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January 2023 Group Read: Still Life
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Erica, Quality Control Supervisor
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Dec 16, 2022 02:12AM
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Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) by Louise Penny
293 pages
*Available in the Kindle store or for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership
*Available in Hoopla (audio book) through some libraries
*Available in WorldCat (ebook) through some libraries
Synopsis
The discovery of a dead body in the woods on Thanksgiving Weekend brings Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his colleagues from the Surete du Quebec to a small village in the Eastern Townships. Gamache cannot understand why anyone would want to deliberately kill well-loved artist Jane Neal, especially any of the residents of Three Pines - a place so free from crime it doesn't even have its own police force.
But Gamache knows that evil is lurking somewhere behind the white picket fences and that, if he watches closely enough, Three Pines will start to give up its dark secrets...
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Week 1: Jan 1-7 Chapters 1-3
Week 2: Jan 8-14 Chapters 4-7
Week 3: Jan 15-21 Chapters 8-10
Week 4: Jan 22-31 Chapters 11-end
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Week 1
(view spoiler)
Week 2
(view spoiler)
Week 3
(view spoiler)
Week 4
(view spoiler)
I’ll be reading the book. I’ve watched a few episodes of Three Pines. The show is interesting. So I’m curious about this book series. 🙂
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Oh good! I've never watched the show but absolutely love the books. This one is a reread for me, but it's been long enough that I don't remember much of it.
I love this series. This will be a reread for me, but I'm looking forward to it.
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Glad to hear it!
I have not read this book or watched any of the series. I am interested in this buddy read.
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I hope you will join us! This is a wonderful series.
I finished the book. Thanks, Erica for posting the DQs. After I finished a section, I answered the questions. I guess I’ll post my answers weekly. So if others haven’t read that section yet, I won’t give too much away. This book only took me a few days. And I did enjoy it!
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Got it from the library, and I'm kinda eager to start it now. I've been trying to get into mysteries more, because I do enjoy them when I read them, especially the cozy kinds, and this one sounds good and at least a little cozy-ish. ^_^
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Welcome! Looking forward to everyone's thoughts.
I enjoyed the first few chapters. But I had to listen to chapter 1 twice! LOL A lot of characters and details in chapter 1. But I think I have a grasp of it all now. 🙂1. When Jane Neal reveals her Fair Day painting everyone is shocked because it is just stick figure drawings of people in Three Pines at the close of the county fair. Her friend Clara defends it anyway, and even thinks she glimpses a flash of brilliance in it. Do you think Clara really saw true art in her friend's work, or do you think she acted out of a sense of loyalty to her friend?
Not totally sure. Clara may not have been able to consider her friend as anything less than a brilliant artist. And it may have been part loyalty. But it does seem that others also sensed an underlying brilliance. And as they say, art is in the eye of the beholder. Splattering paint on a canvas is also ‘art’. So why not stick figures?
2. Jane never lets anyone into her home beyond the kitchen door. Why do you think that is?
I’m very curios about that! Yolanda, who may have inherited Jane’s house, wants to get first dibs and is trying to stop the police from going there. So possibly there are some valuables there? Or at least Yolanda thinks so.
3. What do you Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's purpose was in assigning Agent Yvette Nichol to be the note taker when they interview Peter and Clara at their home about Jane's death? Was he being sexist or do you think he had some other purpose in mind?
No. I don’t see Gamache as sexist. He seems to like building a team. Not being an autocrat. So I think he asked Nichol to take notes as a training tool for her. She got a little irked. But I think she is just eager. And may want to skip steps?
The people living in Three Pines are certainly a quirky and interesting bunch! The conversations sure can be thought provoking. That definitely makes this book different from a lot of other mystery series books I’ve read.
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Welcome! Glad we have so much interest in this one.
Chapter 4-71. What do you think of Gamache's decision to have a community-wide meeting at St. Thomas - the small church in Three Pines - to do an initial inquiry about Jane's death?
I really didn’t think much about it. Three Pines is a small town and probably only has a few buildings big enough to fit most of the community in it. I did find it funny that Gamache kept saying Jane’s death was likely an accident. But confess now if you had anything to do with it. Because he is brilliant and will figure it out! LOL
2. Jane's niece Yolande Fontaine accused Clara of "taking her [Jane] away from her real family." Given that pointed barb, why do you think Yolande then asks Clara to suggest something for Jane's headstone?
Oh, Yolanda is a ghastly person! She was likely throwing Clara a proverbial bone after flaying her so publicly. A back handed gesture really. I was happy to find out that Clara had an ulterior motive for talking to Yolanda. Not masochism. LOL
3. What do you think of Agent Yvette Nichol - will she make it in the Surete?
Gamache is definitely going to do his best to train Nichol. I don’t think it will be easy. She doesn’t seem to have a great personality. Nichol will likely improve over the course of several books, I hope.
Week 11. When Jane Neal reveals her Fair Day painting everyone is shocked because it is just stick figure drawings of people in Three Pines at the close of the county fair. Her friend Clara defends it anyway, and even thinks she glimpses a flash of brilliance in it. Do you think Clara really saw true art in her friend's work, or do you think she acted out of a sense of loyalty to her friend?
I think her initial reaction might have been out of loyalty but then the work snuck up on her, as these things sometimes do, & she really did see those brilliant flashes.
2. Jane never lets anyone into her home beyond the kitchen door. Why do you think that is?
As she'd never exhibited before, I just assumed she was a very private person.
3. What do you Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's purpose was in assigning Agent Yvette Nichol to be the note taker when they interview Peter and Clara at their home about Jane's death? Was he being sexist or do you think he had some other purpose in mind?
Nichol is the junior member of the team & has a lot to learn, I imagine note-taking is a fairly standard task for that person - that & keeping your mouth shut.
Week 21. What do you think of Gamache's decision to have a community-wide meeting at St. Thomas - the small church in Three Pines - to do an initial inquiry about Jane's death?
I think he has a good idea how gossip & grapevines work in small towns so this is a good way of disseminating information & getting a look at the community.
2. Jane's niece Yolande Fontaine accused Clara of "taking her [Jane] away from her real family." Given that pointed barb, why do you think Yolande then asks Clara to suggest something for Jane's headstone?
I thought that was strange but, not really knowing her aunt at all, Yolande wouldn't have had any idea what Jane would like. I'd say she couldn't be bothered thinking about it herself, either.
3. What do you think of Agent Yvette Nichol - will she make it in the Surete?
She's too cocksure at the moment, unless she learns how to look, listen & follow orders she's not going to make a good detective. Gamache seems happy to train her if she'll let him.
Week 31. When the bookseller Myrna and Gamache are talking at one point, she says, "I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life." Do you agree with her?
Yes. It's easier to complain that put the necessary work in.
2. When Clara goes out into the woods (after getting some inspiration from the box she had been staring at), she carefully crosses the road to be as far away from Timmer's house as possible as she walks by it. Why do you think she did that?
Bad experience or thinking about stories she's heard, maybe.
3. What did you think of Myrna's celebration and cleansing ritual for Jane?
Sure, if it makes people happy.
Week 41. When Ruth Zardo is talking with Gamache about old wounds and possible motives for anyone to kill Jane, she says, "They say time heals. I think that's bullshit, I think time does nothing. It only heals if the person wants it to." Do you think she's right?
It depends on the person, I suppose. Most people benefit with time & perspective but some like to cling onto the pain, & others are incapable of letting it go.
2. Peter and Clara Morrow and Ben Hadley are all on the list of possible suspects in the murder investigation - and yet Gamache allows all of them to work on cleaning up Jane's house once it's discovered that her artwork on the walls has been covered over with tacky wallpaper. Why would he let suspects in an investigation have access to Jane's home?
Once the police team had gone over the house I don't see how Gamache could have stopped them as it wasn't the scene of crime. They all had access & might even turn up something useful.
3. When Clara realizes who she thinks committed the murder, why do you think she goes to Jane's house rather than turning to Gamache or one of his team?
Because she's an idiot & needs to be shaken by the lapels until her teeth rattle. Besides that, I suppose she wanted to be sure she wasn't imagining things.
Chapter 8-101. When the bookseller Myrna and Gamache are talking at one point, she says, "I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life." Do you agree with her?
Yes I do. It is easier to complain and see yourself as a victim. Much harder to change and put real effort into it.
2. When Clara goes out into the woods (after getting some inspiration from the box she had been staring at), she carefully crosses the road to be as far away from Timmer's house as possible as she walks by it. Why do you think she did that?
They said Timmer wasn’t the easiest to get along with. So Clara likely made it a habit to steer clear. But it did seem a little superstitious too. Like she was trying to stay away from any spirits maybe? It’s definitely an example of the quirkiness of the characters.
3. What did you think of Myrna's celebration and cleansing ritual for Jane?
I liked it. It was a great way for the women to gather and remember Jane. Yes it was unusual. But this was another example of the inclusiveness (acceptance of different religions) and quirkiness of the town.
Week 11. When Jane Neal reveals her Fair Day painting everyone is shocked because it is just stick figure drawings of people in Three Pines at the close of the county fair. Her friend Clara defends it anyway, and even thinks she glimpses a flash of brilliance in it. Do you think Clara really saw true art in her friend's work, or do you think she acted out of a sense of loyalty to her friend?
If I’m not mistaken, even at the first unveiling, the judges recognized the people in the painting. I wondered if caricature might be more what they saw than true stick figures. At least that’s the way my mind sees it. I think Clara saw something deeper in it than what first met the eye. Perhaps that was partly due to loyalty to her friend, but when we hear about the odd types of artwork done by Clara, I wonder if maybe she truly saw something more in Jane’s painting even though she couldn’t immediately identify it.
2. Jane never lets anyone into her home beyond the kitchen door. Why do you think that is?
Jane was a retired school teacher and some of the villagers had been her students. Having been a school teacher and having married one as well, I know that often teachers are reluctant to let their students into their personal lives. I guess when I read that, I thought she was a bit quirky (like most of the inhabitants of Three Pines), but it didn’t really strike me as totally odd.
Of course, there is Yolanda. She seems to think there is something hidden there, and she wants it.
3. What do you Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's purpose was in assigning Agent Yvette Nichol to be the note taker when they interview Peter and Clara at their home about Jane's death? Was he being sexist or do you think he had some other purpose in mind?
It is mentioned that Gamache had a history of taking new agents under his wing to mentor them. I think he saw something in Nichol that he thought was worth pulling out of her and preparing her for a bigger role.
Chapter 11-end1. When Ruth Zardo is talking with Gamache about old wounds and possible motives for anyone to kill Jane, she says, "They say time heals. I think that's bullshit, I think time does nothing. It only heals if the person wants it to." Do you think she's right?
Yes. Some people can never forgive and forget. It will just fester. Probably depends on their personality.
2. Peter and Clara Morrow and Ben Hadley are all on the list of possible suspects in the murder investigation - and yet Gamache allows all of them to work on cleaning up Jane's house once it's discovered that her artwork on the walls has been covered over with tacky wallpaper. Why would he let suspects in an investigation have access to Jane's home?
I think at first, Clara, Peter and Ben were there because they knew Jane well. Gamache wanted insight on why Jane would live in a home like that. Then, when the paintings underneath the wallpaper were discovered, the 3 of them did possess the skill necessary to take the wallpaper off while still preserving the paintings.
3. When Clara realizes who she thinks committed the murder, why do you think she goes to Jane's house rather than turning to Gamache or one of his team?
Because that was one of those too stupid to live moments that most mysteries have at the end. LOL It makes the resolution of the mystery more exciting. But seriously, I also think she wanted to think things through before going to Gamache. Ben was her friend.
I did like how Penny tied the title ‘Still Life’ into the book. First a story about artists. And second, also a person living a ‘still life’ like Myrna described to Gamache in their conversation.
Mod
1. When Jane Neal reveals her Fair Day painting everyone is shocked because it is just stick figure drawings of people in Three Pines at the close of the county fair. Her friend Clara defends it anyway, and even thinks she glimpses a flash of brilliance in it. Do you think Clara really saw true art in her friend's work, or do you think she acted out of a sense of loyalty to her friend?
I think she tried so hard to see merit in it that ultimately she saw what she wanted to see.
2. Jane never lets anyone into her home beyond the kitchen door. Why do you think that is?
Maybe she's just a very private person who doesn't like letting others into her space? Especially in a small community where everyone seems to like sticking their noses into everyone else's business, that doesn't seem all that strange to me.
3. What do you Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's purpose was in assigning Agent Yvette Nichol to be the note taker when they interview Peter and Clara at their home about Jane's death? Was he being sexist or do you think he had some other purpose in mind?
I don't think it's sexism. She's the junior agent, she's there to listen, observe and learn. Having her take notes seems like a good way to ensure she'll do that, it's a good training tool.
Week 2
1. What do you think of Gamache's decision to have a community-wide meeting at St. Thomas - the small church in Three Pines - to do an initial inquiry about Jane's death?
Having everyone in one place and stirring up a conversation among them seems like a good way to see how various members of the community interact as well as their reactions to Jane's death - likely useful information in the long run.
2. Jane's niece Yolande Fontaine accused Clara of "taking her [Jane] away from her real family." Given that pointed barb, why do you think Yolande then asks Clara to suggest something for Jane's headstone?
Sounds like she was throwing Clara a bit of busywork to placate her so she doesn't get ideas about wanting to have a say in the rest of the arrangements Yolande will be making.
3. What do you think of Agent Yvette Nichol - will she make it in the Surete?
If she tones down her attitude and actually learns to listen to what she's being told - as is, she's approaching the job with the wrong mindset. She needs to get over herself and accept the guidance Gamache is trying to give.
Mod
1. When the bookseller Myrna and Gamache are talking at one point, she says, "I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life." Do you agree with her?
Perhaps to an extent. This is one of those things that just vary on a case by case basis.
2. When Clara goes out into the woods (after getting some inspiration from the box she had been staring at), she carefully crosses the road to be as far away from Timmer's house as possible as she walks by it. Why do you think she did that?
Perhaps she didn't care much for Timmer when she was alive and by now the habit of avoiding her is so ingrained she still avoids going near the house?
3. What did you think of Myrna's celebration and cleansing ritual for Jane?
Seemed a lot more meaningful and in line with what Jane might have wanted than the impersonal, perfunctory funeral service Yolande arranged. I'm not any flavour of religious, so this little pagan ritual strikes me as no more strange and silly than any rituals assorted with any of the more prominent religions.
Week 4
1. When Ruth Zardo is talking with Gamache about old wounds and possible motives for anyone to kill Jane, she says, "They say time heals. I think that's bullshit, I think time does nothing. It only heals if the person wants it to." Do you think she's right?
Again, a thing that varies from person to person and situation to situation.
2. Peter and Clara Morrow and Ben Hadley are all on the list of possible suspects in the murder investigation - and yet Gamache allows all of them to work on cleaning up Jane's house once it's discovered that her artwork on the walls has been covered over with tacky wallpaper. Why would he let suspects in an investigation have access to Jane's home?
Excellent question, really. I found that decision to be a somewhat dodgy one. Sure, letting people who knew Jane well have a look at the place might bring new clues as to who might have killed her and why, but sticking a bunch of suspects in there seemed like a stupid idea to me regardless of the outcome.
3. When Clara realizes who she thinks committed the murder, why do you think she goes to Jane's house rather than turning to Gamache or one of his team?
A mixture of too stupid to live behaviour and wanting something concrete to confirm her suspicions before turning in her friend I suppose.
