Wisdom from Chief Inspector Armand Gamache

I have written several times about the inspiring wisdom from Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. He is perhaps one of the people I most admire even though this Quebecois leader is fictional.

Yes he is the creation of novelist Louise Penny, and I know that means that it is she who is actually the wise one, but she writes him so well that he remains a real –and really smart—person to me. I think he is of highest value to anyone pursuing a life of integrity.

Today’s excerpt is from the most recent novel: “How the Light Gets In” in which Armand is talking to his adult daughter about a relationship gone into difficulty. She is in love with a good man but there are problems. And drugs and alcohol are involved.

Armand says to Annie,

“I think you should try living your life as though it’s just you. If he comes back and you know your life will be better with him, then great. But you’ll also know you’re enough on your own.”

If only we had all learned that at 13 or 21 or 41 --or now.

Chief Inspector Gamache and Alcoholics Anonymous

I have written before about my favorite mystery series by Louise Penny featuring the wise and insightful Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. He is one of those characters so well developed that it’s hard for me to say that Penny “created” him. I prefer to think that she knows him well and is just sharing his stories with us.

I’ve just finished number five—“A Trick of the Light” and this book gave me a double delight. It features a look inside the business side of the art world—galleries and gallerists—and much to my surprise it’s a look into the world of AA as well.

Gamache has to solve a crime that involves AA members and so he is required to enter the recovery world and learn about AA meetings and especially AA relationships—and he reads the Big Book to grasp the thinking that informs people in Twelve-step recovery. How perfectly wild and wonderful to see my favorite sleuth figuring out the messages of AA.

If you haven’t discovered this wonderful mystery series by Louise Penny do give it a try and meet one of the wisest, most compassionate and cultured detectives on the page. Your local library or bookstore will have a list of the books in the order they were written.

PS: Earlier posts about the lessons I have learned from Chief Inspector Gamache: September 19, 2012 and October 22, 2012.