It was. I remember children looking out the window for a charlie horse which they assumed was a horse named…
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I wish I could help you with the book, sounds like a fun one.
Thanks Jane!
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Quote:
“It was a haven, not a hiding place. What Three Pines offered was comfort in an ever-changing world. It offered a place at the table, it offered company and acceptance. And croissants. It offered a hand to hold.”
Book Club Friends:
Tara picked the quote for our latest newsletter. It was delivered to inboxes all over the world yesterday. Received by Canadians, Americans, Brits, Swedes, Aussies, Kiwis and many more.
“I think of Three Pines as a state of mind. A village occupied by people who have made conscious choices in their lives. Not because they’ve never been hurt, not because they’re too protected, or foolish, or shallow to know that the world can be a dreadful place. No. It’s for that very reason they’ve all made their choices. They’ve all been hurt. As have we all. But when wounded some people become embittered, cynical, sarcastic. They hurt back. But some, and I sometimes think they’re the ones most wounded, make another choice. They know nothing good comes of giving in to our darker instincts. And so they turn to what Lincoln in his Second Inaugural Address called, ‘The better angels of our nature.’ Three Pines is a place where kindness trumps cruelty, where people help each other, and care. Where sharing isn’t a word to be laughed at and even an embittered old poet is welcomed.” ~ Louise Penny
Louise’s quote here is from a 2007 interview, and it’s clear how her much her writing highlights choices. The pull between light and dark. Grey Wolf vs Black Wolf.
We all love these books that explore the choices people make, the goodness that binds the characters we’ve come to think of as friends, the little village of Three Pines where so many of us have said they want to move to.
And now we’re here. The spirit of Three Pines exists in all of us here; everyone who’s reading this on this little companion site that we built for our friends. This is what Tara’s quote means to us and why she chose to share it with our group.
At this particular moment in time, our world seems to be changing much more quickly than we’ve experienced before. So it’s wonderful to know that there is comfort to be found here, with friends who have never met, but still share a bond. If there is more we can do, as Canadians helping our neighbours, we are here and willing and able. Please just let us know. We can do incredible things when we work together.
And now a question for you: does Louise’s quote evoke any feelings or meaning to you?
Source of this quote:
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Absolutely! It pretty much captures my current state of mind about the state of affairs in the US at this point. It seems that the intent of the incoming US administration is to blow up any semblance of community, in this country and beyond. I fear they will succeed more than I ever want to see and hope much less than they intend. In addition to Three Pines and Book Club Friends, I look for encouragement to hope in other places. Here is a piece from the Washington Post that is an example. https://wapo.st/3YTAFvd There is no paywall. Having said all of this, I am not merely looking for hope. I intend to act. I don’t know what that will look like but I am unwilling to watch without doing what I can and speaking out. The ABQ and DC phone numbers for my Congressional representatives are in my contacts list for starters and they have heard what I think so far. Three Pines is all of the things Louise describes, acceptance, kindness and care and also resistance including when it was risky as in “How the Light Gets In.” So, Three Pines serves as inspiration in multiple ways.
I appreciate all of the comments and posts.
That was an excellent read. Thank you for sharing, Jane. Since Aug 2023, Canadians have been blocked from seeing news articles on FB, so we’ve missed out on many conversations when members of our FB group have shared posts from news outlets. (The irony is not lost on us regarding the lack of interest in pursuing information if it isn’t accompanied with the ease of clicking through on your FB feed, and our effort here to encourage our FB friends to join us here.)
Goodness does exist, and it’s lovely to see. And it’s also lovely and inspiring to see that our friends here are not just hopeful, but that our friends are ready and willing to take action. Goodness certainly exists here in our group.
We do have ideas and inspiration to make this site more than a space to find friends, comfort, good books and good conversation. Perhaps it can also enable goodness in multiple ways and positively affect the friends we’ve met here and the different worlds we live in. We will try our best to make it happen.
It’s alarming how easily legitimate news organizations have been blocked from a major social media empire. If you believe the reports that say that most people now get their news and their information from social media, it’s not difficult to see how populations can be manipulated. It’s quite scary. In fact, wasn’t there some leak about Facebook intentionally manipulating people to feel depressed as part of their study on how much power they had to influence their users? Just as that piece from the Washington Post mentioned with the electoral college, the systems are in place to ensure that the power stays firmly in place with those who currently hold it. And it’s clear with Twitter, etc., how media/social media help with their goals as well.
These words resonate loud and clear with me. It is the spirit of Three Pines that attracted me to Louise’s books. Now that spirit has been extended to this book club, the members of this community, who are bound together through your online site. While I work through my grieving process I lean on a group of friends I went to school with – kindergarten through senior year – believe it or not. We have held each other up through catastrophic health issues, family issues, and politics. They are my Clara, Myrna, Ruth etc.
While I try to figure out what my role will be in the near future I will begin by trying to peacefully bring my family together at the same table. We are very divided in our political thinking and sadly, are struggling to be around each other right now. We need to fight the growing division and that needs to begin at home. It will be easier to take on these challenges with Three Pines and Book Club Friends as a benchmark, a reprieve, and a constant reminder of what I hope the future will look like.
Thank you for all you do!
We received a lot of criticism from members for allowing political discussion in our FB group, but we have never wavered on our position on this. Firstly, we don’t believe in controlling what other can and cannot talk about. But secondly and mostly importantly, we believe that we need to gain a better understanding of varying points of views, to find ways to communicate more effectively and to build bridges that will enable us to find common ground.
Your current struggle with bringing your family together is heartbreaking and we feel for you and hope you will find a way to bring everyone together and find peace and joy at family gatherings.
That is amazing and wonderful that you have childhood friends from kindergarten and high school as close friends! It’s no surprise though, you are such a lovely person Libby, who wouldn’t want to cling onto your friendship? Thank you, dear Libby, for joining us and being such a wonderful member of our community.
I understand the wish to avoid explicit advocacy for one party or another. But, if one understands politics as Merriam-Webster defines it, “the total complex of relations between people living in society,” I think that is what Louise Penny and the other authors cited or referenced are writing about. They make relationships accessible through the characters and stories they tell. They also make it possible to explore how we live in society from a distance, with a bit of personal space. So, I look forward to discussions that connect Three Pines and the characters and places in other books to our current politics or how we are living in society.
Exactly. Well said.