Pleasure lol! want some of my popcorn?  

Singing along...baby ur nt always there when I call bt ur always there on time. The DJ is just playing a hidden beach cd. I cd hv done that 

My mother just sd I shd hv planned the wedding 4 them 4 free. NOT! 

I wd settle for hot fries and a pepsi right now. Friggin buffet line and table numbers! Ughh  

Baked chicken? Pound cake? No wedding cake? *wall slide* 

Hell naw! The dj is playing hey ma by camron. I. Am. Weak. 

No dessert or salad left (sigh)  

@Narleski is it possible that I don't care? Lol. I'm just saying what they're thinking   

I've given them all the time I can. Must. Go. Home. *drops mic* 

They caught me at the door (sigh). Serve the muscatel already so I can go!  

These negroaches put a bottle of Andres on each table with some cups and walked away.  

    

::rocking back and forth:: Jesus be a fence all around me everydayyy. 

I feel like I'm at the V F & W  

Why is this fool giving a toast no one can understand? 

Give me free!!!  

I'm blowing this joint. Lemme pretend to go to the restroom and just walk out.