The Fat Lady Detective
I read a book recently that is both wildly popular and fat positive: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I wrote about it in my book blog:
The heroine (Mma Ramotswe I think is the spelling) is one of the best characters ever, seriously. How much do I love her? And sure, I’m biased because she’s fat and proud of being a “traditional African lady” and all the men in the novel are in love with her.
Yes, the character is fat and it’s mentioned frequently and in a positive way. Interestingly, the character is Botswanan. (Is that a word?) So there’s a cultural element as well: thinness is spoken of as a modern trend in opposition to the traditional, curvier African woman’s body. And Mma Ramotswe is, as I mentioned above, definitely depicted as a sexy character. As part of one of her cases, she effortlessly seduces someone. So: seductive and fat and delightful. What’s not to like?
They are also turning the first book (there are eight in the series, I think) into a movie. I clicked on the link with fear: would Mma Ramotswe be played by a “Hollywood fat” woman like, say Regina King? (Who would do a great job, but still: not fat.) Would it be Halle Berry in a fat suit? Luckily, Jill Scott has been cast (there’s a photo of her in costume at that link):
Film sleuths usually exude chiseled sexiness and a noir persona. But as McCall Smith puts it, Precious Ramotswe is “the fat lady detective”: rounded, not chiseled; softhearted, not dark. Would anyone watch a film about a “traditionally built” shamus whose main preoccupation is contemplating her cases under an acacia tree?…
Ramotswe is a refreshingly new character, said Jill Scott, the Philadelphia-born R&B singer and poet who plays the lead role, and who put on weight for the part… [director Anthony] Minghella said the notion that an overweight lady detective would play well on film seemed unlikely.
Hopefully this intrigues you. If you haven’t read the book, it is charming and I highly recommend it. If you have, let me know if you were struck, as I was, with the positive portrayal of Mma Ramotswe. It’s the Big Fat Book Club! Go read it and come back and tell us about it.
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Books, Fat Positive, International, Movies, Race & Ethnicity
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I have read the book (well, I live in Edinburgh, where it was the talk of the town when it came out) and a few of the sequels, which are equally charming, if gentle. Possibly a little slow-paced for me, but very soothing comfort-reading. I have to say, I envisaged Mma Ramotswe as sturdier than Jill Scott; also slightly older… but I don’t know what I’m basing that on.
Incidentally, I have also met Alexander McCall Smith a couple of times, and he’s charming. Even to waitresses (me).
I gather from the books that a person from Botswana is Motswana (plural Batswana), but I’m not sure if that’s the usual term in English. Botswanan seems perfectly comprehensible, anyway.
How wonderful! Jill Scott is a gorgeous woman and it’s about time a more-than-size-2 is playing a traditional leading lady role complete with romance. I really hope it makes it to DVD, if not theaters. I almost hate to read the series until after I’ve seen it. Movies are generally disappointing to me if I’ve already read the book :-)
I’m a fan of Alexander McCall Smith, of Mma Ramotswe, and of Anthony Minghella. This is good news indeed!
I agree! Mma Ramotswe is an absolute hero!… thanx for letting us know about the movie..!
My sister’s mother-in-law lent me the book to read on the flight back from Christmas last year, and I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely going to seek this film out, wherever it turns up. I hope that with the popularity of the books it outdoes Minghella’s expectations for distribution.
Also, Jill Scott looks lovely in her Mme Ramotswe costume.
I totally loved this book, and a couple of the sequals. I kind of fell behind as more books came out. I’m so excited they’re making it into a movie, thanks for letting me know.
I love Mma Ramotswe being described as “traditionally-built” — when I was in grad school, I had a friend from Botswana who told me that if I ever visited her there, men would follow me down the street. “Because I’ve got blonde hair?” I asked. “Oh, no,” she replied. “Because you’ve got a BIG bum.”
Still saving for that plane ticket, friends.
I’ve read one of the books, liked it and recommend it. It made me wonder if my extra pounds accounted for the attention two African men have given me in my adult life.
I think Jill Scott is juicy. I’m checking out the movie.
Okay, I was initially put off by the director’s cynicism, but in the end I have to praise him. If other directors would work on projects they believed in, even if they thought they wouldn’t be an instant success in Hollywood, we would see more diversity in film.
Now I need to read the book…so little time. Can’t wait to see this.
I love this book. I love Jill Scott. I am very happy with this news.
Even more so because it celebrates the “traditionally built” woman. I remember when I went to Senegal (yes, I know that it’s nowhwere near Botswana, but there is a similar appreciation for the thickness). At the time I was about 275 lbs (I’m 5’10”).
Men were falling all over me…they kept saying “Oh you are so fat”. I was horrified. At 19, the last thing I wanted was for me to keep telling me I was fat. After the umpteenth man told me I was fat, I broke down in tears.
He was so concerned and asked me what was wrong. When I told him that I didn’t like being called fat, that it was an insult in America – he just shook his head. He explained that fat was sexy. He went on to say that I was very lucky to be naturally fat…many girls he went to high school spent all of their money on tonics to thicken their blood so that they could be fat. I thought he was lying to make me feel better. But then I checked with some Senegalese women and a few of the thinner ones were actually jealous that of my fat ass!
These are awesomely fun books. Love them!
Excellent! And Jill Scott doesn’t just have the weight, she can obviously do the unshakable self-confidence.
I wasn’t a fan of this book. We read it for our street’s bookclub a couple years ago.
A friend was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Congo. One of the Congolese guys she worked with was proudly telling her about his new wife. “Her butt is THIS big,” he said happily, as he held his hands about four feet apart.
The proper name for someone from Botswana is Motswana , not motswanan or Botswanan. As more ppl are getting it wrong, we will soon have to accept it.