As per usual, you hit the nail on the head. In fact, I couldn't find one statement here that I disagree with at all. I guess it boils down to the fact that Penny's books should at least come with the warning: Extreme Against The Catholic Church and Historical Accuracy. And maybe add some notes where the reader could educate herself properly. 😉 I'm #113 on the library waiting list for her latest so I will have to weigh in on that one in a couple of years.
I am only in crime novel #2 and I am very annoyed with her anti-Cathoic SNARK! (At age 65, I left the Cathoic Church after the sexual/financial clergy scandsls. I am now a practicing Lutheran, but hate this bias). Her progressive liberalism is much too obvious also. Her mysteries are midly entertaining, but do not hold a candle to Anne Perr's Detective William Monk series!!!
I haven’t read these novels but your observations ring true for a lot of contemporary fiction. I’m glad to see that you can find the good amongst the bias and questionable moral worldview. Otherwise what would we read? Thanks for the good old fashioned niche blog post!
As someone who is Catholic and has worked in parish ministry for the last 30+ years I will share with you all what a very wise priest shared with a Parish very upset by the Dan Brown novels, “They are fiction!” I understand if you don’t like Louise Penny’s work. Solution, don’t read them. What you can’t expect is for them to change because you don’t like them. Enjoy them for what they are, not historical, not theological, they are fiction. Just enjoy them or decide not to read them. Simple.
I’m a fan of sci-fi novels so when my friend gave me my first Gamache novel I thought I’d give mysteries a try again. I read lots of them when in high school. You really explained in your article what I just couldn’t put my finger on that was bothering me about the stories. While I love the characters and setting of Three Pines the plots often bother me. But I keep reading the books. It’s like returning to a very comfortable place with people I like a lot. The anti-religion ideas have bothered me being a Christian. I have just had to overlook Penny’s ideas and enjoy the stories. I enjoyed the very short lived series on tv and wanted them to continue! Thanks again.
Thank you! I have just begun reading The Beautiful Mystery and decided to peruse the internet concerning Louise Penny's obvious anti-Church bias before I gave up on it. Thus, my arrival here.
Thank you for your insight!
Also, while I have not done an exhaustive search on your site, do you have a "Favorite Books of All time" list somewhere. Thanks
As per usual, you hit the nail on the head. In fact, I couldn't find one statement here that I disagree with at all. I guess it boils down to the fact that Penny's books should at least come with the warning: Extreme Against The Catholic Church and Historical Accuracy. And maybe add some notes where the reader could educate herself properly. 😉 I'm #113 on the library waiting list for her latest so I will have to weigh in on that one in a couple of years.
This was a fabulous essay on many levels!
Thank you Antonia!
I am only in crime novel #2 and I am very annoyed with her anti-Cathoic SNARK! (At age 65, I left the Cathoic Church after the sexual/financial clergy scandsls. I am now a practicing Lutheran, but hate this bias). Her progressive liberalism is much too obvious also. Her mysteries are midly entertaining, but do not hold a candle to Anne Perr's Detective William Monk series!!!
I haven’t read these novels but your observations ring true for a lot of contemporary fiction. I’m glad to see that you can find the good amongst the bias and questionable moral worldview. Otherwise what would we read? Thanks for the good old fashioned niche blog post!
I haven't read the novels and my only exposure to the stories is the Amazon Prime show so I'm excited to hear your thoughts on that!
As someone who is Catholic and has worked in parish ministry for the last 30+ years I will share with you all what a very wise priest shared with a Parish very upset by the Dan Brown novels, “They are fiction!” I understand if you don’t like Louise Penny’s work. Solution, don’t read them. What you can’t expect is for them to change because you don’t like them. Enjoy them for what they are, not historical, not theological, they are fiction. Just enjoy them or decide not to read them. Simple.
I’m a fan of sci-fi novels so when my friend gave me my first Gamache novel I thought I’d give mysteries a try again. I read lots of them when in high school. You really explained in your article what I just couldn’t put my finger on that was bothering me about the stories. While I love the characters and setting of Three Pines the plots often bother me. But I keep reading the books. It’s like returning to a very comfortable place with people I like a lot. The anti-religion ideas have bothered me being a Christian. I have just had to overlook Penny’s ideas and enjoy the stories. I enjoyed the very short lived series on tv and wanted them to continue! Thanks again.
Thank you! I have just begun reading The Beautiful Mystery and decided to peruse the internet concerning Louise Penny's obvious anti-Church bias before I gave up on it. Thus, my arrival here.
Thank you for your insight!
Also, while I have not done an exhaustive search on your site, do you have a "Favorite Books of All time" list somewhere. Thanks
This is the article about Inspector Gamache and Louise Penny that I have been waiting for! Thank you!