2020 February Pietr the Latvian

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Our February book is the first book in the Inspector Maigret series, Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon.

There are 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Inspector Maigret and also televison series and movies based on the books.

[Jazzy]

I've just come home from my guitar class and will brush off my copy later today - as soon as I finish my Nevil Shute book!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Which Neville Shute book are you reading, Jazzy? I have read a number of his books.
The Maigret book has lots of atmosphere. Enjoy the book, Jazzy, and all those who are planning to read it!

[Jazzy]

I have read a lot of them too, but this time it was Trustee from the Toolroom.

Nevermind, I have looked for 2 hours and cannot find my Pietr the Latvian. I have done nothing but drag out things and make it worse!

I have no idea where it is and may not be able to read it after all.

[Jazzy]

But my favourite Simenon book was The Train.
My favourite and most provoking description was 'a rosary of bombs.'

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I hope you find it, Jazzy.

[Jazzy]

Thanks, I shall look for it again tomorrow, which is actually today. And Gavroche is eating cornflakes out of the box...!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Clever Gavroche! Or should I say Naughty Gavroche!

[Kathy]

I'll be reading more of Georges Simenon's Maigret series. I thought this book was cleverly plotted and had a dark, mysterious atmosphere.

In the chapter titled "The Strand of Hair," we get to know Maigret as he goes back to his office and asks his secretary to get some beer and sandwiches. The waiter from a nearby restaurant brings in six tglasses of beer and four thick-stuffed sandwiches on a tray. He asks, "Are you sure that'll be enough?" seeing that Maigret had company. So Maigret usually eats all of that himself! He drinks, eats and smokes his pipe while talking with his junior, Torrance.

Funny scene, even though their topics of conversation were serious.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

The scene with the beer and sandwiches is common in most of the Maigret novels. He must spend a lot of time at his office.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

On a side note, the detective Nero Wolfe also drinks a lot of beer, but in bottles.

[Kathy]

It's part of building the character of the detective. Then the reader feels like they know the detective.

[Jazzy]

I have been turning the flat upside down today, and it's only a studio - I don't even have a bedroom! but piled high with books and guitars and stuff. And I can't find the book yet!

However, I got a lot of hoovering done, took out a shopping bag full of rubbish and made a much more comfy place for Lucy (my fat cat) to sleep in. Meanwhile, Gavroche (my one-year-old cat) is hopping in and out of bags and boxes and is quite delighted!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I have has books disappear on me too, Jazzy. It is a very odd feeling.
I used to have a cat who loved playing in paper bags and boxes. Now I just have an old lady who sleeps and purrs.

[Jazzy]

I've also misplaced another book that's first of a set of three. I remember taking it out to read, well what did I do with it? I have no idea!

Lucy is 9 1/2 and very, very fat. She's going for a blood test on Wednesday as she's actually dangerously obese. My son weighs her food but it hasn't seemed to help, hopefully we can sort something out and get her to lose weight. She's been going to a weight loss group for cats, and the people at the vet think it's funny that I bring Lucy to what I call The Fat Cat Club. But it's true.

[Jacquie]

Just finished Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon. What a great read, thank you to whomever suggested this! Now I have to find another inspector Maigret mystery. 😁

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Happy reading, Jacquie. There are a lot to choose from.

[Suki]

I've read a number of Simenon books, but this was my first Maigret. It definitely won't be the last! This seems to be a perfect time to be discovering Maigret, as Penguin has been reprinting new translations of the series at the rate of a book per month since 2013. My pet peeve with starting on a series is when half the series is easily accessible, and the other half is out of print and hard to find/ expensive.

[Suki]

Jazzy wrote: "I have been turning the flat upside down today, and it's only a studio - I don't even have a bedroom! but piled high with books and guitars and stuff. And I can't find the book yet!

However, I got..."

When my books go missing, I usually find them under my fat little senior cat, Sweet Peeps. She loves sleeping on my books, and grumbles loudly when I try to slide the one I'm currently reading out from under her. 😀

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I have a fat senior cat too. Fortunately, she doesn't sleep on books.

[Suki]

Rosemarie wrote: "I have a fat senior cat too. Fortunately, she doesn't sleep on books."

I don't mind. I take it as a compliment that she loves the same things I do.

[Jazzy]

oh how cute!

Well Lucy will bump her head into my leg if she can't find a comfy place.

And I never did find that book.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

That must be frustrating, Jazzy.

[Kathy]

Too bad, Jazzy. It's a fun read.

[Jazzy]

Kathy wrote: "Too bad, Jazzy. It's a fun read."

Yes Rosemarie! oh well!

Aw, thanks Kathy! if i find it somewhere again i'll pick it up. It might have been thrown out by mistake.

My favourite of his books that I've read was The Train

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I recently read Simenon's The Blue Room, not a Maigret novel and very "noir."

[Jazzy]

Was it your favourite so far?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Probably one of the Maigret's, but I read them at least ten years ago so there isn't one that stands out. Most of them were really good.

[Kathy]

I just put Maigret on the Riviera on hold at my library. This will be my second Maigret.