What did you think of A World of Curiosities and why?

I loved this book!!!! The history, the new characters, the twists and turns and once again being surprised by “whodunnit “

Once again Louise has written a book that not only entertains but educates and encourages one to address current social wrongs. A World Of Curiosities is such a sad story about horrific social enemies – sexual abuse of children, misogyny, gun violence, the villainization of women, and mental health problems. At the same time it is the story of a community, Three Pines, where hope, friendship, and sharing allow wounded souls to heal. It is the friendly banter, the commeraderie of the villagers, the knowing that all will be well that makes it possible to read the heinous crimes committed in the story. I loved learning more about a young Jean-Guy Beauvoir and why he ended up in the basement of the Surete. Knowing more about the journey he and Gamache have traveled over the years accentuates the bond they now share. I also loved that Amelia was back and how she and Gamache came to terms with each other concerning their connection.

Suspenseful and engaging, even on my umpteenth re-reading. Knowing the end did not make it any less engaging. I enjoy the way LP connects characters to previous stories; we knew at the end of “The Nature of the Beast” that Fleming knew who was responsible for his return to the SHU. LP uses that to write a new story entirely and one that includes new insights into some of my favorite characters, Jean-Guy, Armand, Reine-Marie and Myrna and Amelia. I am grateful Amelia appears again and hope that is a signal she will continue to. Finally, I admire the way LP incorporates actual events, including tragic ones, to provide a plausible backdrop to the main story. I especially appreciate her sensitivity to the people actually involved in the Ecole Polytechnique shooting and her willingness to cede a large measure of control over this book to Nathalie Provost. That, to me, demonstrates an impressive level of respect and trust for all involved, real and fictional.

I read it twice, loved it the second time. In my first reading of her books, I tend to race through, undoubtedly missing stuff. I found it initially rather confusing ( who is Harriet?). It becomes much clearer throughout the book. I had never heard about the massacre of the women engineering students, sadly, here in the states, such an event wouldn’t have triggered any changes to gun laws.
I will say, that as traumatized as Gamache was by the crimes of the serial murderer, that I think that he should have recognized him ( despite cosmetic changes.)

I absolutely loved learning about young Jean Guy and Armand and their experiences and what helped to make them who they are. Would love to learn even more! Loved their mutual support against Fleming, too. Appreciated the sensitivity that LP used in discussing the tragedy at the E’Cole Polytechnique, and how she wove a thoughtful discussion of misogyny and abuse into the story. Was saddened and disturbed by the psychopathic behavior in the story, because I find psychopathy the scariest form of monster out there in a world that has many, but it certainly evoked suspense and kept me turning the pages. Is it terrible of me to wish that Amelia’s bullet had thoroughly done its job in the end? Yes, it probably is, and yet… My core enjoyment, as always, was anything that gave me time spent with my favorite characters, in particular Armand, Reine Marie, and Jean Guy (and I really enjoy seeing all 3 of them interacting together; would love more of Annie in the mix, too!) and I also enjoyed seeing more into Myrna’s life and Billy Williams’ further development as a character (who everyone now understands! But he had told Armand that one day, he would…). I did miss any mention of Stephen this time, but assume he was away somewhere. Love him, and love him and Ruth together, but am glad he was away from this catastrophe! (yes, I care about these fictional people!) Can’t wait for the stories to continue…

Terrible trauma, its aftermath, and ultimately some form of forgiveness… Louise somehow uses historical frameworks and the villagers of Three Pines to show these themes as living proof of the goodness of people. The exceptions, of course, being John Fleming and Sam Arsenault, who seemed to be beyond healing or redemption. I also like the fact that the book begins with the mass killings at the Ecole Polytechnique (an actual event in Montreal) and ends with three women, all survivors of trauma, rescuing Jean Guy, Reine-Marie, and Armand. This book was so rich I could go on and on with what I liked, but I’ll stop there.

I read it twice for clarification….myrna has a niece? AG and RM have known Fiona all this time. Never mentioned before. Sam and JG Boy Scouts?
So I applaud LP for just reaching out there and changing the story to suite the current story (AG’s parents were still alive in Still Life until the revision) but it does make it hard to believe what might be coming next. 🌲🌲🌲 might seem like a tiny town not on a map, but it’s much much more .
Also Myrna must be a heck of a therapist to get Billy’s speech audible to AG and others!
Always interesting. Must slow down to fully enjoy!

On my first read, it felt darker and more brutal than the other books – which I didn’t enjoy. I saw much of the light that LP always brings in on my second reading. On the whole, a fascinating story. I did have to suspend disbelief, though that’s a small price to pay for such a creative, nail biter.

I loved the backstory of Armand and Jean-Guy. I think it would have been even more clever for Fleming to have been Clothilde’s father, and thus grandfather to both Sam and Fiona. This was the most scary book for me. I’ve listened to it a few times, but I’m always glad to put it away. Oh! And Sam didn’t die!? That’s trouble right there!

It was the most disturbing of any of them. John Fleming was evil personified, and one of the scariest psychopaths in literature. And those young people…..yikes. If I were ever going to reread, I would probably leave that one out.