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| The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa | 
 enlarge | Author: Alexander Mccall Smith
Publisher: Pantheon
Category: Book
List Price: $22.00
Buy Used: $0.55
You Save: $21.45 (98%)
New (43) Used (45) Collectible (2) from $0.55
Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 341247
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First U. S. Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 208
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.3 x 1
ISBN: 0375423125
Dewey Decimal Number: 398.089963989
EAN: 9780375423123
ASIN: 0375423125
Publication Date: December 7, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: * Item in good condition- Typical Used Book and at a great price! * We carefully inspected this * Great customer service * Satisfaction Guaranteed!
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Product Description
Gathered here is a beguiling selection of folktales from Zimbabwe and Botswana as retold by the best-selling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This treasury contains most of the stories previously collected in Children of Wax and seven new tales from the Setswana-speaking people of Botswana.
A girl discovers that her young husband might actually be a lion in disguise, but not before they have two sons who might actually be cubs . . . When a child made of wax follows his curiosity outside into the heat of daylight and melts, his siblings shape him into a bird with feathers made of leaves that enable him to fly into the light . . . Talking hyenas, milk-giving birds, clever cannibals who nonetheless get their comeuppance, and mysterious forces that reside in the landscape—these wonderful fables bring us the wealth, the variety, and the particular magic of traditional African lore.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Great stories, lame endings October 2, 2008
I love Africa. I love African stories and African voices and African people. The tales in this collection echo the beauty and simplicity of the continent, and include stories of love, treachery and jealousy, set against the village lives, landscapes and circumstances of Africa. The standard elements of more-familiar European fables are present -- talking, scheming animals, love-lorn maidens, brave hunters and imperiled children. Some unusual touches appear as well: "strange animals" who live in holes, spear-dodging birds and magical potions made from herbs. The stories provide insights into the preoccupations of the African people. Trickster Hare and boastful Lion are always at odds, echoing the battle between brawn and brain that exists in all societies. Brothers scheme against their nephews, women complain about beauties who do not work and the physically insignificant use their wits to gain prestige.
The voices on the audio CD are wonderful as well, providing the lilting, colorful English that makes listening to African voices so mesmerizing. The only downside to this collection is that the story endings are sometimes quite flat. There are so many sudden, unsatisfying endings that I began to wonder whether I was witnessing a cultural preference rather than a lack of skill. No matter. Listen to these wonderful stories (which I am convinced is far preferable to reading them) and be transported to a simple land of village life and magical animals.
 Captivating! February 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a collection of beautiful little African stories that you can just imagine being told by an elderly lady to the children of her village as they sit in the shade of a tree on the edge of their village.
If, like me, you are a fan of Kipling's Just So Stories and the Uncle Remus stories of Brer Rabbit and his friends, you will absolutely love this set of tales. In addition, if you have read and enjoyed any of Alexander McCall Smith's previous books relating the detective adventures of Mma Ramotswe, then this book is an unconditional "must" for you!
The narration by Adjoa Andoh, who also read for the audio versions of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, is just perfect. Nobody could read them more beautifully, or more passionately. She simply drags you into the atmosphere of each story, leaving you with little need to strain your imaginative powers to visualise the scenes.
I am sure that the written books are great, but listening to Adjoah reading the words for you, is pure delight!
 For folktale lovers only November 3, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I love "The number one detective agency" series, and hoped for the same writing quality in this collection of folk tales. Unfortunately there was no narrative flow, making the stories stilted and un-interesting. Maybe a narrative explaining the lessons would have helped.
I suggest this book only for those interested in collecting african fables
 ...and? May 9, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I don't get it. These are stories that give us a glimpse into African culture, where "fat" is healthy, and watering holes are sources of life.
Some of the stories were like Brier Rabbit, adn were clever. But, unlike Western stories, I really wasn't sure what the moral of the stories were. Take the girl who married a lion. The brother thinks "It IS a lion," then he chases it away. And, here's the riviting part...(don't read this if you don't want the ending spoiled)...the children end up NOT being lions!
That's it.
End of story.
I just don't get it. I LOVE A-M-S's other books, they are brilliant. This one just doesn't do it for me.
Disappointing April 6, 2006
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have read and enjoyed all the volumes involving the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." This was a book I eagerly anticipated, but found very disappointing. The stories seem to be simply retellings of very simple, but ambiguous, themes. It didn't have anything which stuck with me (except a quizzical expression on my face, I guess).
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