Join us here in The Bistro for a discussion on the entire Gamache series. Feel free to ask or answer any questions about any of the books or the series as a whole.
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3,639 replies on “The Bistro”
Reading of Ralph Cosham’s death last week reminded me that I have never heard the audiobooks he did of the series. They received such good comments from you folks that I requested Bury Your Dead be sent to my branch library. I am looking forward to hearing it.
Oh, no! I will miss his voice so much on future books.
Yes, Millie, Peter was living Ruth’s nightmare (what she loved would disappear), and so was Professor Massey.
Julie, “gobsmacked” is a great word isn’t it. I LOL every time I read it. Just never found the opportunity to use it.
I’m thinking of rereading all the posts starting from the very beginning. I think there may be unmined gold…for me at least. It will take a long time as so many activities come up in the Fall and keep me away from my laptop. I’ll post any comments here and reference the source.
Millie, I’ve been thinking of your comment “where good intentions stir things up” concerning future books. Poor Nichol to have such a well intentioned act go so dreadfully wrong. I agree, we will see more of this idea of good intentions gone wrong. After all, it is a sad fact of reality.
Friends and I have discussed that programs and ideas we advocated later turned into something no one foresaw. We have tried to determine at just what point everything went wrong. The best we have determined is that much is like a see-saw. At first everything is balanced. Changes, sometimes almost minute, occur and suddenly—Bang. Unbalanced.
Cathryne, Thanks for telling us about the vive Gamache mugs. A must have. I have already put a mug and a tote on my wish list for Christmas.
Lizzy, Your comment about the Licorice pipe from an old fashioned store reminded me of Mast General Store. I checked their site—Licorice pipes en route. I’ll be able to enjoy a pipe while here at the Bistro.
I too love these books. Read the first one on holiday in Canada in 2013 and I have now read the full canon and just got no 18. If ThreePines were a real place I would retire there from Scotland where I live. The characters are so real and the setting idyllic. Looking forward to seeing Alfred Molina tomorrow. Thank you Louise
Hi Julie, glad you like the idea of always adding a comment / reply at the bottom and referencing either Person / time post or just the comment.
With regards to walking on a slanted ‘floor’, obviously it didn’t occur to me either. :-/ But I was told it’s a common problem with runners or people who walk outside. Be sure if it’s slanted to return on the same side…
When I first wrote about it I had thought of mentioning how strange it seemed to find out that what I thought was a ‘good’ thing to do could instead be harmful in terms of the series. But other thoughts bumped there way to the front. Look at all the damage that Nichol did by releasing the video… Her intention was good. Outcome for Jean Guy – disastrous.
There’s an annoying little voice in my head that keeps whispering that in future books we may find other instances where good intentions stir things up in unexpected ways.
As for “the French idea that even children drink wine at meals…” It not just a French idea, tho I see your point about the characters are French Canadian. I have family members who live scattered around the world. We all drank wine with our meal as children – a splash of wine with carbonated water, no ice. Interestingly, where I spent my teen years, there were no “I’m 21 and can drink now” drunkenness. The ‘cool’ thing was to know when to stop. Is the law of not being allowed to drink anything until 21 a ‘good intention’ that backfired? No idea…
Millie – several of the things you said really startled me. First of all – that you could do such damage to your hip simply by always walking the same way on a slanted floor – it makes sense in retrospect, but I’d never have thought it. Here’s where I get to use one of my favorite words – I’m gobsmacked!
“I started to love TLWH from the beginning because Gamache had to do his ‘physio’ too. It did strike me odd tho that he has no more trouble walking once out of Three Pines…” – I hadn’t thought of that at all – and they walked all around that little town, and at the end, to the top of the hill to find where Peter was, at Norman’s cabin. He was doing well, but I wouldn’t have thought it was that well, hahaha (I constantly get Norman and Massey mixed up, because I have it firmly planted in my brain – “Massey good” “Norman no-good”! Have had to go back and correct a lot – so if I get them mixed up somewhere in here, I mean the other way around…
“And I was really surprised that Jean Guy was going to AA meetings! I thought he was only addicted to the pills…” – I think that a lot of addicts stay away from alcohol and go to AA meetings, because alcohol becomes a trigger for other things. It IS a drug in lots of ways, and I think it’s just safer for him to stay away from everything. My step-daughter is an addict and goes to NA, but also to AA – I think the “original” is a good place for people to learn the basics. And, of course, LP might have simply meant a “12-step program” and AA meetings becomes like “Kleenex”, or “Coke” – it’s what you call everything of a kind.
“I must admit my jaw dropped when I would read that the inspectors were having a beer at lunch while ‘on duty’. Is this OK in Canada or just the world of Three Pines?” – I was surprised about that, too. I think regular police officers (in uniform) would be in big trouble in Canada if they drank on duty – but this is the first I ever heard of any police doing that. It may stem from the French idea that even children drink wine at meals… but I think if something bad happened, it could be a big problem.
Hi Julie, I hadn’t thought about the police having a beer with their lunch – I didn’t even notice it. These, of course, are not regular policemen on a beat, but solving crimes after the fact. They don’t drink enough to get drunk, but still it is surprising.
Julie, with reference to the detectives having a beer with lunch; my grandpa always had a beer with lunch and another with dinner. He said “It’s food. Made with grain and puts hair on your chest.” I was well past legal drinking age before I had my first beer!
My husband and I spent 4 years in Europe with the RCAF in the early 60’s and found the practice of having a glass of wine with dinner to be very pleasant. In our early 80’s now and it’s still very nice!
Anna, you will love the Three Pines mugs! We’ve had ours for years and are wonderful for cafe’ au lait and hot chocolate. I sit in front of the fire with mine and pretend i’m In the bistro.
Millie – I like the idea of knowing for sure that the latest comments are at the end. I, for one, applaud this approach!
Lynne – I think you expressed yourself beautifully – far more eloquently than I ever do! I love that the poem was written for Peter, and that it also helped Jean Guy so much.
Linda, I got shivers reading the poem in its entirety. Clara DID, indeed, pick Peter up and guide him into paradise – home… So moving. I don’t know why I didn’t realize it was the same poem while reading the book – I loved the whole sequence of Jean Guy trying not to read the little scraps of paper, and finally, of him struggling to put them in order (who knows WHAT those crazy Anglos might think is the right order?) As I recall, there was a lion there, as well – Annie… All so connected. And so beautiful!
Yes, I thought about Annie and how “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” put her to sleep in her infancy, as Armand drove his little lion around in the car.
Thank you Cathryne, I missed that posting. I should go back and read them all. I’m sure I missed others. And I think you’re both right. Maybe Brian and the judge can help Gamache come to terms with his own parents’ death? Chartrand is certainly too young. Someone 10 years older than Gamache…
I was captivated by the books from the beginning. I read a review of Still Life and couldn’t wait to read it. Mystery and Quebec ….What else could I want ? Tourism ads had alerted me to the beauty and uniqueness of the City and Provence years before. I have been to Canada a few times and love it and the people. The cities are so clean …. at least where I have been. No litter, which is a pet peeve of mine as my rants to the newspaper and calls to local government offices will attest. My trips have always been to Ontario as all the tours that originate in this area have somewhere in Ontario as the destination.
Reading the wonderful descriptions of Quebec make me feel I am there .
Barbara and Millie, re Jean-Guy attending AA meetings, there’s a very good post from Lynne about that in the TLWH discussion, chapters 31-41, p. 4, ninth post up from bottom. Sounds like a treasure clue!
Cathryne, Thanks for the info. I just went back and read the posting. I don’t even remember reading it before. Must have skipped it……probably along with others.
I was repeating the location of the post aloud too myself when my husband asked what game. I was playing. LOL
Yes, I went back and read Lynne’s post about Jean-Guy attending AA. It made a lot of sense. Thanks, Lynne.
Lynne, I found the reference to ‘nightmares’ I was looking for. Chapter 31, starts at the bottom of page 277. Ruth speaking on the phone to Gamache about Peter:
She sounded as tho she was telling a ghost story. A horrible, haunting tale, of the things she herself most feared. Not that a monster would appear, but that what she loved would disappear.
Peter Morrow was living her nightmare. All their nightmares.
That made me pause, and cry a bit when I first read it. Not for Peter, or even Ruth (tho I hope she remains in Three Pines for a long time!!!) but for myself, for my family, for everyone. Don’t we all, at some point(s) in our lives, fear that what (who) we love will disappear? And it’s not just as we get ‘elderly’ – love the idea of avoiding the ‘o’ word. 😉
This is a perfect example of why, I think, Ms Penny’s books are best sellers: she touches upon universal topics. I sometimes wonder if readers are enjoying including, in their reading list, escaping to a place where kindness exists.
Someone told me once that old is 10 years older than you are right now.
I like that one, Linda! I think I was the one who wanted to avoid the “o” word!
Anna, I sure do look at the ‘Pain’ as a part of healing. And it IS getting old, but there’s progress. Though I must say I giggled at Barbara’s ‘therapy can be such a PAIN’! Yep!
There’s a saying in Spanish that roughly translates to: ‘there isn’t one ‘bad’ thing that doesn’t come to us for a good reason.’ I must say now ‘I was wrong’. Didn’t break ribs, fracture is the correct term and it makes a huge difference. I don’t care what language, when I’m hurting ‘Medical Speak’ is just noise. And ribs are OK now.
Now for the ‘good’ that came of this… X-Rays showed one hip was higher than the other. For the twelve years we’ve lived here I walked a lot clockwise around the pool thinking I was getting good exercise. Well, pool deck is tilted down away from pool. At the same angle as my current hips!
I had gotten to where I couldn’t understand why simple things were leaving me in such pain. Now I know. So I figure it took 12 years to get this way, it’s going to take more than a few days to reverse the ‘damage’. And I’m working hard at it. Thru tears sometimes. There! Now, you blessed souls are updated on my physical state. But let’s change the subject for a while cause I know you care but soon I won’t just derail the topic, it’ll be a full train wreck! 😉
I started to love TLWH from the beginning because Gamache had to do his ‘physio’ too. It did strike me odd tho that he has no more trouble walking once out of Three Pines…
And I was really surprised that Jean Guy was going to AA meetings! I thought he was only addicted to the pills…
I must admit my jaw droped when I would read that the inspectors were having a beer at lunch while ‘on duty’. Is this OK in Canada or just the world of Three Pines?
I do. Escaping to where kindness exists is one of my favourite things about these books. But also the universal themes. The idea of loved ones disappearing is a bit too close to home though.
Millie, you will have to walk counterclockwise around the pool for a while! Kidding stick to the physical therapy.
My first LP was Bury Your Dead. What drew me in was the blurb on the back. Who could resist a shivering city and crackling cold ancient walls and the promise of an old library. But what totally locked me in was the first page. In a couple of paragraphs there was action and intrigue and Gamache whose compassion and care was writ large from the first moment. I wanted to follow him into danger and see what would develop. What a talent to hook the reader from the first lines.
I think I had an advantage starting my journey to Three Pines in the middle as the characters were already more solidly evolved, the story was at an action moment. I went straight back and started at the beginning and I don’t think I suffered at all from that entry point. I heard LP talk about this in one of the videos as someone asked what would be a good starting book other than the first. I think this one was.
Don’t know why I wanted to mention that now but I was thinking about how fast I was drawn in to the world of LP and the importance of first pages when attracting readers. This was one of the most engaging I have seen and it was the character as much as the story that caught my attention.
This should have been after Millie’s next post or it makes little sense.
That has happened to me too. Some of my posts don’t “stick” to where I think they will and it sounds like I’m singing, “What do you do with a drunken sailor?”
My entry point was “The Beautiful Mystery”. The descriptions of light, rainbows, when darkness was expected… Jean Guy’s humor… just captivated me. Actually it was in Audio version and it begins with Gregorian Chants. I love them. Took me back – oh never mind, long story – sheepish grin… The ending was so sad to me. I had to read the series from the beginning. Yet knowing what was to come only heightened my appreciation of the books.
I wish I had been able to participate in all the rereads… I love how “The Bistro” is “the Garden of Three Pines Speculation”. 😀
I was surprised to read that Jean Guy went AA too. I have read that people addicted to drugs were not really welcome in AA and Narcotics Anonymous was organized for them. The addictions differ even though there are commonalities.
The beginning of the discussion about The Long Way Home.
“Sometimes when I resist a change, shifting my perspective by one small notch makes everything fall into place.”
Brilliant Cathryne…that is to be my motto or mantra! So well said.
Cathryne & Anna, I like Gamache’s “The mind is its own place. We can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven.” It IS all about perspective, isn’t it? And that thought led to this one, Gamache talking to Nichol: “Life is choice.” It amazes me the number of different nuances that each person brings to the discussion of even the same scene. Our life experiences predisposition us to view the same thing in a particular way. That’s the beauty of this group. We get to see other perspectives. None is right or wrong. Just different. All expand our mind.
Millie, those two quotes have totally stuck with me since I read them. Life is choice and our interpretation is crucial to how we face each day.
I am not sure if you see your pain as a healing process, it can be hard to think that because pain messes with our heads, but it is. I am trying to see the good each day but it doesn’t stop the other thoughts.
We have been keen to elevate Peter positively in this book and focus on his growth and goodness
Oops, it was “…drugstore shiny cover book”!
Cathryne, one of my sister-in-law’s says I have ‘Shiny Book Syndrome’. A book in my hands / or earphones for the audio and the outside world ceases to exist. I’m in 7th heaven. The genre doesn’t matter as long as I find the topic of interest, or fall in love with an author’s writing style. Words are a form of magic for me. Metaphors, analogies… they make my neurons fire with joy. Only certain pieces of music do that for me. But the right combination of words… every time. 🙂
Millie, that’s why I love the poetry in these books!! But some music does it for me too. I particularly love the music of Bach.
Millie, I loved your post and share your feelings!
I have been rereading posts from the beginning of the discussion and I am amazed, so perceptive and beautifully expressed. I hope some readers who were initially disappointed in TLWH have or will read those posts. Sometimes when I resist a change, shifting my perspective by one small notch makes everything fall into place.
Meg, a phrase you used has been making me smile since I read it, “shiny drugstore books.” I can’t walk past shiny drugstore/grocery store/airport books without being pulled aside. Perfect description!
Paul, Thank you, Thank You. Not only do we have this site to continue our discussions, but the welcoming picture to remind us Three Piners of the Bistro. Who would have thought of all the reread turned into. Again, deepest thanks to you. Also Thanks to LP and her awesome talent. Without her none of this world of Three Pines would exist.
Thanks for being here, Barbara.
My thanks also to Paul and to Louise. Who could have imagined that this group would take such joy in discussing her books that we’ve become “Three Piners” and didn’t want to let it go. I think having “The Bistro” is perfect, not only to discuss the books, but to keep in touch with each other. People in this little community have shared a lot of personal things about their lives. It’s wonderful that they have felt themselves in such a safe place with such caring friends. If I were an author and my books generated such a response, I would be totally amazed! Although we don’t see Louise, we certainly care for her too.
My pleasure, Sylvia.
I am posting in response to Linda’s remarks on the Reading Group Guide page about Ruth’s poem in relation to both Peter and Jean-Guy. When Ruth explained that she had written it for Peter, I remembered immediately about her having given it to Jean-Guy. As always with Louise’s writing, it made me feel more than I think I have writing ability to express–I’m not nearly as articulate as some of the posters on this forum–but I’m going to try. I think that perhaps the similarities between Peter and Jean-Guy don’t so much point to the future, but are drawing attention to the fact both of them began very closed off from their hearts and have been on a journey to reconnect with their emotional selves(Jean-Guy almost from the beginning of the series, but Peter only since Clara told him to leave). I think their two journeys also connect to the ideas of fate/luck/chance/self-determination embodied in the story about Samara. Though they started at a similar place, Jean-Guy and Peter ended up in very different circumstances. Jean-Guy is facing a happy future(though of course there will be struggles and setbacks, because life is like that) and Peter is dead. Is it just luck? Both of them had encounters with violent criminals, but Jean-Guy lived. Jean-Guy also survived his addictions when many others don’t. Or maybe it’s the differences between them. It always seemed to me that Jean-Guy had switched off his emotions because he couldn’t deal with the ugliness he saw in his work if he had to feel it, but that Peter was emotionally stunted because of his cold and unloving family. Jean-Guy kept reaching for emotional connections,though hestitantly–to Gamache, to Ruth, to Annie–almost despite himself. But Peter would probably have gone on just as he was if Clara hadn’t gotten fed up. Also, though the poem was about Peter, he probably didn’t know it that it was. In order to properly put the poem together, Jean-Guy had to really engage with it and absorb the message that love can heal the damage inflicted by senseless cruelty. Even though I’ve gone on at great length, I’m not sure I’ve said what I intended, but I hope this makes some sense.
You expressed it beautifully!
When Gamache stated that Peter was on a quest to rediscover his heart Ruth said he was on a quest to discover his heart. A person could not rediscover something they had never once found.
Ruth has always had an affinity for Jean Guy and has seemed like a watch person over his heart and soul through several books. It was she who placed her most cherished Rosa in Jean Guy’s arms and reminded him of that Deity that could also heal.
Both Jean Guy and Peter are eventually healed, each made their way down treacherous roads. Jean Guy was forced to shoot the one person he most cared for, and Peter gave his life for the one he most loved.
For those who don’t recall the poem in question:
I just sit where I am put, composed
Of stone and wishful thinking:
that deity who kills for pleasure
Will also heal
That in the midst of your nightmare,
The final one, a kind lion
Will come with bandages in her mouth
And the soft body of a woman
And lick you clean of fever,
And pick your soul up gently
By the nape of the neck
And caress you into darkness
And paradise.
Though not printed in its entirety in TLWH, it was this poem that showed, to me, the miracle of Ruth. For Jean Guy it was a warning. For Peter It was as though she knew the end from the beginning.
Peter found his heart just before he was stabbed in the heart. In the midst of his final nightmare Clara picked him up gently and caressed him into darkness and paradise.
Thanks Linda, more clarity. Didn’t see your comment till after I posted mine. So many paths to understanding what Louise makes us feel…
Thank you Linda for sharing that wonderful poem, I enjoyed it again today when I was reading your comment. Gigi
Lynne, makes perfect sense and very well said. Great job! (And please don’t doubt your ability to be articulate – you just proved you are! :-)) It was what I was starting to think too, but you highlighted so much more than I ever would have thought of. I was noticing other things as I reread the last few chapters of TBT. It’s the only LP book I’ve read only once – it hurt too much to see Olivier become an ‘outsider’ – ‘beyond the pale’…
I loved how you said these books make us “feel” so much. Very true for me. So I decided to reread the last few chapters…
I had completely forgotten that Clara had painted herself. Thérèse Brunel says “The Fall. My God, you’ve painted the Fall. That moment. She’s not even aware of it, is she? Not really, but she sees something, a hint of the horror to come. The Fall from Grace.” Then asks Clara what she is afraid of: “I’m afraid of not recognizing Paradise.”
That’s right before Jean Guy pieces the entire poem together. He’s already recognized that Annie is Paradise for him, not Enid. I totally agree with you that Jean Guy took a very long way home but made it out on the other side of his nightmare.
There’s another mention of ‘living everyone’s nightmare’ in TLWH, but I’m tired and don’t recall exactly where… Tomorrow?
Thank you to Millie and Linda and anyone else for your kind comments about my post. I think I will probably be joining in more since the discussion has become more general; sometimes before my thoughts didn’t fit within the boundaries of the discussion questions, and I didn’t want to derail things. It would be nice if there was some 3 Pines fan out there who had the skill to build an actual discussion forum with separate threads for various topics. It would be easier to follow things that way.
Millie, Annie was Jean-Guy’s “kind lion” – she has been thought of as a lion from when she was very young. It was key that when Jean-Guy returned to consciousness, it was Annie who was holding his hand, not Enid. In fact, if it had been Enid, he said he wouldn’t have bothered to return.
Lynne you are perfectly articulate. Seems we all have such self doubt as another commonality of Three Piners. The mere act of composing the post is often how the thoughts start to pull together.
I doubt I make much sense at the moment, I am having trouble finding my words, but I wanted to say hi and thank you Paul for flinging open the doors.
Anna, you expressed what I’ve been thinking , “The mere act of composing the post is often how the thoughts start to pull together.” Also, someone else’s response often takes me where I needed to go next.
Sorry this is a hard time for you. I got up to have a cup of camomile tea and graham crackers. I went out and rifled through the car until I found the box of graham crackers that I KNEW I bought today! Hug your dear 13 year old daughter who is not at the easiest age to be and remember that both you and your mom are likely to be surprised by joy sometimes in the next days and weeks. My best thoughts are with you.
Thank you Barbara. I giggled at the image of you rummaging in the car, perhaps muttering as I would “I know they are here somewhere, unless aliens have a taste for Graham Crackers!” We know what they are but can’t get them here so making s’mores is tricky!
Hugged the not so little girl a lot yesterday as she went on the train for a four day school adventure. Missing her buckets.
Mum not settling but they will move her to the dementia unit today or tomorrow.
We have been surprised by Joy at odd times. The kindness of different nursing staff, meeting other sweet residents, and the amazing thing is that a spot even opened in the dementia unit in a timely way and we were offered it. If I take a glass half full approach, these are all good things but it’s still emotionally very challenging.
It is so lovely to come here and just be me for a while. I was getting a little panicky as last week drew to a close wondering what would happen but I did trust Paul, thank you.
Sorry Cathryne, I meant you. Will post to Barbara bow and try not to call her Cathryne!!
Now! Not bow! Eh gads Lynne, please don’t ever question your ability to be articulate, obviously it hasn’t stopped me posting……
ANNA, you made me laugh! And LYNNE, ‘derail-a-topic’ could be my middle name! Didn’t stop me either! I even thanked Paul once for so graciously allowing me to be so “off topic”. His reply was that there was no ‘off topic’ among friends. 🙂
I think a lot of us are ‘Surprised by Joy’ of having this little community to go to.
If I may offer a suggestion… Some comments go unnoticed because of the need to scroll back. If everyone just added their comment to the bottom and referenced the person, or comment then everyone could go to where they left off reading and no one would ‘run out’ of where to comment. Just an idea. Any thoughts on this approach?
Made my heart smile to see you stop by the Bistro, Anna. 🙂 I read once, “I don’t know what I’m thinking until I write it down and read it.” I don’t remember who said it but it rang true for me – probably why I ramble on so much. I can relate to what you said; just trying to pull my thoughts together. And that’s getting harder. The doctors have started me on physical therapy to me sure I maintain muscle strength in other areas. I feel like ET – Ouch. I wake up often at night thinking, well THIS position hurts. :-/ But I’m trying to write every day – if only a few dozen words. They are a dog’s breakfast but it’s something. Hope you are writing too. We can do this!
And hope you’re mom is adjusting to her place now and you’re getting a bit more rest. Big hug!
Hi, Millie. I hope the aches and pains lessen. Physical Therapy can be such a “Pain”.
In a posting on the previous site you mentioned studying a type of meditation. Two ideas: Your interests seem very varied which makes for an interesting person. When I read about “confusion”, I had a laugh. Now I know I’m not just confused but in a high state of consciousness. Always enjoy your thoughts.
Barbara, I laughed at your “interesting person” comment. My husband uses the word “interesting” when he is trying to being polite and doesn’t want to come right out and say he doesn’t like something. lololol 🙂
Oh dear Millie, I am glad you are having therapy but the pain is not nice. Make sure you have some regular pain relief and that you are kind to yourself in other ways as this part of the process can be tiring, even though it is progress.
Good girl for writing, I was so pleased to hear that. I hadn’t done any for a week…..couldn’t think of anything but Mum, but I gave my brother the first part of the book. He has encouraged me to go back and look at what I had done so I started editing a bit last night. Actually the break has been good to see things more clearly. Hearing you are writing has further inspired me to keep trying. Thanks Millie.
My husband is reading TLWH now. Funny though but he doesn’t analyse like we do, just reads. I am going to re read again so I can be more useful in discussion.
Perhaps he also absorbs as he reads. He just doesn’t analyze out loud?
Good Morning, Anna. I hope today will be a good one for you and your family. Posting really does help me to sort out what I think. I am amazed at the insights of others. I truly think I am learning to read with more care. I often read fiction and nonfiction with a certain goal in mind and pass over other components. It is like one reads when researching a very narrow idea. I look forward to reading with “new eyes”.
It’s funny Barbara but I often read, not for a specific goal at all but find common threads between one area of reading and another. I am a synthesizer, I look for connections.
Thank you for kind thoughts as always. So nice to check in and find so many well wishers. I can’t say how lovely that is, just to be able to be somewhere kind.
Hi, Lynne. Sometimes after I comment, I reread it and wonder if I said what I wanted to say. You’ve probably noticed that we sometimes add clarifications in another post. I agree that Jean Guy had turned his emotions off to be able to endure all he saw. Poor Peter had not developed emotionally because of his mother.
Glad you joined in. Look forward to your future posts.
Hi everyone, I’m very happy to see you all at The Bistro and I’m tickled to death to find we can order “Vive Gamache” mugs! Thanks, Julie, for telling us where to get them.
I was thinking about Jean-Guy and his emotional difficulties, and realizing that we actually know very little about his own background. There have been hints that his young days were not particularly happy ones, so maybe his family stunted his emotional growth in their particular way, just as Peter’s family had stunted his. Something in his background had left him so angry that he became impossible to work with, which is why he was stuck down in the evidence room when Gamache found him. He has changed a lot in TLWH, I find. He seems much more gentle and kind. Loving Annie and being loved back, no doubt is a big factor in that change.
Well, the part about Peter just going on being Peter made sense to me. 🙂
Lynne, I’m not certain my reply to you is where it belongs. I hope you find it!
Katy Gibbs here again. – I was wrong it was Nathaniel Parker – I could not get very much into
The movie mostly because Gamache did not have a British accent. I hope Molina does. Has Louise ever commented on this movie Still Life 2013?
Where can I buy the vive Gamache mugs? My brother-in-law and I are both Louise Penny readers and I want one for him for a Christmas gift. And one for me because…
Hi, Pat – you can buy them here:
http://bookmanager.com/1178946/
This is Louise’s local book shop.
Thanks, Julie
Thank you so much for the link. I just ordered my own mug and tote.
A word to the wise! I love my Gamache/Three Pines mug but must advise that a dishwasher will eventually cause the stencils to disappear. Washing by hand is the way to go.
Funny story. I was in an old fashioned candy store. I saw the licorice pipes and bought one to enjoy while reading the new book. I totally forgot about it till I came across it the other day. I’ll have to enjoy here at the bistro now. Lol
Perfect timing!
Also put the series’ audio books on your Christmas list! They’re a treasure!!