Book Club Friends Discussion Guide For:
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
Kingdom of the Blind is Book #14 of the Chief Inspector Gamache series
When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, and frankly curious, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder.
Published: 2018
Kingdom of the Blind Discussions
Please note that all discussions may contain spoilers.
Detecting The Wisdom of Gamache
Sleuth work: The Wisdom of Gamache in Kingdom of the Blind: Identify phrases in this book that embrace Gamache’s approach to life. ONLY comment with the phrase! Discussion of the selected phrase will take place next week after Louise reveals her phrase.10/09/2024The spirit of the Three Pines community
Identify a passage or scene that embraces the spirit of Three Pines in Kingdom of the Blind. What does the phrase or scene mean to you? How does it inspire you?11/09/2024The humour of Louise Penny
What’s your favourite passage or scene that demonstrates Louise’s humour in Kingdom of the Blind?12/09/2024An insight into human nature
Identify a passage or scene that demonstrates an insight into human nature in Kingdom of the Blind. Discuss the quote or scene and what it means to you or how it has impacted you.13/09/2024A historical detail of interest
In Kingdom of the Blind, did you pick up on any historical or geographical details of interest? Tell us about it and what you appreciated learning about in Kingdom of the Blind.14/09/2024An enticing food moment
Tell us about your favourite food moment in Kingdom of the Blind! Has the food in this book inspired you to try a new dish or bake/cook something new?15/09/2024Discussion of The Wisdom of Gamache phrase chosen by Louise Penny
Discuss The Wisdom of Gamache phrase chosen by Louise. What does this phrase mean to you? How does it inspire you?17/09/2024What aspects of human nature do we see throughout the novel?
“You do know that the earth is round,” Gamache says to his godfather at lunch, to which Stephen Horowitz replies, “The earth might be, but human nature isn’t. It has caverns and abysses and all sorts of traps.”13/02/2024What would YOU like to discuss about the Kingdom of the Blind?
Favorite character? Things you’d like to share?14/02/2024Why do you think Louise describes the Montréal underworld and Three Pines in such similar ways?
The Montréal underworld could not seem more different from the sanctuary of Three Pines, yet Amelia finds herself in “an alley off an alley off a back lane. Impossible to find, except by those who were lost. She was pretty sure it wouldn’t be on any map. But once found, it was never forgotten. And probably never left.” This echoes language that is customarily used to describe Three Pines.13/02/2024What do you make of Gamache’s story about the longhouse, where nothing can ever be expelled or hidden away?
“How do you do it?” Isabelle asks Gamache in Chapter 11, as she struggles to recover from being shot in the head. When he responds, “Remember?” she answers, “Forget.”14/02/2024Can you understand Billy? What do you make of what he says and does? How do you feel about what might be happening between him and Myrna, and what the future might hold for them?
We are told that “for reasons that baffled Gamache, he seemed the only person on earth who could not understand a word Billy Williams said. Not a word. Not even close.”16/02/2024
Kingdom of the Blind characters are listed in alphabetical order. Any new additions will be listed on the bottom row, along with credit to the contributor.
*Note: New entries may take up to five minutes to appear.
Food mentioned in Kingdom of the Blind in order of appearance. Any new additions will be listed on the bottom row, along with credit to the contributor.
*Note: New entries may take up to five minutes to appear.
Three Pines
The Ritz
Published on Book Club Friends with permission from Louise Penny.
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Want to know more about Ruth Zardo’s Poetry?
“I’m so happy I made, by some miracle, Ruth a poet. Again, contrast. The embittered elderly poet, with such insight into the human heart (sometimes filled with frost), and human condition. Later in the series, as you might know, we find out who hurt her once, ‘so far beyond repair…”
“I wish I could take credit for the poetry, but the fact is, the poetry is mostly from two works…Margaret Atwood’s Morning in the Burned House…and a privately published book by the late Marylyn Plessner.” ― Louise Penny
Louise also credits Leonard Cohen, Stevie Smith, Ralph Hodgson, Mike Freeman, Liz Davidson, Robert Service, and W.H. Auden for poetry quoted in her books.
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Lady Mink: A Sort of Requiem
&
God Be In My Head
by Marylyn Plessner
from Vapour Trails
Three Pines Poetry Sources
Morning in the Burned House
The Essential Leonard Cohen
All the Poems: Stevie Smith
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