Great Gamache

Quebec author Louise Penny's latest installment of her Three Pines series, like her previous titles, does not disappoint. The Brutal Telling again features the brilliantly conceived Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, an intelligent, well-read, calm and highly respected murder investigator, his right-hand man Inspector Beauvior, quick tempered and narrow minded, and a bevy of local characters, including the horrendously mannered award winning poet Ruth Zardo and her pet duck, competing husband and wife artists Peter and Clara Morrow, and larger than life Gabri who runs a bistro with his partner Oliver, the latter of whom is at the centre of the book's investigation.

When a dead body is found in Oliver's bistro, a bizarre set of circumstances unfolds. Was the man local? Why does no one recognise him? Where does he live? How old is he? And how did he acquire the priceless items eventually found at his residence? Penny reveals the answers to these questions with an old-time mystery appeal. The plot is intriguing, and twists and turns from what seems to obvious answer. It is vivid in its imagery and description, and the balance of characters and their interplay is realistic and engaging. For example, Beauvoir, a bit lacking in romanticism and imagination, is amazed that Gamache can take the time to admire a stunning sunset in the middle of a murder investigation, or 'marvel' in the perfection of an autumn leaf.

The dry sense of humour is also delightful. A mother responds to her son's incredulousness about his father being alive after years of supposing he was dead with "I might have exaggerated." As a former Montreal Anglophone, I particularly like Beauvoir's observations on long-standing cultural prejudices, such as "the English he knew to be all the same. Nuts."

The town of Three Pines itself is a major character in Penny's books. Nestled in Quebec's Eastern Townships, amidst maple trees and gently rolling hills, many of the characters are former Montrealers who gave up the fast paced lifestyle and stressful city lifestyle for a quieter life in the country. In fact, Penny's descriptions of Three Pines has helped to increase tourism to that region. The combination of location and characters makes all of Penny's books sensational reading.

http://www.manoirhovey.com/presse/Globe%20and%20Mail%2009%2012%2018.pdf

Also see Penny's website for titles in the series, pronunciation guides, and photos of the Eastern Townships.

http://www.louisepenny.com/

Examination of a marriage

My relationship with author Anita Shreve's books is hit and miss. I either absolutely love her novels, or just don't see the point and regret spending my time waiting for 'something' to happen (yes, I give her the benefit of the doubt and read to the end). It's rarely in between. Her latest novel, A Change in Altitude, was, for me, another hit (phew).

The plot centres around photographer Margaret and Peter in the 1970s, a young newlywed couple from Boston who relocate to Kenya to concentrate on Peter's medical career. There, they meet Arthur and Diana, both British, but Diana Kenyan born, with two school age children. The older couple welcome Margaret and Peter into their lives, albeit with some reserve, renting a cottage out to them, and then letting them live in their home when the cottage's plumbing breaks down.

It's taken for granted that Margaret and Peter will join Diana and Arthur and another couple on a climb of Mount Kenya, despite Margaret not being consulted or at all enthusiastic about it. While on the climb, an accident claims a life, and the repercussions of events leading up to it introduce cracks in Peter and Margaret's new marriage, especially when she begins to work with Rafiq, a local journalist.

A Change in Altitude is about more than just a look at a marriage. Surrounding it are hints of personal and political stories of Kenya in the 1970s; women's rights, tribal affiliations, corrupt governments, tourism, nature, riches and poverty and class structure, and colonialism. Shreve somehow successfully combines all this into just 307 pages without becoming preachy or didactic. While I admit that with the exception of Rafiq, I didn't care for any of the main characters, I was intrigued by the story, interested in how or if the couple would confront their marital problems, and how their relocation to a foreign country with a vastly different history would affect them.

Thumbs up!

A tribute

Next time you walk into the Creston Library, take a look around. Enjoy the space, the bright airiness, the huge windows, the grand view. Then take a silent moment to thank Lawrence Lavender.

For anyone who did not have the pleasure of meeting Lawrence, he was the library board's chair for several years. His tenure saw three librarians, a handful of mayors, a referendum, a portable addition to our old location, and, finally, the securing of this new beautiful location and a big move! Sadly, Lawrence passed away last week, and his loss will be strongly felt within these walls.

If not for Lawrence's tenacity, we may still be in our cramped, moldy, dark, unhealthy former location. Yes, a lost referendum ten years ago meant we did not have a building to our specifications, but despite disappointment, Lawrence kept our spirits up and was determined that Creston would have a proper library. His voice meant that when this building became available upon the relocation of the Health Unit, the words 'new library' couldn't help but be at forefront.

When I think of Lawrence, a few outstanding characteristics come to mind: fair, respectful, focused, generous, and possessor of decency, and of a great chuckle.

My most esteemed thanks to Lawrence for all he did for us, as a library, a town, and individuals.

New year, 'new' author

A few weeks ago I wrote about my favourite books which combine past and present lives. Here is an addition to that list!

A new 'discovery' for me, author M.J. Rose's The Reincarnationist focuses on Josh Ryder, a photographer who, while enraptured with a confrontation between a police officer and a woman pushing a stroller, has a near death experience. Afterwards, he has visions of Julius, a 4th century pagan priest in Rome. Julius watches as Emperor Theodosius outlaws paganism, disbands the Vestal Virgins, and authorises the destruction of non-Christian places of worship.

In present day Rome, Josh becomes involved with Professor Gabriella Chase, an historian interested in a 4th century tomb of the last Vestal Virgin, who's mummimified body clasps a collection of precious gems. The gems are believed to be The Memory Stones, which are crucial to people being able to remember past lives. When they are stolen, Josh and Gabriella become entwined with numerous questions, threats and dangers.

The Reincarnationist is a great thriller, a la Da Vinci Code, albeit a bit of a slower pace, and with substantially less information (which is not a negative characteristic!). There were certain sections, which while interesting, I think could have been left out without detracting from the story. Also like The Da Vinci Code, the book is more than just a thriller: it is a commentary on religion, politics and leaders, particularly the subject of reincarnation in Christian culture. As the characters of the book point out, if a soul is reborn and humans in charge of their fate and afterlife, it would detract power from the Church and its leaders as the sole method of absolution on earth.

A good way to start off a new year of reading.