-Chief Superintendent Armand Gamache
I cannot remember how this book was selected for our Page Turners. Most likely someone recommended it. I believe more than one member of the group has mentioned enjoying mysteries by this author. Also we needed something with less emotional intensity than our last two: Where the Crawdads Sing and Educated!
It took several chapters for me to get into this novel. I suspect folks who had read others in this series, already knew many of the characters and were familiar with the author's style, enjoyed it right away. I really didn't like the book at first and had to force myself to keep going. (Since I am the leader of our book club, I don't give myself permission to quit.) Fortunately the plot did become a bit clearer and gradually pulled me in. I must admit to being confused much of the time in my reading, as evidenced by a quiz I took at bookrags.com. I scored 16/25 for 64%, a D! How embarrassing!
In the novel, protagonist Armand Gamache, the Surete's Chief Superintendent has multiple problems in the small Canadian town of Three Pines. Law enforcement is being beaten by the drug cartels, a mysterious black-robed figure appears on the village green and a young woman is found beaten to death in a church basement. It is learned that the figure in black is a "cobrador," something like a conscience of Spanish lore and about the time IT disappears, the dead woman is found wearing the same black costume. These stories are told alternating with scenes from the murder trial. How are all these situations related? It's an intricate plot, to be sure, and obviously, too intricate for me!
It was interesting that the book references an historical event that I didn't remember: that Cortez, after arriving in Mexico, had his generals burn the ships to prevent his men returning to Spain. Coincidentally, the day after I finished the book there was an article in the newspaper about the musical duo For King and Country who have a recent album called "Burn the Ships." Apparently this is a phrase akin to burning bridges, in other words, forging ahead without looking back or letting the past define you.
I am rating Glass Houses a 3. I liked it enough, I may read another of Penny's novels soon. At least I will be familiar with some of the characters and the setting next time.
I will not make the meeting this month but perhaps I can, at least, add a group rating later.
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Paraphrased notes from the group leader post-meeting:
I thought the conversation went well. Several of us, at least three, are Louise Penny fans and by the end of the discussion several said they thought they would try more of her books. One participant is from Quebec near the Vermont border and could give a feel for the place. Also she knows some people who know Louise Penny and could give us insights into her background.
The book was not one of the better liked. People found the plots hard to follow and the distractions distracting, not in a good way. The average rating was right at 3.
