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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was reading the Gamache series in order, but this book stopped me in my tracks. The Peter and Clara storylines in the previous books had bored me to tears, so I didn't want to read yet another book focusing on their relationship. Took me two years, but I finally picked it up so I could continue with the rest of the series.
It started slow, but once the crew of Gamache, Beauvoir, Clara, and Myrna started on their trek up north, I was glued to the pages. I loved seeing different characters flex their investigative muscle (Reine-Marie and Ruth visiting the professor was a highlight), and Gamache ceding control to Clara was a great change of pace. Penny does character so well. And I'm including Quebec as a character...she knows how to bring a place to life like no other. A lot of people love her works for the Three Pines of it all, but I think she shines most when she takes her characters out of their comfort zone and gets to enmesh them in a completely new setting.
I was struck by the theme of artists and their muses (and nurturing talent vs letting it wither) on a personal level--particularly Ruth's assertion that the "lump in the throat" which drives the true artist comes from the meeting of the head, where fear dwells, and the heart, home of courage. Her assessment of Peter's artistic struggles truly fascinated me. And I don't think I would have connected with this book quite so much had that throughline not resonated.
It started slow, but once the crew of Gamache, Beauvoir, Clara, and Myrna started on their trek up north, I was glued to the pages. I loved seeing different characters flex their investigative muscle (Reine-Marie and Ruth visiting the professor was a highlight), and Gamache ceding control to Clara was a great change of pace. Penny does character so well. And I'm including Quebec as a character...she knows how to bring a place to life like no other. A lot of people love her works for the Three Pines of it all, but I think she shines most when she takes her characters out of their comfort zone and gets to enmesh them in a completely new setting.
I was struck by the theme of artists and their muses (and nurturing talent vs letting it wither) on a personal level--particularly Ruth's assertion that the "lump in the throat" which drives the true artist comes from the meeting of the head, where fear dwells, and the heart, home of courage. Her assessment of Peter's artistic struggles truly fascinated me. And I don't think I would have connected with this book quite so much had that throughline not resonated.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First and last hours of the audiobook were exciting, interesting, gripping, even. The middle 10 hours were soooo boring! The same conversations were had multiple times by multiple characters. I had to turn the speed up to get through it.
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t love her writing style, but I love the characters. I keep reading the series because I want to know what happens to them!
Achingly beautiful, this novel is by turns funny, hopeful and tragic. It is deeply introspective and is as much about healing as it is about a search for a lost love. The common themes of the series including community, friendship and grace continue and as usual, the writing is exquisite.
As a note to a potential reader: This book is not a standalone and would be best enjoyed read in the sequence of the series.
Other favorite tragicomedies of mine include [b:The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life|97331|The Opposite of Fate Memories of a Writing Life|Amy Tan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348263459l/97331._SY75_.jpg|15067413], [b:The Bean Trees|30868|The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1)|Barbara Kingsolver|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443483961l/30868._SY75_.jpg|1095121] and [b:Calypso|38348476|Calypso|David Sedaris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624745123l/38348476._SY75_.jpg|57338398].
As a note to a potential reader: This book is not a standalone and would be best enjoyed read in the sequence of the series.
Other favorite tragicomedies of mine include [b:The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life|97331|The Opposite of Fate Memories of a Writing Life|Amy Tan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348263459l/97331._SY75_.jpg|15067413], [b:The Bean Trees|30868|The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1)|Barbara Kingsolver|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443483961l/30868._SY75_.jpg|1095121] and [b:Calypso|38348476|Calypso|David Sedaris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624745123l/38348476._SY75_.jpg|57338398].
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this one, both plot and characters. I never liked Peter earlier in the series but this changed my mind. The only reason this didn’t get a higher rating is because the end felt a bit rushed and I didn’t get to really sit with what happened (iykyk)
mysterious
medium-paced
I didn’t like this. It’s mostly set outside Three Pines, it drags a lot, the whole art gallery/academy context wasn’t interesting to me and I HATED the end. The very end is just too vague for me and what happened before made me SO angry!
What the fuck. I’ve spent 10 books hating Peter, then had to get through this drag that clearly intended for me to understand and like him better only to have him die at the end??? Whyyy?
this one broke my heart and the characters were not as fun