Louise Penny sets the record straight

[hermetic]

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/

[yellowdogintexas]

1. I am watching Three Pines right now.

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]

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

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

Thanks for posting.

[hermetic]

4. YW, happy to share that

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]

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

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]

5. I love how her books are often about art

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

[Polly Hennessey]

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

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

[Srkdqltr]

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

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]

7. That's certainly true

[The King of Prussia]

9. Not that struck on the TV series

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

[northoftheborder]

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

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

[hermetic]

11. I agree

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]

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

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.