Reply To: The humour of Louise Penny
Tara, I love all these moments you mentioned, and I totally agree about Armand and Jean-Guy’s relationship now. Gone is JG’s doubt that the caring is real, and he’s no longer afraid to reciprocate showing his feelings in return. They’ve reached an understanding, and realize that they are both human, not superhuman. Armand is no longer on a pedestal, but is no less admired and loved. Another passage that was sweet/funny/sad was when they both went to check out Charles L’s apartment, and JG helped Armand to stand up. “Gamache struggled a little to stand up, the bruising and stiffness setting in. Beauvoir reached out to steady him. “We’ll have to get a hoist soon, patron.” Gamache smiled. “I can still take you.” Though both knew that had stopped being true a few years earlier.” Even though in the Three Pines world time passes, yet doesn’t (the characters have, and yet haven’t, aged chronologically, as Armand still hasn’t hit 60 yet; which I’m OK with), there has been time for ripening and depth in the relationships of these characters, and it draws me to them.
