Thoughts from the Killer Coffee Club
Still Life by Louise Penny Sept. 2009
•Humor is important -- it keeps the story real!
• Agent Nichol: At first the reader wanted to rally for her. Then everyone agreed that they wanted to slap her. Is her purpose to bring out aspects of other characters? Many are wondering if she will return...
• Gamache: The one most people would like to have coffee with. He has an abilty to see things, and the patience to understand them.
• The banter between Ruth and Gabri was initially shocking, but adds great depth to the characters.
• Ruth’s poetry ... Louise, did you write it? Wow!
• There is a lot going on in this book; underlying themes (love being one), additional plots.
• It was a risk, especially in a first novel, to have two gay characters --- the risk paid off, terrific!
• Each couple had a different kind of relationship in regards to communication.
• Who was the one with a still life? Yolande, Nichol, Ben ??
• Jane’s art was genius -- we all would like to see it.
• “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness” .... but can you also say “Don’t mistake weakness for kindness” ? as in Ben?
• Many did not know it was Ben until the end...but he and Peter were suspects.
•Excellent storytelling
• Agent Nichol: At first the reader wanted to rally for her. Then everyone agreed that they wanted to slap her. Is her purpose to bring out aspects of other characters? Many are wondering if she will return...
• Gamache: The one most people would like to have coffee with. He has an abilty to see things, and the patience to understand them.
• The banter between Ruth and Gabri was initially shocking, but adds great depth to the characters.
• Ruth’s poetry ... Louise, did you write it? Wow!
• There is a lot going on in this book; underlying themes (love being one), additional plots.
• It was a risk, especially in a first novel, to have two gay characters --- the risk paid off, terrific!
• Each couple had a different kind of relationship in regards to communication.
• Who was the one with a still life? Yolande, Nichol, Ben ??
• Jane’s art was genius -- we all would like to see it.
• “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness” .... but can you also say “Don’t mistake weakness for kindness” ? as in Ben?
• Many did not know it was Ben until the end...but he and Peter were suspects.
•Excellent storytelling