2.
Title: [How the Light Gets In]
Author: Louise Penny
Genre: Mystery
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Pre-order, late read
Date Completed: January 9, 2015
Rating: *****

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny is narrative perfection.  Penny's writing is quietly elegant, building suspense with few gimmicks, and allowing characters to drive the story without overburdening the story with indulgent introspection, or unnecessary action sequences. Here, Gamache works through three mysteries, two of which are intimately connected, and all of which drive the detective back to the Utpoia of Three Pines.  I'm afraid to say anything more for fear of spoiling the story for any who hasn't gotten to it yet, so I will simply say that Penny again meets - and exceeds - the high standards I now have for her work.

66.
Title: [Othello]
Author: Shakespeare
Pages: 100
Genre: drama
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: work text
Date Completed: October 20, 2012
Rating: *****

This semester I assigned a "defense of villainy" essay for our reading of Othello: students had to either defend Iago, or Othello's murder of Desdemona.  I'm about to dive into those essays now...

67. 
Title: [The Adoration of Jenna Fox]
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Pages: 288
Genre: YA Dystopian
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Purchased used
Date Completed: November 1, 2012
Rating: ***1/2

The Adoration of Jenna Fox was included on a list of superior YA dystopian fiction I received at a conference, and though the first suggestion was a major flop ([Feed]), I decided to give this a try.  I'm glad I did.  While I'm not certain I agree with the labeling of this text as dystopian, the narrative is interesting and really calls one to question our current medical and political systems.  It's not perfect, and some questions are left unanswered, but overall the novel is satisfying. 

68. 
Title: [Titus Andronicus]
Author: Shakespeare
Pages: 100
Genre: drama
Medium: paperback
Acquisition: Work text
Date Completed: November 1, 2012
Rating: *****

Presented somewhere between 1592-1595, Shakespeare's earliest tragedy is a product of its time; revenge tragedies and the translated works of Seneca are widely popular, each characterized by violence and bizarre events.  Although the content of the play - including mutilation, rape, and cannibalism - may seem shocking, even these elements are not singular to Shakespeare's text, as much of the inspiration for characterization and events comes from Ovid's Metamorphosis.

Using Titus in the classroom for the first time is very interesting, as student reactions vary widely - one student has even requested to step out momentarily when we discuss the rape of Lavinia.  The students recognize the sins of Titus, and yet still we wrestle with our desire to prefer him to Tamora.  Discussions are lively, and the questions are very smart.  At the end of it all I am asking them to write a paper of definition defining "tyrant" or "tyranny," using both (or either) Othello and Titus as support. 

The school's drama department is producing Titus now, and many students have said that being asked to see the play has actually improved their readings.  I'll go see it myself tomorrow. 

69. 
Title: [The Beautiful Mystery]
Author: Louise Penny
Pages: 384
Genre: Mystery
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Preordered
Date Completed: November 2, 2012
Rating: ***

Never before have I been able to step away from a Louise Penny novel before full consumption, but I had no problem putting down The Beautiful Mystery for long periods of time; despite preordering the book and receiving it on its release date, I'm only just finishing the novel.  Much is poetic, as usual, but I didn't find the story nearly as compelling as others.  As for the conclusion, my one thought is good riddance to bad rubbish. 

73.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: A Trick of the Light
publication: Hardcover
Pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition:
Date: September 14, 2011
Rating: *****

A Trick of the Light is quietly elegant, yet delves deep into the baseness that makes up human nature. The mystery revolves around the death of an art critic who once took particular joy in destroying the budding careers of artists; as a result, the pool of suspects encompasses almost all of the local art world, and Gamache and his elite team find themselves working with some especially neurotic individuals. What comes to light is the true ugliness that people can keep inside, and the resulting novel is as philosophical as it is mysterious. One of the things I appreciate about Penny's mysteries is that she does not fall into the easy trap of insanity: not all murderers hear voices or are otherwise insane. Some are just simply horrible people, doing horrible things. In the end I was pleased not only with the resolution of the murder, but with the fate of a certain detestable character. This book is yet another treat for fans of Three Pines.

9.
Author(s): Louise Penny
Title: Bury Your Dead
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 371
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 18, 2011
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I have always found a kind of dignity in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series, and Bury Your Dead is no different. The novel itself is one of introspection and personal awareness, as it forces two principal characters to exist as separate - suffering - entities. Despite a present murder, the true mysteries are those that occurred long ago, and the nearly academic nature of the primary mysteries become cathartic for Gamache and Jean-Claude as they strive to heal mentally from a terrible professional tragedy. At times, Bury Your Dead reads almost like a cozy mystery, as so much detection and consideration takes place in libraries and in the company of historical societies over more stereotypical interrogations. Gamache is shown to be fully human, though his standards reach far beyond, and Beauvoir is still as revolting as ever; as, I can only assume, he will continue to be.

81.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: The Brutal Telling
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Michael bought it for me. He insisted.
Date Completed: October 14, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

I am having a very difficult time reviewing this book without spoiling the plot for future readers. All I really feel I can say is that I never really expected Penny to go where she does. I kept waiting for a different conclusion to arise, and so in a way I feel both delighted and disappointed.

76.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: A Rule Against Murder
Publication: Hardback, 2008
Pages: 322 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: September 27, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Louise Penny does not need another glowing review for the Chief Inspector Gamache series; those who have made it this far into the series already know full well what to expect from Madame Author, and she still does not disappoint. Instead, I would like to share a personal response that has been building as I make my way through the series:

I loathe Beauvoir.

Gamache's second-in-command makes my skin crawl. Even when other unappealing officers are involved in the narrative*, Beauvoir seems like the real monster on the team. And yet, it is her ability to present such a detestable individual as one of the "good guys" that makes the series so compelling.

Penny's characters are people, with all the flaws ad undesirable characteristics that the term can imply. In Three Pines there is no true good and evil, because the town is made of life, and not fantasy.


* I would also like to say that I was very pleased with the resolution involving this particular team member in the last book. I won't say anything more, for fear of spoiling another reader's enjoyment.

70.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: The Cruelest Month
Publication: Paperback, 2007.
Pages: 401 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Resistance is futile
Date Completed: September 3, 2010
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels are deeply satisfying; as I reached the resolution I experienced that wonderful, comfortable full-belly feeling that only exceptional novels can inspire.

The primary plot of The Cruelest Month focuses on the now-infamous Arnot case which helped to define Gamache; though the case itself was long ago "resolved," the repercussions of Gamache's decisions have never fully dissipated. Now, Gamache and his team must face uncomfortable truths and a world of confrontations in order to support decisions that were honorable.

The secondary plot is the murder of a newer resident of Three Pines; unlike previous novels, the victim is not thoroughly detestable, yet there is no shortage of suspects.

The Cruelest Month is a character-driven narrative, in which quite a bit of development is presented. I enjoyed learning more about some of the principle characters, and was thoroughly pleased when my hopes for certain characters were fulfilled.

64.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: A Fatal Grace
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 334 pages
Genre: Fiction, mystery
Acquisition: Purchased August 6, 2010
Date Completed: August 12, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The second novel in the Inspector Gamache Three Pines series is just as elegant and breathtaking as the first. Penny's writing style defines traditional genre stereotypes, and the second in the series matches the first in careful construction and execution. For Penny, it seems the conclusion is not the point of the narrative. Rather, it's the journey through life,and the language that carries the reader there.

60.
Author: Louise Penny
Title: Still Life
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 293 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Beach read #5
Date Completed: July 28, 2010
Rating: 6 stars out of 5

Still Life by Louise Penny contains a simple grace that was entirely unexpected. The first in the Inspector Gamache series, the mystery breathes with a calm intelligence that can be attributed not only to the Inspector himself, but also to Penny and the characters she brings to life. The residents of Three Pines are real people, with all their flaws and eccentricities, and the ease with which they accept the reader allows for a great amount of comfort. I won't cheapen the novel by describing the plot, but I will express my admiration of Penny and my everlasting gratitude to the many readers of LibraryThing who are constantly recommending the series.

Still Life moves beyond the confines of traditional genre fiction, and becomes a Novel in every valuable sense of the word. I will certainly be pursuing the series in the future, with much delight and anticipation.