Georges Simenon

[PaulMB]

Just wondering if there were any serious Simenon readers about. I've read loads of Maigrets, but none of the non-Maigret novels. Which are the must-reads? Thanks!

 

[Bob McC]

Read every Maigret but none of the other books!

 

[PaulMB]

Ah, same boat then. I've heard or read that some of the others are very, very good. But have no idea where to start. I'll try the usual Wikipedia.

 

[palacefan]

Amazon have several of his books listed along with many Maigret story's.

 

[narabdela]

Amazon have several of his books listed along with many Maigret story's.

The grammar (and spelling) nazis are twitching.

 

[chartz]

A lot of Simenon’s non Maigret novels were used in French classic movies. Great stories: Wikipedia is your friend here.

 

[Joe Hutch]

One non-Maigret Simenon book I enjoyed was 'The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By'.

 

[PaulMB]

Thanks for saving the thread from 12-hour-oblivion.

 

[PaulMB]

One non-Maigret Simenon book I enjoyed was 'The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By'.

Yes, thanks! I read that one, I think. About a murderer and his long escape.

 

[PaulMB]

A lot of Simenon’s non Maigret novels were used in French classic movies. Great stories: Wikipedia is your friend here.

Thanks, tried Wikipedia but not much help.

 

[Woodface]

I've never read any Simenon, not sure why as I read a lot of crime fiction. I really loved the Martin Beck series of books & I would urge you to do so if you haven't.

 

[saturn9]

Taken from the Guardian a couple of years ago...

“If you want to read three of his greatest books, try the deceptively light Sunday, written in 1958 about a Riviera hotel-keeper who spends a year preparing to kill his wife; try The Widow, published, like The Outsider, in 1942, and at least equal to Camus’s work in portraying a doomed and alienated life; and above all be sure to read Dirty Snow, a story of petty crime and killing at a time of collaboration in a country that remains unnamed, but which is always taken to be France under the Nazis.”

According to Andre Gide all his books are worth reading.

 

[narabdela]

I really loved the Martin Beck series of books & I would urge you to do so if you haven't.

I'll drink to that! Required reading for any connoisseur of crime fiction.

 

[chartz]

Thanks, tried Wikipedia but not much help.

Here, at Film Adaptations. Many masterpieces.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Simenon

 

[palacefan]

The grammar (and spelling) nazis are twitching.

It was a very quick post to help some one who posed a question, in my view your comment addressed to me suggests that it is you that fits the grammar and spelling nazi role.

 

[narabdela]

It was a very quick post to help some one who posed a question, in my view your comment addressed to me suggests that it is you that fits the grammar and spelling nazi role.

Yes indeedy.

 

[palacefan]

Yes indeedy.

Obnoxious twat

 

[PaulMB]

Taken from the Guardian a couple of years ago...

“If you want to read three of his greatest books, try the deceptively light Sunday, written in 1958 about a Riviera hotel-keeper who spends a year preparing to kill his wife; try The Widow, published, like The Outsider, in 1942, and at least equal to Camus’s work in portraying a doomed and alienated life; and above all be sure to read Dirty Snow, a story of petty crime and killing at a time of collaboration in a country that remains unnamed, but which is always taken to be France under the Nazis.”

According to Andre Gide all his books are worth reading.

Thank you! Great help!