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What’s your favourite passage or scene that demonstrates Louise’s humour in The Grey Wolf?
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This book was packed with humour. I was taken by surprise by the humour in part when I would never have expected it to appear, yet there it was. Wonderful surprises. I’m going to read the book again and pick out some of my favourites and come back to this later.
But I absolutely loved the humour in The Grey Wolf. It’s one of the reasons (along with that scene with Gamache on the couch, closing his eyes, in pain, in disappointment. That scene, for me, is perhaps the single most heart-grabbing moment in all the books) that this book is one of my favourites in the series.
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For me it is the running joke between Gamache and Jean-Guy about Gamache’s cookie habit. Jean-Guy’s gentle teasing is just so endearing. They’ve gone through so much together personally and professionally, it’s lovely to see them in such a loving place.
I also liked the small moments like when Reine Marie welcomes Gamache home and does a Clouseau impression “You have a ‘bimp,’ monsieur.”
Then there’s broad comedy too with the Three Pines gang trying Olivier’s terrible Chartreuse cocktail and the grandchildren going wild with marshmallows.
And, Louise even found time to inject some humour into a very suspenseful moment when Isabelle is confronting Frere Sebastien and an ancient book with the Chartreuse recipe comes to the rescue – funny and satisfying.
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Tara, I love all these moments you mentioned, and I totally agree about Armand and Jean-Guy’s relationship now. Gone is JG’s doubt that the caring is real, and he’s no longer afraid to reciprocate showing his feelings in return. They’ve reached an understanding, and realize that they are both human, not superhuman. Armand is no longer on a pedestal, but is no less admired and loved. Another passage that was sweet/funny/sad was when they both went to check out Charles L’s apartment, and JG helped Armand to stand up. “Gamache struggled a little to stand up, the bruising and stiffness setting in. Beauvoir reached out to steady him. “We’ll have to get a hoist soon, patron.” Gamache smiled. “I can still take you.” Though both knew that had stopped being true a few years earlier.” Even though in the Three Pines world time passes, yet doesn’t (the characters have, and yet haven’t, aged chronologically, as Armand still hasn’t hit 60 yet; which I’m OK with), there has been time for ripening and depth in the relationships of these characters, and it draws me to them.
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“Armand wondered fleetingly how one would grow nutmeg. It was a nut, no? That you grated? There were enough nuts in the village, at least one of them grating, but not of the same sort.”
“Take a firearm into a crowded cafe, mon ami? Non. I’ll leave it to you to kill any innocent bystanders. It was as close to gallows humor as Jean-Buy had seen the Chief come.”
At the monastery Armand wants to use the phone to get through to Reine-Marie. Even though Armand says he knows the way to where the phone is, Brother Simon insists on coming with him. “I’m sure you do, Chief Inspector, but I’ll still come with you. We’ve lost several postulants. He shook his head sadly, then smiled at Armand. Well, perhaps we’ll find them, said Armand. At this stage, I hope not.”
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Having raised four daughters myself I can so imagine what the Gamache home must be like with all the grandchildren and Isabelle’s kids there. The noise, the laughter, the pure energy of youth reverberating off the walls. Now I can smile and giggle about the insanity of it all. And I can so relate when Armand tells Daniel, “Now go rescue your mother. She has marshmallow in her hair, children under her skin, and Ruth up her nose.”
When I first thought of Ruth as a babysitter I could feel the grey hair springing forth on my head. Who would have thought this crazy old poet would be good at taking care of children. Who would have thought she would want to. But, when the antique little girl in Ruth comes out to play everyone under the age of eighteen has a wonderful time. The house may not so much. But the house will survive marshmallows on the ceiling and couch cushions all over the floor. What counts is the kids. What counts is that they are safe and loved and enjoying what could be a frightening and stressful time for them. I don’t know why Ruth loved kids like she does but it’s obvious to me that the kids love her as much as she seems to love them. The children have found the crack in Ruth’s tough exterior. They’ve let the light into her soul illuminating her love for them.
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So true about Ruth. I’m sure Ruth delights in the mayhem the children get up to. I took note of her watching over and coaching the children of Three Pines playing ice hockey way back when. I thought at the time Ruth? Children? Of course, we later learn a sad reasons why she possibly does it). So it’s a lovely development to see her growing into an unofficial grandmother in the Gamache household and enjoying all the mischief.
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I agree, Maureen. I love that Ruth is finding family like this. She deserves it! Another great example of the theme of belonging in these books.
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I love this discussion question and all the responses because I get to enjoy the humour again! Poor Annie’s frustrations at the house full of children telling Jean-Guy “they are monsters” made me laugh. I can just picture the delightful chaos. Love your comment, Libby!
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I thought Olivier’s cocktail experiment was funny. The “guinea pigs” were not amused by The Last Word (or as Reine-Marie called it “Poison” and “Famous Last Words”) . You know the drink has got to be bad if Ruth says it’s awful.
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I, too, enjoyed the many examples I’ve seen mentioned here so far. LP’s humor, her sly wit, is something I look forward to in each and every book she writes. She’s so deft at bringing in that touch of lightness, especially when things are getting dark. One moment that delighted me was the contemplation of what the inner minds of the various characters would smell like — I must confess, I have NEVER considered such a concept before, and had fun trying to imagine that!
I was also amused by the young engineer’s interplay with Jean-Guy. When they first met: Gamache: “You recognize me, you know you can trust me.” Manon: “Maybe. But that fellow with you looks shifty.” “Another growl. Then silence.” (from JG) And then at the water treatment plant, she continued needling him, pretending he was her annoying brother-in-law (“he’s a bit of an A$#-hole.”), and having testy interchanges throughout that ordeal (though I really wonder if he deserved all the disrespect he got, considering the circumstances. They were both under a lot of pressure, and he was focused on the mission). Come to think of it, he engendered that instant disrespect from Claudine at the Mission, too, although he started it by suggesting that she might be Ruth’s sister. I often wonder if it’s just a look, his body language or what that makes him a target for some smart women to sharpen their claws on, as sometimes they practice on him before he’s even opened his mouth. On the bright side, they do generally end up growing fond of him!
Another sweet/funny moment that I remember: Honore, bargaining with his grandfather Armand with Brussels sprouts in exchange for his song. And his inability to make a up a good lie. H: “If I do, will you eat my Brussels sprouts?” Armand: “Don’t you normally give them to Henri?” …”H: “You know about that?…”No, I don’t.” ‘Someone’s going to have to teach that child how to lie properly,’ muttered Reine-Marie.”
And Reine-Marie, upon seeing the cut on Armand’s hand after digging in the trash for the Chartreuse bottle: “You’ve been dumpster diving again, haven’t you.” Armand: “It’s where the best clues, and birthday gifts, are found.” These little almost throw-away exchanges just lift and lighten the narrative, and make me laugh, and enjoy the reading experience so much more!-
Jean-Guy certainly makes an impression on the ladies. 😀 I suspect it’s because they all secretly and instantly fall in love with him. And what is it about Brussel sprouts that they always get such a bad rap? But that was a delightful exchange.
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Maureen, I love your theory about JG — I can go with that! And yes, poor Brussels sprouts are much aligned, IMHO. I’m quite fond of them, but I know that many people despise them.
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This question remains one of my favorite discussion questions both because the posts are such a wonderful read and because Louise is so good at incorporating moments of humor. Sometimes they are humorous scenes and sometimes just a play on words or double entendre.
Armand is meeting with Charles who says, “I wasn’t sure you’d come. I didn’t want to expose myself before I had to.” To which Armand replies, “You’re not planning to expose yourself, are you?”
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The marshmallows stuck to the ceiling. Annie whispering on the phone “They are monsters!” A good reminder that we don’t usually fear “monsters” but joke about them.
Every time Gracie is mentioned, she is a category all by herself: the dogs, the duck, and Gracie. I think that is charming.
And there are two scenes when either Jean Guy or Isabelle are addressing a nun, starting with “Sister, …!” and thinking they sound like some cheesy gangster movie. I like thinking about words being used in different contexts. -
One other comedic scene I also noticed that rewards long time readers is Jean-Guy’s fear of float planes came to full fruition in The Grey Wolf! Does anyone else remember how trepidatious he was on the small plane in The Long Way Home? Well, he’ll certainly never want to step into one again after this misadventure!
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My answer has already been mentioned, so I’ll just say that I really enjoyed all the comments and now type this with a big smile on my face. Thank you all!
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There is no reason to limit the references to LP’s humor. Which one of our many suggestions clicked with you?
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Great point and good question Jane. I was going to mention Manon as well. Susan’s comment was perfect in expressing how LP expressed her wit through that character, and I think it might have been Nancy who mentioned the joke about her being a sanitation engineer rather in another thread, which was very funny. Susan mentioned sly wit and how LP is so deft at bringing in that touch of lightness, especially when things are getting dark. This is what I appreciated most about the humor in The Grey Wolf.
When the scene shifts to one the includes Henri or Rosa, I think there is an expectation for a moment of comedy. But in the scenes with Manon at the plant, the suspense and tension were high and the jokes were complete unexpected, which made them even more delightful for me. I find it akin to hearing a joke from someone you know to be very serious and never whimsical – the joke is somehow much funnier than it would be coming from someone known to be more playful.
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