Reply To: Book 17: What are some other examples of reinventions and second chances in this novel?
Three Pines is full of people who’ve had second chances and reinventions. Myrna, Olivier and Gabri, and Reine-Marie have reinvented their careers and lifestyles as they settled there (Reine-Marie, in this novel, is exercising her skills in her new job post-retirement). Clara is constantly in the process of reinventing herself as an artist (finally, a new, interesting painting!). Ruth had to reinvent herself and conform as a child to satisfy her mother. Vincent Gilbert reinvented his life and purpose after his earlier experiences. Haniya Daoud reinvented her life from victim to advocate. And Armand, Jean Guy, and Isabelle have all had to reinvent themselves in their personal lives and careers. Isabelle and Armand still have to make adjustments in their lives to overcome their head injuries, and both have made career adjustments to go with the flow (I loved Armand’s joke to Jean Guy about being fired so many times they were probably tired to changing the name on the door); and Jean Guy has had to reinvent himself in so many ways over the course of these stories — from callow youth to outstanding investigator, from a “trust no one” personality to one of outstanding loyalty and depth of feeling; from a man in a superficial marriage with no desire for children to one deeply, madly in love with his wife and children, determined to be the best husband and father that he can be. I also loved the line that said that Armand was no skeptic about resurrection, because, as he looked at JG and Isabelle, “he saw proof of resurrection every day.” They both had second chances, and they’ve been making the best of it.