A Return to Three Pines: The Cruelest Month

The five senses play a powerful part in all of Louise’s books, from taste to sight to smell.
What scents come to mind when you think of Three Pines?
The five senses play a powerful part in all of Louise’s books, from taste to sight to smell.
What scents come to mind when you think of Three Pines?
The feel of the snow falling, the sound of wind and crunching leaves in the woods and the taste of the delicious foods from the bistro and bakery!
From the Gamache quote, I’m inhaling the scent of lilacs. I’m drinking in peonies, daffodils, dogwoods, and hydrangeas. However, the bistro has ☕️, , , first thing in the morning. Later, the aromas for melted Brie, quiche, French onion soup, and scotch/wine/Diet Coke knock me out while solving murders. My most favorite food discovery from Three Pines is the avocado, apple, honey, lime, green onion salsa. This is so refreshing in springtime, but when it’s topped on a juicy cheeseburger, it’s a game changer. Thank you Louise for your inspiration and talents. Stay healthy, ☮️
Is there a recipe to share here?
Definitely the fragrant smells of baking & cooking hover in the bowl shaped village. The crisp scent of pine & autumn leaves. The brook bubbles up it’s own flavor of dewy wetness. Does snow & ice really have an odor? Not if your nose is frozen & bones are brutally cold!
The aroma of the food that is in the Bistro is so enticing. As one who has lost her sense of smell (not Covid-related), any description of aromas is welcome.
We have visited Eastern townships twice and oh so want to return.
I remember the smell of fallen leaves and the sound of walking the paths through the leaves. It is a beautiful place in the fall. Hoping to visit again!!
I’m homesick already!
Having grown up in northern New York state this brings back so many memories, smells, and tastes. I can picture myself in Three Pines with all the characters you write about. Would love to go to the bistro one time.
You are just an hour and a half from my home in VT, and April brings a promise of spring, green arrives, but then it snows. It is cruel to see the snow kill early flowers, but then when snow comes, I want to visit the bistro and have hot chocolate and quiche. I could see, smell, and taste this book!
Growing up in the north, I can relate to the smalls and feel of the seasons in Three Pines. I would love to have croissants from the bakery and enjoy them with onion soup at the cafe.
In Maine the crisp smell of the last spring snow fall on the thawing earth bring the joy of knowing spring flowers are on the way.
I look forward one day to traveling the familiar byways l’ve learned from Louise and her family of characters. I can’t think of a better adventure than finding the inspiration of Three Pines and tasting the delights offered!
The scent of the fireplaces at the bistro and in the Gamache home. Oil paint. Baked salmon.
I love it when people sit by the fire at the Bistro, I can imagine having a drink, watching it snow and smelling the wood burn.
When I read Louise Penny’s books I am THERE. I feel Three Pines and beyond with all of my senses. I also look up the places on a map. Especially on the trip up the St. Lawrence river on that adventure. I looked up photos of Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. I have learned so much about the province of Quebec. I would love to visit and explore someday. I have your two new books on reserve on Amazon. Exciting!!
A Rule Against Murder – one of my favourites in the series. Such genuine humanity; all those imperfect, interwoven lives. Loved it. Favourite line, “The Morrows dabbed dry eyes and moist brows”
I love the smell of outside. I go out every morning and take a few deep breaths to smell the fresh morning air and what ever is riding on it. Sometimes it’s the different trees or the grass or the smell of coming rain or snow or the flowers that are working their way out depending on the season. Then some mornings I can smell someone’s breakfast cooking. That is always a comforting smell.