“The Silver Ladies’ Club, After”: falling back into post-pandemic reality

DAY

Last part of a trilogy that has won the hearts of many readers, The Silver Ladies' Club, After< strong> tells what happens to the eight friends of the club, great readers in their sixties, united, after the pandemic and the confinement in their condominium building. After having “survived” several difficult months, will the return to “freedom” be easy? Maybe not!

As in the first two volumes, which were very successful, each chapter evolves around a book on the program of the reading circle of the eight women. This time, they will look at the writings of Richard Bach, Miguel Ruiz, Marcia Pilote, Fabrice Midal, Christine Michaud and Nicole Bordeleau, among others. Personal development is therefore in the foreground.

Dominique Drouin really enjoyed her writing adventure with these moving, authentic women, there for them when everything is going well and when everything is going badly. Beautiful friendships, a tightly knit group, action and a story rooted in reality.

“I liked volume 3. The characters are embodied, I know them well, share t -She. It’s really easy to get back into their psychology. The action came much easier to me and I knew I was wrapping up a story. I wanted the ladies to come back to reality, after the pandemic.”

Reference to the present

The post-pandemic landing is not smooth in the club since the novel opens with a tragedy: there is death of a man. Where did this idea come from? 

“After the pandemic, people are more nervous. There is more violence and I wanted to illustrate that, she says. I didn't want us to end up with ladies who knit and who are therefore on their own little cloud. I wanted them to come back to life, like everyone else.” 

“The drama rocks everyone, but each, in their own way, finds a new balance after this.” < /p>

There is a lot of action in the novel that references the post-pandemic social context and current events. 

Delicate themes 

< p>Dominique Drouin chose the books of the book club of the eight women so as to be able to address delicate themes: loneliness, fears, death, forgiveness and resilience.

“Death is an inescapable reality. When you face the end of life, it makes you realize how lucky you are to be there, she says. It makes you feel alive somewhere.”

“Aging is our last passage in life. There is loneliness, there is reflection. But if you face it, you have a quality of life. You feel alive.

“I didn't want to avoid the fact that life has an end. We have an expiration date, and what do you want, it's reality. But at the same time, I wanted it to feed the reflection. May it not be something negative, but something positive.”

This is also how Dominique Drouin constructed the different stories. 

“When you get older, you face the fact that your life is going to end at some point and enjoy it. Think about whether every shot you make is a good shot. You don't have time to waste your time. You're thinking a little deeper.”

The pandemic has served as a reminder, she believes.

“I think it made a lot of people think. And all the more the women of my generation. Loneliness is part of this reflection. You can't think seriously if you don't take a step back. Basically, it's precious, what you decide.” 

♦ Dominique Drouin has been a screenwriting teacher, author and screenwriter for more than 30 years.

♦ She studied with her grandmother, Mia Riddez, writing with her Human Earth and Le Grand Remous.

♦ She has lent her pen to several television projects such as L'Échappée Parents despite everything, Ramdam and Watatatow.

♦ She published the saga < /strong>From mothers to daughters and novels Julie, Hélène, Réjanne, Alicia, Marie-Pier and Ingrid, complements to the television series Yamaska< strong>, written with Anne Boyer. 

EXTRACT

“She finally remembers this person, contacted him a few months ago, on the recommendation of Denise. Ms. Fournier organizes the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Quebec on a voluntary basis. During this long conversation, Lise had explained to him that, since she had not received any news from the government for her sponsorship application, she was leaving her contact information. And then the tragic events had occurred and had made him give up his project. Thereafter, she focused instead on obtaining her passport, in preparation for her departure for the Hellenic skies. In her nasal voice, Ms. Fournier greets her in a familiar tone and tells her that a family will arrive at the end of the week in Dorval. A father, a mother and three children.