Postcards from Three Pines: Still Life

“Here in Quebec. Finally started writing. I think I’ll call it STILL LIFE. What do you think? Struggling a bit with fear but inspired by the fall colours. ”

AN EXCERPT FROM STILL LIFE

Three Pines wasn’t on any tourist map, being too far off any main or even secondary road. Like Narnia, it was generally found unexpectedly and with a degree of surprise that such an elderly village should have been hiding in this valley all along. Anyone fortunate enough to find it once usually found their way back. And Thanksgiving, in early October, was the perfect time. The weather was usually crisp and clear, the summer scents of old garden roses and phlox were replaced by musky autumn leaves, woodsmoke and roast turkey.
Three huge pine trees faced [Gamache] at the far end of the green. Between him and them was a pond, a bunch of sweater-clad children circling it, hunting for frogs, he supposed. The village green sat, not surprisingly, in the center of the village, a road called The Commons circling it with homes, except behind him, which seemed to be the commercial district. It was a very short commercial. It consisted, as far as Gamache could see, of a depanneur whose Pepsi sign read ‘Beliveau’. Beside that was a boulangerie, the Bistro and a bookstore. Four roads led off The Commons, like the spokes of a wheel, or the directions of a compass.
As he sat quietly and let the village happen around him he was impressed by how beautiful it was, these old homes facing the green, with their mature perennial gardens and trees. By how natural everything looked, undesigned. And the pall of grief that settled on this little community was worn with dignity and sadness and a certain familiarity. This village was old, and you don’t get to be old without knowing grief. And loss.

415 replies on “Postcards from Three Pines: Still Life”

Three Pines has had a special place in my imagination and my heart since this first volume. Thank you for creating it and the post cards.

I too decided to reread all your books this summer. I’m almost done and have enjoyed them as much the second time as the first. I’ve never been to Canada and I love your beautiful description of the landscape and the people in the books. I look forward with great anticipation to each new book and know it will be my new favorite. I’m sure this one will be no exception.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who will say those paragraphs were a hook that immediately drew me into the book. They were enough to make me want with all my heart to live there. And then when I read the descriptions of the food, the warmth, the camaraderie well what can I say …

I’ve loved the vivid description of the three pines and village surrounding since I first read Still Life. When sleep escapes me, I take myself there and breathe in the scents and sounds, nurturing myself in this lovely place.

So beautifully described. I can imagine sitting on a bench, taking the whole scene in; an earthy smell, the sounds of the children playing, the warm rich colours all around and the crisp feel of the air on my face.

And Ruth Zardo walking her duck. I would love to be friends with all of them.

A reminder of all the beautiful detail you provide in your books, bringing the landscape and people so alive. Excited for November 27th!

I yearn for Three Pines!

I agree completely. I truly appreciate the respite I get each with each novel I read

Please ignore my unedited comment

Take three of ours ! Please .

“Yearn.” Exactly. Me, too.

This is wonderful!

It’s as if I’m standing there looking through Gamache’s eyes. On this hot August day, the cool October wind felt good on m face.

This makes me want to go back and read all of the books from the beginning once again!

Me too! Am going to order Still Life today

I have read all the books, in order. My book group read Still Life. Someone else had recommended it. It was delightful reading the first one, being introduced all over again to the people. I am reluctant to say the word “characters” because that doesn’t imply the reality of them only a copy. Knowing them as I do know from the books further on, I can see the first book and the people differently and more wholly than those who have not read later books. Interesting feeling.

What a lovely gift to give your readers. Thanks so much!

I can feel it, I can smell it,I can hear it, I can see it.

Thank you, Louise. I decided to reread the whole series this summer so this is perfect. I just have Glass Houses left and will leave it until November.

I am rereading them too. Just finished How the Light Gets in, my absolute favorite. I cry at the end every time, so beautiful. Thanks.

How the Light Gets In is my absolute favorite so far. I love Leonard Cohen as well and felt so moved that he allowed the lines from his song Anthem to be used in this book. I can’t wait to read the next book.

that is my favorite, too!

Absolutely my favourite, also.

It’s a fond reminder of the layout of the village, love that!

When my brother, Mike, died, I imagined him in a place like Three Pines. The people there would appreciate his kind heart and gentle sense of humor.

How beautiful. I’d like to think that I’ll go there, too.

Ann, what a lovely thought as a way to honor the kind of person your bother was. Three Pines seems to capture a bit of heaven on earth.
Thanks for the series and postcard project, Louise! While in Quebec City this summer we were thrilled to visit the Lit & Hist Society.

Ann, what a lovely thought as a way to honor the kind of person your brother was. Three Pines seems to capture a bit of heaven on earth.
Thanks for the series and postcard project, Louise! While in Quebec City this summer we were thrilled to visit the Lit & Hist Society.

What a lovely thought. I’d love to think of my husband living there, waiting. Thank you.

What a sad thing it is to lose your brother, I have lost 2 younger brothers, one is still here. I am happy you find peace thinking of your brother in Three Pines.

I love it the thought. I wonder if my parents would want to live on the square or a bit out. My condoléances for your brother. I still have all my sisters and brothers. I cannot imagine loosing one. Sorry for your loss

When life gets tough for me I travel in my mind to Three Pines for peace and renewal. I grew up just south of the border in northern VT. I visualize again the fields and mountains, the rocks and the brooks, the sky and the ground, birds, and the smells of the freshly mown hay and the cow barn.

Love how Louise describes Three Pines. You just want to find it and stop by.
Enjoy the people and surroundings.

I feel exactly the same way. I can even imagine myself there, smelling the pines, and enjoying a coffee with the gang.

Book me in at the B&B!

Sorry, I don’t want to visit….I want to move there!!

Me tooooo! I have fallen so in love with these characters, I almost believe it’s all real.

Oh, but it is real. When I read these books, reality explodes from every page. Maybe that is why I really, really don’t want to stop reading – my other very intrusive reality always awaits. What do you think? Will Peter ever rejoin the town?

Glad to know that someone else is missing Peter. Maybe Louise got tired of him or decided he was a bad idea? For me, he’s a loose thread.

Thank you for starting these postcards.

Loving this already

Such a beautiful description of a place one would want to live.

…except for the ridiculously high crimerate. 🙂

But only once a year, Susan!

Because everybody at Three Pines has a skeleton in their closet, automatically as a new comer, you have to have one. That could be interesting

Interesting . . . I rather think we all come with our own baggage to wherever we are. I would bet there are a lot of other strangers who come to “Three Pines” but, not being ready to accept themselves–the first step to loving others–simply passed on through.We never read about them, because they are not ready to open themselves to others or even their own personal scrutiny of their lives. There is such a rich undercurrent to the books, the location, the townspeople (simply can’t describe them as characters–they are so real unto themselves), rich poetry quotes, symbolism–they feed the reader on many levels.

beautiful. My experience completely.

Spot on!!

LOL isn’t that the truth. But I still love it.

I never gave that any thought. Her stories are so well written and so intriguing, interesting and fun. I look forward to each and every “crime”.

It’s almost as bad as Cabot Cove….look how popular that series was/is still!

I have often made the same comparison to Colony Cove. How does such a small perfect place have so many well plotted crimes? Matters not, I guess, if the writing is good. I pre order my books every year and hold onto them until I know she is working on another before I will start to read it. The wonderful characters of Three Pines have me hooked.

I thought I was the only one who does that. Normally there is some bad weather in late January or February and the time seems right to embark on the journey.

Just what I was thinking.

Have you watched the BBC Series; Doc Martin or Midsomer Murders?
(Doc Martin doesn’t have murders-just lovely little town) Both filmed in beautiful Countryside.

I watch both of them on PBS in America.

I have been watching Midsomer Murders thru both detectives and I love the scenery and the whimsical names of English villages.
I occasionally watch Doc Martin and love the seaside village as well.

thats pretty true, if you go there, beware, because someone always dies….

🙂 This is how I describe her books to my friends, “it’s an idyllic village…..except for the murders…”

Every book Louise Penny writes makes me feel such joy, especially since I feel as if her characters are real people. If only I could live in Three Pines, and have someone like Armand Gamache, et al. as my friends. The houses, gardens, all the special places there sound so wonderful. Yes, the murder rates are a bit high, but I think it would be worth it, just to experience such a place. I am looking forward to the next “Gamache” with great anticipation.

I agree Ann Flynt..I would jump at a chance to live there. Do not believe I could get Hubby to though. He wouldn’t leave the US.
I do wish I had. Purchased all the books in hardback or even paperback instead of digital. Some ore on Kindle and the others are on Nook. I cannot get them all in one place. Guess that is an oh well!! At least I have them.

A liberated woman would have left on her own ; let the husband follow if he wants !

You might be able to have your local reference librarian, or possibly, Best Buy, who have very helpful employees, help you put them in order.

The books are listed in order at the end of this.

Don’t despair: look for the books in used bookstores. By using Powell’s Bookstore’s online wishlist feature, I was able to complete my collection. I treasure it!

I have to touch the leaves of paper….turn them slowly as I breathe. Tuck the book under my pillow….read ONLY a few pages at a time…make the miracle last and find something helpful to others to do while I wait for the next book. I’m getting old, maybe won’t get to read them all…boohoo.

Connie,
If you want the hardbacks, try abebooks.com. I bought all of mine there.

Ann, you have described exactly how I feel. I want to live in Three Pines for its beauty and the comfort of good friends. I so look forward to the next one!

Ann ..I will gladly be yoyr neighbor. Three Pines calks to me … love the setting and the inhabitants.

You expressed my feelings exactly! Went through a difficult divorce, but felt less lonely when I was reading this series. Love all the characters!

Is there a diagram drawn of Three Pines so I can picture it better? Love this town!

There is a map down the page on this site: https://wickedauthors.com/2015/09/14/maps-in-books/

That is a map for another author’s book. The map of Three Pines is in a hardcover book, drawn by Rhys Davis.

Missed the small link above for the early map for Three Pines. Sorry!

There is a map of Three Pines. I would gladly send it to you.

Hello Payricia. I too am a lover of Louise Penny’s books and was wondering if you would be so kind as to send me a copy of the map as well. I would really appreciate it very much. Thank you.

I have a map of Three Pines in my head, but I would so love to see a map if there is one.
On reading these comments, I read that there is a map. Could I have one send to me also. I love maps. And I love maps in books. I’ve read Donna Leon’s books and she has a map of Venice inside the cover that I hover over.
Three Pines is like a real village to me. I love Louise Penny and have read all her book, and her newsletters. Thanks in advance. Lis

No map in someone else’s head is better than that of my own

I’m wishing for a Map of Three Pines too!
I know that a drawing of the village exists. My Louise Penny Book club friends here in Tucson, Arizona have met to label the map drawing and to guess about who lives where. We read passages from the books for clues. Perhaps a map will be published in the future?