This may be au revoir to Three Pines. It seems to be the last of the series set
in this mythical Quebec village which features an endearing cast of recurring characters
and some memorable villains. Penny
modeled Inspecter Gamache on her husband, Michael, who died before the previous
title was published. She writes that she
didn’t really think that Armand Gamache would outlive him, but found herself
sitting down one day and beginning Kingdom
of the blind. So many loose
threads are tied up, that I suspect this is the last book. If you haven’t gotten acquainted with the
delights of this remarkable series, do start with the first book, Still life. You’ll want to space out the series to make
it last. Now, would someone please bring
me some hot chocolate, a fresh croissant, and a cozy fire to enjoy them in
front of. 389 pp.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Wild iris, by Louise Glück
Winner of the 1993 Pulitzer prize for poetry, this
collection alternates between poems in the voice of various flowers, and
spiritual meditations – many of the poems are titled only “Vespers” or
“Matins.” Simply written, but complex.
62 pp.
The witch elm, by Tana French
A very disturbing book.
I had not read any of the author’s previous novels, which are evidently
a related mystery series. This
stand-alone novel introduces us to Toby, a lucky young man with everything
going for him. He has a job he likes, a
girlfriend he loves and hopes to marry, good friends, and a loving family which
includes the two cousins he grew up with, Susanna and Leon. Then everything falls apart one night when he
is attacked by burglars in his Dublin apartment. Left badly injured by their assault and with
damaged memory and cognition, he ends up recuperating from his physical and
mental wounds at the Elm House, where his father grew up. His uncle, Hugo, the sole son of four who has
never married, still lives there. Hugo
is dying of an inoperable brain tumor, so Toby and Melissa move in to help care
for him. During the traditional family
lunch gathering one Sunday, Susanna’s children discover a human skull in the
hole of the trunk of an ancient wych elm in the garden. What follows will throw all of Toby’s beliefs
about his life into uncertainty.
Although the book is very well written, I found it so unpleasant that I
kept wondering why I was putting myself through it. 509 pp.
February totals!
Jan 6/1732
Josh 8/1544
Kara 10/2781
Karen C 8/2600
Kathleen 9/2851
Patrick 16/5657
TOTAL: 72/21,258
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