How to Raise an Elephant cover art

How to Raise an Elephant

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 21

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How to Raise an Elephant

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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About this listen

The next book in the perennially adored No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series sees Precious Ramotswe calling upon all her maternal instincts when she’s faced with a two-ton case.

Unusual requests are commonplace at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, but so are very ordinary ones, such as a plea for money: when a distant cousin calls on Mma Ramotswe to ask for help with another relative's hip operation, tricky questions arise in regard to family responsibility. Mma Makutsi and Mr J. L. B Matekoni are far from convinced of the merits of the request, but it is hard for Mma Ramotswe, with a heart her size, to turn people away. Meanwhile, Charlie has become involved in a mysterious transaction that involves an attractive but rather large animal. If it takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to raise a baby elephant?

©2020 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2020 Bolinda Publishing Cosy Detective Fiction Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Heartfelt Elephant

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Critic reviews

"Alexander McCall Smith novels never fail to delight." (The Guardian)

"It is hard to think of a contemporary writer more genuinely engaging ... [his] novels are also extremely funny: I find it impossible to think about them without smiling." (Mail on Sunday)
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fantastic performance! liked the story but I preferred previous books in the series a bit more

enjoyed this

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Once again I expected to relax to the telling of a story.I love Ms Andoh and her voice. Ma Makutsi, however, is becoming seriously annoying. I cant believe that Ma Ramotswe is completly bereft of any need or courage to tell her colleague that a constant distribe on the faults of others and sidetracking can become annoying. I cant imagine Obed Ramotswe sitting listeing to some of the arrogant and selfish rubbish Grace makutsi spouts without him trying to calm it down so why cant his daughter see how harmful Grace can sometimes be. It started to annoy me and I found myself wanting to skip forward to get the speechifying of Grace out of the way for the first time ever. It started to grate on me. .......maybe its me?

however i got through, soometimes with gritted teeth and was sad that my blissful 8 hours was a little marred.
On the whole it was lovely but not as lovely as before.

is it the story or the telling.....

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Once again, a beautifully narrated tale catching us up with our favourite ladies.
Very sweet and tender moments and well observed character development.
More please!

Another Wonderful Story

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Another great Mma Ramotase tale with lots of ?different threads running through this episode. Precious has a beautiful personality, Grace shows a compassionate side and MMA Potawatomi is also involved. This is just great, the narrator does her usual fantastic job, the pictures it conjures in your mind are priceless.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant

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Another lovely journey through Botswana narrated through these wonderful characters that are so real and relatable.

Heartwarming

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Loved this - wonderful narration, and it was like being back with old friends. Always a pleasure to listen to these books with their interesting, quirky characters.

Great!

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A wonderful relaxing listen - beautifully read. As with the other books in this series not a great deal happens but the characters are captivating and thought provoking. The comings and goings in Gabaronne are brought to life without endless description and the philosophical ponderings do not jar but blend into the story.

Another Charming Instalment

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another amazing book, I love this series and can't wait to start the next one.

amazing

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Mr McCall Smith never disappoints.
Same goes for Adjoa Andoh. Another Precious book (excuse the pun).

Mr McCall Smith never disappoints.

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Alexander McCall Smith manages to capture the essence of life in the simple people of Habrone

another wonderful African story

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