In my not-so-humble opinion, there are three basic elements that make or break a book: the plot, the writing style and the characters. As I write book reviews, I will likely touch on one of these three elements, whether it be positive commentary or constructive criticism. However, I always keep in mind that I am not an objective source and what I enjoy may not be others’ cups of tea.
This is to say I advise you to take my next words with a massive tablespoon of salt, because the novel “Still Life” by Louise Penny is unabashedly, without a doubt, my favorite book of the entire year.
This realization would not be so dramatic if I hadn’t fallen in love with the TV show, “Three Pines” which is based on this masterpiece first. My obsession with “Three Pines” ran so deep that I started looking for merch less than five minutes after finishing the first season, only to find season two was canceled earlier this year.
This was devastating, but I found salvation in the knowledge of two things: the series was based on a book and there was a petition that had been signed by 3,531 people to reverse the decision to cancel “Three Pines” on Amazon Prime.
It is no secret that 99.99% of the time, the book is better than its film adaptation, yet I still found myself reluctant to read this novel. I was nervous to discover if the book was bad, or worse yet if it was so good that it would shatter my perception of the show I had grown so fond of.
Fortunately, none of the above happened. Yes, the book was wonderful. As a murder mystery fanatic, I find myself growing tired of the cliche detective with his “holier than thou” attitude. Chief Inspector Gamache defies the stereotypes by being kind and gentle and genuinely seeing the best in people, despite his intimate knowledge of the atrocities humans are capable of.
The story takes place in Three Pines — a rural town in Canada so small it cannot be found on any map. It’s the type of town where everyone knows everyone and the crime rate is so nonexistent that nobody bothers to lock their doors at night. That is until the murder of a sweet, old-school teacher that is beloved by all.
The murder of Jane Neal dictates the plot of the book, but not the series. With a total of eight episodes and four murders, the storyline is where the show deviates most drastically from the book. The motivation behind the newly imagined plot stems from the producer and writer’s desire to put the show through a different lens.
The show places great emphasis on the atrocities indigenous peoples have faced and how that discrimination is perpetuated by the people who are supposed to protect them. Hundreds of indigenous women have gone missing, but the police refuse to take the cases seriously.
Although the murders themselves are tied to the residents of Three Pines, there is an underlying plot in which an indigenous teenager goes missing. The police believe she has run away from home in the typical adolescent fashion, but her family knows better. Inspector Gamache is tasked not only with investigating her disappearance, but also confronting his brothers in red.
The character adaptations in the show were nearly spot-on. The actors did an excellent job preserving the original vision for their characters as depicted in the book. Despite this, the show doesn’t have the effect of experiencing the story through the eyes of the characters themselves, which the book gives you the opportunity to do.
“Still Life” has it all. With a plot that keeps you on your toes, writing that makes you forget you’re reading and characters who have excellent chemistry with one another, it rightfully deserves the fictitious award of Best Book of the Year. However, as busy college students, it can be difficult to find the time or energy to crack open a book. For those who are murder mystery lovers or simply fans of good television, try watching “Three Pines.” If you find yourself as passionate as I was to keep the show alive, sign the petition here.
