The Bistro

Julie, I agree, Ruth was not how I envisioned her either. I was okay with Jean Guy and Lacoste, although I saw Isabelle as smaller and darker. The time was too short to actually develop any character. Well I am off. Happy Easter everyone.

Marcia, I have read that Louise was also disappointed in the outcome. I think it is very hard for a writer to give up her characters to others to interpret, because, of course, they are not going to be able to meet your expectations when you’ve been imagining them just as they should be! I agree, the casting wasn’t quite right with a lot of the main characters. The one I was the most disappointed in was Ruth, because she was just a nice old lady, hahaha. Then again, they couldn’t portray the true nature of the relationships in such short snippets and with “cleaned up for TV language! I remember enjoying it, but knowing as I went into it that it wasn’t going to be the “real thing”.

I just watched Still Life on Acorn tv. Did not think actor who played Gamache was good, not kind enough. It was too short to give depth to any of the characters. Very disappointing.

Louise – what wonderful memories you made of those discussions with your father! I think Louise is remarkable for the depth she brings to her characters and her unerring ability to find the nuggets of gold in Canadian history and geography.

I couldn’t agree more. What a surprise it will be to serve pain dore for breakfast on Easter. Followed by Sugar pie later for dessert. My dad will be stumped at my culinary Quebecois prowess!

I am so very happy to have found the bistro. I stumbled upon the Gamache series when my library suggested I read Still Life based on my previous selections.

My 87 year old father was born in St Gervais, Quebec and settled in the USA. This series reminds me of childhood visits to Canada. My dad is terminally ill and each day is a gift with him. I have been discussing the story rich with Quebecois history with him and his eyes light up with each topic. Samuel de Champlain was a long discussion and he prompted me to do some additional research. I am grateful for the timing of my “find” and will miss these discussions.

Thank you Louise Penny for an amazing gift and thank God for planting the seed of storytelling in you. Bisous xxx Louise

Welcome, Marcia – I hope you like it here. A bunch of us “hang around” waiting for each new book, and in the meantime talk about lots of different things… not much longer to wait for the next one now…

Thanks, Julie. Took me awhile to find those Bistro again.

I have just found the Gamache books this winter. I am currently rereading as I read quickly the first time. I just found The Bistro and will read through all the comments. I love Three Pines and all its inhabitants, especially Armand. Thank you Louise for these fabulous books. I am transported to this lovely village as soon as I sit down to read.

Excerpt from Glass Houses available from Louise’s Facebook page with a way to opt out “…in case you don’t want to know.” I know not everyone does but I’m in every time, every scrap offered, no hesitation. Life offers quite enough opportunities for me to wait in suspense. Lovely surprise! Thanks!

I love the way you put it, Cathryne – “Life offers quite enough opportunities for me to wait in suspense.”

Hi Everyone
Late in the game here so you may have already found your licorice…..Y & S distributes licorice cigars with red ends here in Canada. Hershey’s owns Y and S or something like that so I’m sure if you looked up Y and S or Hershey’s websites you will find your cigars. Only thing is you will have to let them sit uncovered for a bit so they get hard and stale like when I was a kid and they were sold in the convenience stores

So fun to remember those times, isn’t it? Loved it all.

We had one too and on Saturday we were allowed 10 cents of mixed lollies (what we call candy). If you were feeling frugal you could get gumdrops which were 2 for 1 cent. I liked cobbers (chocolate covered caramel squares and they were 2 c each. When I was older inflation meant we were getting 20 cents of mixed lollies and they were put in a little white bag. You ate them slowly and twisted the top closed after you took one to try and stop yourself eating another straight away. If you waited too long to eat them all or it was hot and humid, the bag could get a bit damp and stick to the lollies so it was a juggle.
Yep, I feel old too Julie but it doesn’t seem that long ago. Loved the old corner store. There is still one where I live in Australia. It is primarily a cafe but has some grocery shelves and lollie jars behind the counter. It is opposite the high school so he has a ready made clientele.

We had a small grocery shop in the neighborhood where I grew up. I loved that candy counter. I remember making selections with friends and Carol. We would walk home so proud of our bag of candy. I don’t know of any little shops like that now.

That was fun, wasn’t it? I like the idea of salty licorice (or is that liquorice?) Tons of choices one way or the other. The red candy on the end was the way they were sold when I was a kid. We had one corner store that had a “candy counter” – in a big glass case where you could put your nose up against it and choose “one of those, and three of those, and oh, a candy necklace”… and get a little brown bag full of candy for 5 cents. (Can’t believe how old I sound when I start to “reminisce” about this stuff.)

Lets hope Patricia finds something she likes….good luck Patricia. If they taste good let us know.

Clap, Clap, Clap. You folks did very well.

Wasn’t that a good group think.

Good thinking 99!! You are a clever cookie Cathryne!!

Using your ideas I looked on Amazonuk. At least one with candy ends will ship to U.S., some say they won’t. You’ve all been very busy and productive! This is the first time I’ve seen the candy end kind.