Hi! I’m Heather from Denver, Colorado. I love how Louise Penny uses setting in her stories. Three Pines and the snowy woods are characters all on their own.
I am very elated too! I have read and collected Three Pines books for about 7 years now. I was a late starter when I unknowingly picked up Still Life at my local library...I have been enthralled with the language, culture, characters and setting of Three Pines since page 1.
Hello. Don Barnes here, from St. John's, Newfoundland.
As a Canadian I am ashamed to admit that I only started reading Louise Penny a couple of years ago, despite mysteries being my first choice fiction read. But I have quickly caught up!
The Three Pines books are the finest mysteries being written these days. Penny's ability to slowly and thoroughly delve into the hearts of people and their relationships is exceptional. Where I often read as quickly as I can to get to the end of a good book, I linger, savouring the descriptions and the conversations.
Thanks for this group. Looking forward to the discussion!
This group is such a great idea. I’m looking forward to the discussion and insight. I once heard Louise Penny say in an interview that her books aren’t really about murder. While murders take place quite frequently in the novels, she stresses that the real story is in the people and human psychology. What drives someone to murder, particularly neighbors or friends who “always seemed like nice people?” Human emotion is a complicated thing but Gamache always sticks with it, looking for the motivation behind the murder and eventually finds the killer. My favorite crime fiction series!
Hello from a major Jean-Guy and Annie stan in Santa Cruz, California. My favorite aspect of the series is the meta-story of Gamache's emotional and political journey towards justice and goodness on personal, local, and national levels. That, and the food.
So excited for this newsletter! I'm Kate, based in the DC area. I love the sense of place and community that Penny creates throughout the novels. I actually went up and spent a few days in the Eastern Townships area and stayed at Manoir Hovey - the inspiration for Manoir Bellechasse in "A Rule Against Murder" because Penny made the area seem so wonderful. It lived up to expectations! I also love her writing, character development, and the plots. Each book can stand alone plot-wise but they also build cumulatively to something much more interesting with insightful commentary on human nature.
I think I started Still Life seven times before I committed. I had checked it out from the library and never could get past the first 100 pages - the kiss of death for a book.
But then a friend gave me a stack of the series and seeing that I was more intrigued and I dove in and goodness now it's a love affair.
Real, complicated characters, a gorgeous setting and the food... We all want to have lunch with them.
I live in a small town in Arkansas and I see so many similarities... Rural living is way wilder than people think! A lot happens and a lot of it is kooky. Granted, less murders!
This project is very cool. I'm Gillian from Portland Oregon. I love the characters in Penny's books. Gamache has held onto his compassion throughout his many struggles. His marriage to Reine-Marie is just delightful.
What do I like about these books? Characters who act like thinking, feeling human beings, a small town I'd like to visit or move to, a police officer I'd be proud to serve under if I had the talent for theb job (Patron!)...and let's not forget Ruth and her duck!
Sep 22, 2022·edited Sep 22, 2022Liked by Elizabeth
I think I love everything about these books. Louise Penny has created a small town that I want to move to and a community I want to be a part of without descending into quirky cozy mystery territory. With each new book, I worry that it won’t live up to my expectations but they always surpass them.
Love Penny's novels because the character are very believable people with flaws and foibles like us all - the murder mysteries are wonderful with a bit of morality thrown in - and I always learn something historic or geographic with each book and each reread
Looking forward to reading the newsletter. I’m Anna from New Zealand. I love the character development across the series. Hoping one day my hubby and I will get to visit Quebec and see all the beautiful places that Ms Penny writes about.
When I read Still Life I was so taken by the characters and Penny's insight that I immediately found a list of her books and read all of them in order, sometimes impatiently waiting for the next one to be published.
Sep 21, 2022·edited Sep 21, 2022Liked by Elizabeth
I've listened to all of Ms Penny's Gamache books and am going to start from the beginning and listen to them in order this time! I read for a living, so I listen to audiobooks for my pleasure reading. I love being transported to Three Pines and visiting my old friends!
The food descriptions are wonderful! And, who knew I would actually crave a licorice pipe while reading a mystery??
Beth from Colorado
Hi! I’m Heather from Denver, Colorado. I love how Louise Penny uses setting in her stories. Three Pines and the snowy woods are characters all on their own.
I am very elated too! I have read and collected Three Pines books for about 7 years now. I was a late starter when I unknowingly picked up Still Life at my local library...I have been enthralled with the language, culture, characters and setting of Three Pines since page 1.
Hello. Don Barnes here, from St. John's, Newfoundland.
As a Canadian I am ashamed to admit that I only started reading Louise Penny a couple of years ago, despite mysteries being my first choice fiction read. But I have quickly caught up!
The Three Pines books are the finest mysteries being written these days. Penny's ability to slowly and thoroughly delve into the hearts of people and their relationships is exceptional. Where I often read as quickly as I can to get to the end of a good book, I linger, savouring the descriptions and the conversations.
Thanks for this group. Looking forward to the discussion!
Don
This group is such a great idea. I’m looking forward to the discussion and insight. I once heard Louise Penny say in an interview that her books aren’t really about murder. While murders take place quite frequently in the novels, she stresses that the real story is in the people and human psychology. What drives someone to murder, particularly neighbors or friends who “always seemed like nice people?” Human emotion is a complicated thing but Gamache always sticks with it, looking for the motivation behind the murder and eventually finds the killer. My favorite crime fiction series!
Hello from a major Jean-Guy and Annie stan in Santa Cruz, California. My favorite aspect of the series is the meta-story of Gamache's emotional and political journey towards justice and goodness on personal, local, and national levels. That, and the food.
So excited for this newsletter! I'm Kate, based in the DC area. I love the sense of place and community that Penny creates throughout the novels. I actually went up and spent a few days in the Eastern Townships area and stayed at Manoir Hovey - the inspiration for Manoir Bellechasse in "A Rule Against Murder" because Penny made the area seem so wonderful. It lived up to expectations! I also love her writing, character development, and the plots. Each book can stand alone plot-wise but they also build cumulatively to something much more interesting with insightful commentary on human nature.
I think I started Still Life seven times before I committed. I had checked it out from the library and never could get past the first 100 pages - the kiss of death for a book.
But then a friend gave me a stack of the series and seeing that I was more intrigued and I dove in and goodness now it's a love affair.
Real, complicated characters, a gorgeous setting and the food... We all want to have lunch with them.
I live in a small town in Arkansas and I see so many similarities... Rural living is way wilder than people think! A lot happens and a lot of it is kooky. Granted, less murders!
This project is very cool. I'm Gillian from Portland Oregon. I love the characters in Penny's books. Gamache has held onto his compassion throughout his many struggles. His marriage to Reine-Marie is just delightful.
What do I like about these books? Characters who act like thinking, feeling human beings, a small town I'd like to visit or move to, a police officer I'd be proud to serve under if I had the talent for theb job (Patron!)...and let's not forget Ruth and her duck!
Woohoo! So excited to see this hit my inbox. Can't wait.
I think I love everything about these books. Louise Penny has created a small town that I want to move to and a community I want to be a part of without descending into quirky cozy mystery territory. With each new book, I worry that it won’t live up to my expectations but they always surpass them.
Love Penny's novels because the character are very believable people with flaws and foibles like us all - the murder mysteries are wonderful with a bit of morality thrown in - and I always learn something historic or geographic with each book and each reread
Looking forward to reading the newsletter. I’m Anna from New Zealand. I love the character development across the series. Hoping one day my hubby and I will get to visit Quebec and see all the beautiful places that Ms Penny writes about.
When I read Still Life I was so taken by the characters and Penny's insight that I immediately found a list of her books and read all of them in order, sometimes impatiently waiting for the next one to be published.
I've listened to all of Ms Penny's Gamache books and am going to start from the beginning and listen to them in order this time! I read for a living, so I listen to audiobooks for my pleasure reading. I love being transported to Three Pines and visiting my old friends!