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”
Wow – very quiet here lately – it’s been a few days since any comments have been left.
When I finished The Brutal Telling, and knowing what I know about the next one – I’m still kind of amazed at Olivier – that he just kept lying – even after it became clear that Gamache et al knew so much of what had happened, and knew he was lying to them. And again, I’m so crazy about Gabri – he is such a sweet and loving man. His standing by Olivier no matter what speaks volumes… and his doggedness through the next book will as well. That we could all have a partner like Gabri!
Have a look at Louise’s Facebook post/contest today. Super cool way to spread the word!
https://www.facebook.com/louisepennyauthor
Rats! I was excited to see that Louise was speaking here and was happily clicking over to the bookstore to get my reservation in and realized – the date overlaps with a trip I have and I won’t be here in town! So sad…. I was getting so excited! Ah well – since I can’t see her, I went over to Amazon and pre-ordered the book so I can begin reading at midnight on the 24th! (Okay, 12:01 a.m. on the 25th!)
I wondered if it was Rita Moreno! She’s a wonderful entertainer. So gracious. The only time I was at the Royal York was special for me. I was able to take my favorite Aunt out (she lived there – I lived in Winnipeg at the time) to see Mel Torme with George Shearing. Beautiful music and something you’d never be able to do now… it brings back lovely memories….
Now I remember ! It was Rita Moreno at the Royal York. She even invited people backstage after the show. She was very gracious.
I think it is lovely that you can celebrate even low key. I am not sure we have ever managed a celebration as such as we are rarely together on our anniversary! Maybe one day in the Eastern Townships!
I looked up the Cerf Argente Nancy, and the it looks lovely. Very Three Pines. Which room did you have? They all look very cosy.
Anna,
We all stayed two nights (except for one couple who were leaving for California two days later and needed to go home to pack!). We were in the Spring room but got a chance to peek at all of them as we filled four of the five room (the last was empty). We had the place to ourselves the first night which made it very special. We were told that one of the former owners was an artist and he was responsible for all the tile work. It was gorgeous! It was all I could have hoped for as a celebration of our 50th. We don’t normally do big celebrations. On the 14th we were living in Toronto and went to the Royal York to see a woman who played in West Side Story…of course I can’t remember her name…just because I want to. And our 25th was out of this world. The church put on a fabulous celebration complete with mock wedding (we were moving and they wanted to give us a farewell). Nothing could ever compare with that. And one year here in Montreal we went to see Tina Turner. So we mostly do “low key” but this year was very special and our celebration was just right.
Hi All,
We just got back from two nights in the Eastern Townships (Three Pines Country). We took some friends along and celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Even though the weather was rainy the company made it a wonderful experience. We stayed at a lovely B&B called Cerf Argente and couldn’t have asked for a better place or more lovely people. My friend had to “tweet” a picture of the breakfast because she thought it was so beautiful. (The owners were involved in the radio play of on of Louise’s books in April.) We were four couples and I asked them to each bring a picture from their wedding as well as at least one story. That made for an interesting evening. On the way home we stopped at Brome Lake Books and had our picture taken in the corner that is “Myrna’s Bookstore”. It was such a wonderful anniversary being surrounded by warm and loving friends…and then our daughter had made a lovely celebration dinner to greet us when we returned.
Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary Nancy. What a lovely way to celebrate! Did you go into Brome Lake Books? I was wondering if Danny had his Guest book operational?
Yes Anna, we went into Brome Lake Books and it’s a lovely store. Lots of books with covers facing outward so temptation is on every side. I didn’t see a guest book but then I wasn’t looking for it. Too busy trying to look at books. There was a new Anne Hillerman (she’s continuing in her father’s series) that I knew nothing about. Was thrilled. Lucy (I assume it was Lucy but I confess I didn’t ask her name) was very warm and welcoming. She gave us a Three Pines Inspiration map for the next time we visit the area.
Sounds delightful. I do hope to visit one day soon.
Congrats on your 50th. That sounds like a perfect celebration. Wish I lived closer.
Congratulations, Nancy! What a wonderful way to celebrate – I’m very jealous! It sounds like you had such a marvelous time!
I’ve been MIA lately – so sorry. I’ve been down with pneumonia, and not turned on my computer for about a week. I HAD to get on today to register for an upcoming seminar before all the good “extra events” were booked, so thought I’d drop in and say hello. I was stunned by Louise’s last newsletter – so sad for her and Michael, and was especially feeling so when she said she had promised Michael that they wouldn’t leave their beloved home, but now they had to. I can imagine the agony that caused her, and I’m so glad that they found someplace in a little bit larger of a village with more society and amenities close by. At first, I thought she was going to say they had to move to Montreal, and while I’m sure there are lots of wonderful places to live there, I can still see how much her heart is in those villages in Quebec.
Love the discussion about the General Store in the “Places” section – I remember those stores when they all had the post office in them – I can imagine they were places of a real feeling of community. Kind of like the Bistro…
I am so sorry to hear you have been ill Julie. I hope you are feeling better. Be kind to yourself as it takes time to fully recover. Thinking of you from across the water!
Julie, Hope you are much improved. A friend was released from the hospital Tues. after 13 days of treatment for Pneumonia. Her dog was thrilled. They always do make such a to do when we’ve been away don’t they.
The next quote is on LP’s Facebook. Is Gamache sitting on a stage or is it someone else ? Do actors have a role in NOTB ? Interesting.
I hope everyone is doing well today.
We were at a brunch and bingo with a group yesterday and had croissants. Of course, I though of the Bistro.
Warm and caring thoughts to all.
Yum!
Thank you all for your kind thoughts. I am, indeed, very much improved, and feel almost completely well except that I’m still so fatigued. Hopefully, that will pass soon. I have so many plans that have been put on hold – very unfair! hahaha
I normally gobble up Louise’s books but of course circumstances have slowed my reread of The Brutal Telling significantly and I have only just reached the part where Clara meets Therese Brunel by the statue of Emily Carr and Therese looks through Clara’s portfolio. Clara has painted herself as The Fall, The Fall from Grace. When Therese asks what she is afraid of, Clara replies that she is afraid she won’t recognise Paradise.
This has all been so resonant with the little we know of TNOTB. It also made me think of Louise’s newsletter and reading between the lines I sense how perhaps her house was Paradise, but then so was Jamaica and so is Knowlton and the people in it. I suspect Paradise is not a place but a feeling. In turn that feeling imbues houses and spaces with the sense of place and so our idea of Paradise. But Paradise is always within us.
Anna, Good news that your Dad may come home this weekend. I decided to try to change some things about me that would help with the stress. Walking some in the early AM while it is still cool, even if only in the back yard. The idea of being outdoors seems very appealing to me. I find nature very calming. I’ve made a list of parks and walking trails nearby (only 5 or 6 miles from the house at the most). I’ll drive to them and then walk some. There are two music series (outdoors and at night) and I hope to attend some of the performances. Reading novels is just not interesting right now so I’m going to try poetry and maybe some plays.
Please take care of yourself as I told Catheryne. I have been where both of you are now and I trust both of you as well as anyone else dealing with parental care will be smarter than I was. Take care of your own emotional and physical health, please. I know I sound like an old woman giving advice and I am. I hope a little hard learned wisdom can help others.
Good thoughts.
Thank u for the advice Barbara. I will try but it’s not easy. I am glad to hear you are getting early sun and gentle exercise. These are good things for the restoration of equilibrium. However, it is not good that you are feeling stressed. Must be the trend at the moment. Sending you calming thoughts and lots of praise for proactively managing your distress.
I wish I could say I have been equally proactive. I did more of a meltdown tantrum thing. I will endeavour to do better. I did relate heavily to Louise’s latest newsletter. I felt her dismay at realising they would have to move and her relief when the decision was made. I am so glad they have a supportive community around them and they can move closer to that community.
When we moved to our current home it was a displacement for Mum and dad. They really know no-one here at all. I know only a handful after four and a half years. The people component of our sense of place has been disrupted.
Cathryne, I hope your Mother is recovering. I can identify with you. The description of looking out the window at the lights was lovely. I know well what you were feeling and am very thankful for The Bistro and all of you. I would have never thought that the caring, concern and warmth we share could be felt through a computer screen. Remember to take care of yourself too. Good thoughts to you.
There’s a new REAL PLACE up. Make sure you read the comments. they’re super informative.
http://gamacheseries.wpengine.com/the-brutal-telling-real-place/
Amy, “Is it like dog years?” made me laugh too. I decided when I was at the hospital with my mom last week that they definitely use dog minutes, as in, “It’ll just be a few minutes.”
Ah yes…..hospital time…..it moves very differently to the outside world. Sorry to here your Mum has been unwell Cathryne. I had a very clear image of you beside her and then in the dark with the gummy bears. I must say there has been much comfort food consumption in this household too. How is your Mum now? How are you?
We are making plans to get my dad home from hospital maybe on the weekend. There has been much walking around the house looking to see if further modifications can be made to make it easier although we have done a lot already.
Barbara, I am anxious for you too. Are things any better? Sending both you and Cathryne peace and calm and the warmth of the Bistro. I suspect there are gummy bears on the counter next to the liquorice pipes……
“And there is calm that comes with simplicity.” Perfect.
Thank you, Barbara, for pointing out the arrival of the June newsletter. Mine always gets sent to Junk and I have to retrieve it. It was filled with grace and wisdom and heartfelt honesty and I was grateful to read it.
Barbara, I hope things are better for you today. Don’t forget the warm fire at the Bistro. I spent last Friday night sleeping on the floor on a soft foam mattress in my mom’s living room, her first night home from an emergency hospital stay. When I went to get her pres. at the drugstore, I said, “Do you have gummy bears?” The darling girl at the register said, “Oh yes, I know exactly where they are. I love gummy bears!” After lights out, I lay in the quiet dark and slowly savored gummy bears, one at a time. I haven’t had one for decades, but I knew I needed the Bistro and friends and little sweet bears. When I stood up on my knees, I could look out the window and see the lights of the city and the lights of the long bridge across the bay, beautiful. Chaos retreated. I send my best thoughts to you for your own calm!
LP’s June newsletter is beautiful and heartbreaking. She gives so much to us. After a meltdown of my own last night, her mentioning the Serenity Prayer was just what I needed to face today. I have often prayed it in the past but needed the reminder that now is another time I need to truly let it be a part of my life.
Peace and good thoughts to all.
Barbara, beautiful and heartbreaking sums it up perfectly. The photos through the window, the lilacs, the pond and the bench becoming memories. So sad. Yet, there is gratitude for what was, acceptance of what is and hope along with trepidation for the future. And always love.
Amy, your comment of, “Is it like dog years,” really made me laugh. The last few weeks have felt like ‘dog years’ to me. Does anyone else feel like either nothing significant is happening or a complete 180 turn and there are so many things going on at once you can hardly catch your breath? Well, other than our dear Anna, who is certainly in the middle of a ‘whirlwind’ phase… Gentle, warm thoughts to all who may be in one of the whirlwinds, including Jan…
I’ve been relistening to the books from SL as I plod along and I’m almost to the end of Bury Your Dead. I think I now understand why so many have said it’s your favorite. I had only read it once and found the part of the story about Agent Morin so painful, I didn’t fully appreciate the complexity of the story as a whole.
Several of the Three Piners mentioned feeling a certain discomfort reading TLWH because of not liking confrontation. I’ve come to realize I shy away from reading books with too much physical or emotional pain. I will read them once in their entirety, but then put bookmarks to skip past the really painful (for me at least) parts. Yet, one can’t really do that with this book.
I’m glad I didn’t skip this one and jump to the next – I would have missed so much. And I have all who made speculations about NOTB and insightful comments about other books in the series to thank. As I read the posts each triggered a thought but I could either attend to ‘stuff’ or gab away here. It wasn’t an easy choice! 😉
But I did want to pop in and say hello, I’m OK, and I’m more grateful for the Bistro every day.
Glad to hear from you. You’ve been missed. Those of you who are rereading/listening again are ahead of me. I didn’t want to reread again at this time so I’ve been rereading the comments from the reread. That ” too many books, too little time ” mentality, again.
When NOTB comes out, maybe those who posted regularly during the reread and when TLWH came out will do so again.
Good reading to all.
Thanks, Barbara. I know what you mean. Unfortunately, for me, I didn’t participate in the ‘re-reads’ until the the actual reading of TLWH.
That’s an interesting question, Anna! My curiosity was piqued, so I went back to A Fatal Grace, and in Chapter 10 it has Clara meeting Gamache in her home. States “she hadn’t seen him for more than a year, since Jane’s murder.” The rest of the books seem to follow in season; with AFG at Christmas time, then TCM at Easter, ARAM in summer, TBT in fall, BYD ending up in winter again; is that 1 year? then ATOTL in spring, TBM in fall, HTLGI in winter; year 2? TLWH in summer . S if we add the year between Jane’s murder and AFG, is that only 3 years that have passed in Three Pines world? Is it like dog years?!
Wow Amy, well done. I haven’t had the time to go over everything. I have assumed season follows season and there can’t have been too much time passing. Good clue from AFG!
Maybe we need a companion book to the novels!
Does anyone know how many years have passed in the world of Three Pines since Still Life?
I forgot to post that I sent in our ideas on Intergenerational living in Nursing Homes. I sent the information along with ideas and suggestions we had spoken about. Maybe if nothing else, the idea will be implemented as new Nursing Homes are built. GRU, Medical School will be more receptive of ideas, I hope, with the change coming. Current Head leaving. I explained what this group is and how we shared info. I’ll be sure to let all know if I hear anything. I don’t expect to until I read it in the paper or see it on the News. I feel, though, that we have planted a seed for change.
Well done Barbara. You never know how a planted seed will grow. I shouldn’t expect a rapid change but maybe someone, somewhere will make a small change as a result. All progress is progress.