Fangirling Alexander McCall Smith
Opportunity for fangirling came today.
“An Afternoon with Alexander McCall Smith” offered the email from the bookshop. Squeeee! Immediately forwarded it on to my sister, K, who is also a fan, and the next day we had organised our tickets.
Alexander McCall Smith writes, among others, “The Ladies No 1 Detective Agency” series. They are gentle, given to a bit of homestyle philosophy with the protagonist a ‘traditionally built’ Botswana woman Mma Precious Ramotswe. There is no blood and thunder about Mma Ramotswe’s cases. Mma Ramotswe’s wits and her reliance on the values of the ‘old Botswana’ are the tools of her trade. I had been introduced to the books by my roommate on my South African safari and in the nearly 18 months since then the word seems to have spread to at least 10 more people via me.
There is also a new series set in Edinburgh with Isabel Dalhousie investigating. I have read the first one “The Sunday Philosopher’s Club” and haven’t been able to warm to Isabel at all. Though at the afternoon the author (“Call me Sandy”) assured us that Isabel would be warming up in the next one “Friends Lovers and Chocolate”.
Another friend, KS, joined us on a lovely Sunday winter afternoon down by the Brisbane River at the restored Customs House. First wine and sushi in the grounds while enjoying the sunshine and watching the river traffic before taking our seats in the Long Room. There was quite a crowd, mostly women, in the audience and Sandy entertained us for a long time with anecdotes about his life and his writings. He was very funny and I really regretted my hearing disability during this as he was softly spoken and there was so much laughter I missed a lot.
We were in the right spot though, when they said there was the opportunity to have items signed. He was truly a gentleman and he stood to greet people as you approached the table, shook your hand and sat to write in the book and then stood again as you left. He came around to the front of the table to pose with two ladies for a photo and I’m sure he would have done that for K and I if we’d only asked. I had learned a bit from my experience at Supanova last year with Sean Astin, John Noble and John Rhys Davies and chatted to Sandy a bit. K had not had any fangirling experience since Dad took her to the airport when the Beatles arrived in 1964 so didn’t really talk to him unfortunately. I also had a book signed for Mum and when I told him it was for my 90 year old Mum who was a fan he was really concerned that she would enjoy it and wanted me to be sure I told her he said so. He also told me that he had family in Brisbane and often visited.
It was a thoroughly delightful afternoon and I would certainly go to see him again if the opportunity arises.
“An Afternoon with Alexander McCall Smith” offered the email from the bookshop. Squeeee! Immediately forwarded it on to my sister, K, who is also a fan, and the next day we had organised our tickets.
Alexander McCall Smith writes, among others, “The Ladies No 1 Detective Agency” series. They are gentle, given to a bit of homestyle philosophy with the protagonist a ‘traditionally built’ Botswana woman Mma Precious Ramotswe. There is no blood and thunder about Mma Ramotswe’s cases. Mma Ramotswe’s wits and her reliance on the values of the ‘old Botswana’ are the tools of her trade. I had been introduced to the books by my roommate on my South African safari and in the nearly 18 months since then the word seems to have spread to at least 10 more people via me.
There is also a new series set in Edinburgh with Isabel Dalhousie investigating. I have read the first one “The Sunday Philosopher’s Club” and haven’t been able to warm to Isabel at all. Though at the afternoon the author (“Call me Sandy”) assured us that Isabel would be warming up in the next one “Friends Lovers and Chocolate”.
Another friend, KS, joined us on a lovely Sunday winter afternoon down by the Brisbane River at the restored Customs House. First wine and sushi in the grounds while enjoying the sunshine and watching the river traffic before taking our seats in the Long Room. There was quite a crowd, mostly women, in the audience and Sandy entertained us for a long time with anecdotes about his life and his writings. He was very funny and I really regretted my hearing disability during this as he was softly spoken and there was so much laughter I missed a lot.
We were in the right spot though, when they said there was the opportunity to have items signed. He was truly a gentleman and he stood to greet people as you approached the table, shook your hand and sat to write in the book and then stood again as you left. He came around to the front of the table to pose with two ladies for a photo and I’m sure he would have done that for K and I if we’d only asked. I had learned a bit from my experience at Supanova last year with Sean Astin, John Noble and John Rhys Davies and chatted to Sandy a bit. K had not had any fangirling experience since Dad took her to the airport when the Beatles arrived in 1964 so didn’t really talk to him unfortunately. I also had a book signed for Mum and when I told him it was for my 90 year old Mum who was a fan he was really concerned that she would enjoy it and wanted me to be sure I told her he said so. He also told me that he had family in Brisbane and often visited.
It was a thoroughly delightful afternoon and I would certainly go to see him again if the opportunity arises.