A Precious Fan

This week in The Scotsman, Alexander McCall Smith describes a literary society gathering at which he met an unexpected fan and developed an even more surprising friendship (link via Sarah Weinman):

I left these wonderful ladies of Palm Springs, declining the offer of a helicopter ride, and made my way down to Los Angeles, where I was due to address the Beverly Hills Literary Society the next day. Again it was a literary lunch, and again the well-dressed society ladies arrived in their hundreds. But there was a man too, and he was dressed in a way which makes it clear that he was probably not attached to one of the society ladies. He came over to me before we started and we shook hands. I noticed that he has the word LOVE tattooed on his knuckles, which is something that none of the society ladies had. He said some very generous things about the books, all of which he said he had read. Then he introduced himself, and all was made clear. This was Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, an immensely famous rock musician who has generously attached himself to the character of Mma Ramotswe in my books. I had been told of Flea’s affection for the character, but now we meet in person and are able to plan to meet in Scotland when he comes for his sell-out tour in the summer. We became good friends, and Flea gave me his email address. I have something therefore that lots of teenagers don’t have, but would like to have.

I never thought I’d have anything in common with Flea,* but I too adore Precious. Though I’ve read only the first installment of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, I have three more sitting on my desk, waiting to suck me back into her delightful world.

  • On second thought, one might presume that he also likes my favorite movie: The Big Lebowski.
Advertisement