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Fiction

hermetic

(8,968 posts) Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:11 PM Dec 2022

Louise Penny sets the record straight

on the ‘cozy mysteries’ myth

“Honestly, a little crime novel set in rural Quebec by a middle-aged woman? That did not have ‘bestseller’ written all over it,” Louise Penny says with a laugh. “It had ‘big fat failure’ written all over it.”

She adds, with a shake of her head: “I sit here astonished.”

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-louise-penny-cozy-mysteries-myth/

12 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Louise Penny sets the record straight (Original Post) hermetic Dec 2022 OP

I am watching Three Pines right now. yellowdogintexas Dec 2022 #1

A nice interview. I agree that it is not "cozy" even though it is listed in the cozy site question everything Dec 2022 #2

YW, happy to share that hermetic Dec 2022 #4

They are definitely not cozy mysteries, which I mostly hate. Ocelot II Dec 2022 #3

I love how her books are often about art hermetic Dec 2022 #5

Oh, dear, "the cliche-ridden crap" is my Polly Hennessey Dec 2022 #8

These are books you have to spend time on. Srkdqltr Dec 2022 #6

That's certainly true hermetic Dec 2022 #7

Not that struck on the TV series The King of Prussia Dec 2022 #9

Watched first tv episode. Not impressed. I seldom like movies as well as the original book. northoftheborder Dec 2022 #10

I agree hermetic Jan 2023 #11

I know a lot of people who just love her books. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2023 #12

yellowdogintexas

(23,401 posts)

1. I am watching Three Pines right now.

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:25 PM

Dec 2022

Episode 5.

Molina is so good and the Inspector is such a wonderful character. He is someone I would definitely love to meet.

question everything

(50,833 posts)

2. A nice interview. I agree that it is not "cozy" even though it is listed in the cozy site

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:28 PM

Dec 2022

and I am not sure that I will try to watch the TV series.

Thanks for posting.

hermetic

(8,968 posts)

4. YW, happy to share that

Reply to question everything (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:34 PM

Dec 2022

I love her and her writing. Since I don't watch TV I am spared from having to make that decision. It is a huge item of contention around the interwebs.

Ocelot II

(126,689 posts)

3. They are definitely not cozy mysteries, which I mostly hate.

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:34 PM

Dec 2022

I love the Inspector Ganache mysteries because they aren't cozy. They aren't necessarily bloody (though sometimes they are), and they take place in one little town with a lot of eccentric characters, but they are far too dark and introspective to be considered among the cliche-ridden crap that defines cozy mysteries.

hermetic

(8,968 posts)

5. I love how her books are often about art

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:36 PM

Dec 2022

A subject very close to my heart. Also, the importance of nature.

Polly Hennessey

(8,052 posts)

8. Oh, dear, "the cliche-ridden crap" is my

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 04:18 PM

Dec 2022

secret bedtime reading. Some are funny, some are silly, all are harmless, sweet dreams before sleep 💤

Srkdqltr

(8,808 posts)

6. These are books you have to spend time on.

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:51 PM

Dec 2022

They are a smooth read but I find if I read too fast I miss things and have to go back. That is a good thing. Love her books.

hermetic

(8,968 posts)

7. That's certainly true

Reply to Srkdqltr (Reply #6)

Tue Dec 27, 2022, 03:57 PM

Dec 2022

The King of Prussia

(751 posts)

9. Not that struck on the TV series

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Wed Dec 28, 2022, 03:30 PM

Dec 2022

We're watching #5 now, which is less dreadful than 3 & 4.

northoftheborder

(7,631 posts)

10. Watched first tv episode. Not impressed. I seldom like movies as well as the original book.

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Fri Dec 30, 2022, 01:36 PM

Dec 2022

Love the books and my own mind’s image of how Gamache looks.

hermetic

(8,968 posts)

11. I agree

Reply to northoftheborder (Reply #10)

Sun Jan 1, 2023, 01:23 PM

Jan 2023

I have many years invested in the series and am happy with my mind's version. Plus, I don't watch television anyway and won't bother looking for future DVDs.
Happy 1/1/23!

PoindexterOglethorpe

(28,039 posts)

12. I know a lot of people who just love her books.

Reply to hermetic (Original post)

Mon Jan 2, 2023, 10:51 PM

Jan 2023

I recently read Still Life which I believe is her first inspector Gamache novel and found it confusing and not all that interesting. It felt like it was the middle of the series, and I should have been up on what was going on.

For those of you who like her work, good! We won't all like the same books, and thankfully there are many, many to choose from.

Reply to this discussion