Art is certainly a consistent thread throughout the Three Pines canon.
Are there any real-life artists or works of art that come to mind when you envision Three Pines?
A Return to Three Pines: Still Life
Art is certainly a consistent thread throughout the Three Pines canon.
Are there any real-life artists or works of art that come to mind when you envision Three Pines?
Located in the Equitable Building in Manhattan, Minotaur Books publishes bestselling and award-winning crime fiction ranging from thrillers and suspense to traditional mysteries. Minotaur has published Louise Penny since 2007.
128 replies on “A Return to Three Pines: Still Life”
I agree about the movie of Still Life. Please don’t do that again! The actor was wrong (I did like him as Lynley) but more than that they didn’t seem to get the book and lost it soul. And they dodged the whole issue of the art. They took something magical and made it very pedestrian.
The description of Jane’s art made me think of Grandma Moses.
I have all the series on my Kindle and have read whole series three times. Eagerly awaiting next book coming in August. I love all the people in Three Pines, specially Ruth and her Duck. I usually start all over beginning of summer every other year, and read in between other books until I finish the series. Then start over the next summer.
Love Still Life and all the others. Louise Penny has the gift to bring you right into the piece od art that is involved in her books. You can feel the people running away with fear in the tiny sculptures or you are with the whole scene detected in the painted eye. Vous êtes dans le regard! I have read each book at least twice and keep discovering new artistic element. Madame Penny, you have such a gift. Thank you for sharing your treasure with us.
I read Still Life shortly after my beloved brother died. SI;ce Ihad difficulty picturing heaven, I imagined Michael in Three Pines.
I had read all of the books and I’m eagerly awaiting the next one. I’ve just spent the last two months listening to all of the books on audio book. It slows my mind down and I become part of the scene. I don’t know a lot about Canadian art but I’ve learned a lot about the art through Louise. These are my favorite book series of all and I am an avid reader.
I have learned about Canaxian artists through the Gamache series. The first to come to mind is Emily Carr. Now I will look up Cathie Odom and Maud Lewis
Hi Velda… nice to (virtually) meet you ! Thanks for saying you’ll look me and my oil paintings up. That is SUCH an encouragement !!!
I love all the references to art in the novels, even the literary references. They are so inspiring. I wouldn’t call myself an artist, but I’ve done some watercolors. Three Pines would be a great place for that medium.
Every spring, when the announcement comes out for a new Gamache book, I reread all of the series up to the last one. I am on book 5 now. I love Three Pines and the characters that dwell there. It becomes my happy place.
Loved this book I’m impatiently waiting for the next.While I wait I think I’ll start all over again from the beginning.After all isn’t that why we buy books so we can read again and again. Thanks
The art, culture and food that is woven throughout the stories not only makes them more interesting, but is another anchor to reality; you believe you’ve just read about real people doing real things. And learning about other cultures is always interesting, and sometimes surprising (people are both so different and so…the same!). I’ve learned a lot just about Quebec and it’s own idiosyncrasies…
I’ve always thought of this series as comfort food for the mind and soul. In spite of stress and sorrow (in the stories and in my life) I know that art, friends, family and yes, joy, will ultimately be there to comfort my friends at Three Pines and me.
Yes, please make a tv series—preferably Netflix—on this series. Then we can enjoy all of Louise’s tales once again and carp about which is better, book or series, in a playful way. I would have thought that CBC needed a new work now that Schitt’s Creek is finished.
CBC’s production was terrible. It was many years ago, however and many of the network’s more recent productions have been excellent – Murdoch Mysteries or example.
I agree with PATCAT – I prefer excellent books to stay on the page.
I love it when Gamache stops his car..
‘At the top of the hill Armand Gamache stopped the car and got out. He looked down at the village and his heart soared. He looked over the rooftops and imagined the good, kind, flawed people inside struggling with their lives. People were walking their dogs, raking the relentless autumn leaves, racing the gently falling snow. They were shopping at M. Beliveau’s general store and buying baguettes from Sarah’s boulangerie. Olivier stood at the Bistro doorway and shook out a tablecloth. Life was far from harried here. But neither was it still.’
I’ve learned so much about the various aspects of the multi-faceted art world from Louise’s magnificent Three Pines series. With each book different genres are introduced, and I’m stunned with the depth of research necessary for the final product. Each book has amazing factual events intertwined with narratives. These novels are not just stories, but must be at least a Doctoral program into the art and craft of stunning writing. Thank you Louise Penny. Our lives have been so enriched. ☮️
One of the first things I did when I was in Knowlton (Lac Brome) for the book launch was to find the painting of Fair Day that Jane did and submitted to the Art Committee. It was great fun to see it.
I agree – I took a one day guided tour around the Knowlton area a few years ago. We visited various sites Louise used as a basis for places in her books. It was wonderful – very knowledgeable guide and excellent tour.
One of the stops was to see the replica of Jane’s “Fair Day”.
I plan to return once it is safe to travel again. I’m from Ontario and loved what I saw of the Eastern Townships.
From my first reading of “Still Life”, throughout all the books that followed, the thing that, to me, has set Louise Penny’s books apart has been the honesty. Only one who has done the hard, painful work of truly knowing themselves could imbue their characters with such human reality.
Well said, Linda. I totally agree!
Jane, her art and her murder set the stage for great mystery and great beauty.
I always hang the calendars with art by Evgeny Lushpin- very warm and cozy landscape and village scenes. Love them!
I love the fact that art plays such an important role in Still Life. Plus the closeness of the residents who make Three Pines such a comforting place to live.