Pietr the Latvian - Georges Simenon (Sep/Oct 21)

[Susan]

Welcome to our buddy read of Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon published in 1931 and aka as Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett / The Strange Case of Peter the Lett.

The first novel which appeared in Georges Simenon's famous Maigret series, in a gripping new translation by David Bellos.

Not that he looked like a cartoon policeman. He didn't have a moustache and he didn't wear heavy boots. His clothes were well cut and made of fairly light worsted. He shaved every day and looked after his hands.
But his frame was proletarian. He was a big, bony man. His firm muscles filled out his jacket and quickly pulled all his trousers out of shape.

He had a way of imposing himself just by standing there. His assertive presence had often irked many of his own colleagues.

In Simenon's first novel featuring Maigret, the laconic detective is taken from grimy bars to luxury hotels as he traces the true identity of Pietr the Latvian.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

[Jill]

This first book, I found to be absolutely action-packed. Although there was a lot of what Maigret thought was slow as he stood about watching people, the plot was still moving along at a fast pace. He is described as being a huge rock of a man, but he still managed to move around swiftly when circumstances demanded it, even after having been injured. He also showed kindness to those who were working along side him, and it was refreshing in these times to see a policeman who actually got on well with his wife.

[Carolien]

My mother gave me a whole collection of Maigret books, I need to get on a chair and take them down from a high shelf to find this one. It's at least an excuse to clean up that shelf. Looking forward to the read.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "This first book, I found to be absolutely action-packed. Although there was a lot of what Maigret thought was slow as he stood about watching people, the plot was still moving along at a fast pace...."

I felt the same, it was very well done, the way the author managed to convey the tedium felt by a soaking wet Maigret, tracking possible suspects for hours with no rest or food, yet kept up the pacing for the reader, so that it somehow felt suspenseful and exciting, as if something could happen at any moment. And for a large mountain of a man, who appeared “proletariat”, he managed to convey kindness and sensitivity when needed, yet still, having no truck with nonsense or excuses! Very attractive and useful in a detective of police, no matter the country - self-control when needed, but willing and able to throw his considerable bulk around when needed, not cowed by glittering surroundings. And nice to see Mrs. Maigret - she’s clearly supportive and a sounding board, but puts her oar in, probably a perfect police wife!

I enjoyed this, read part, listened to the Audible for some.

[Roman Clodia]

Oh, I missed that we're reading Maigret! I loved them when I was a teenager (our French teacher got us into reading them in French to improve our vocab and syntax), will try to fit this in. I read them randomly (there's no over-arching story so that's not a problem) so probably have lots unread.

And for fans of Mme Maigret, she does a couple of her own investigations at some point in the series :))

[Susan in NC]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Oh, I missed that we're reading Maigret! I loved them when I was a teenager (our French teacher got us into reading them in French to improve our vocab and syntax), will try to fit this in. I read ..."

Oh, fun! Thanks for the heads up!

[Rosina]

I just got the Audiobook from Audible - so it's lined up for when I finish with the Fingerpost. The reader is one of those from the Fingerpost, so I hope I don't get confused.

[Rosina]

I will probably have the theme tune running through my head (the one with Rupert Davies lighting his pipe, not any later versions).

[Abigail]

I’m about 20 percent in. I’ve heard about Simenon for years so thought I should give it a try. So far I’m feeling that Maigret has character traits rather than a personality.

[Shaina]

I'm starting this one today as soon as I finish our Inspector French group read. I haven't been able to read as much as I like as work seems to be going back to pre covid levels.

[Carolien]

I hauled down the books from the shelf. It turns out I have about 30 Maigret stories in a set of compendiums issued by Penguin, but not Pietr the Latvian! Will have to see if I can find an alternative copy.

[Abigail]

I’m at about 60% and am finding the writing style very bizarre—eruptions of sentence fragments, exclamation points everywhere. And Maigret seems to be letting his ego get in the way of solving the case. If I were his boss, I would fire him.

[Rosina]

I am listening to the audio book, but finding it very difficult to follow, and my mind keeps drifting away. I've had to go back several times, and I'm still not sure I understand what's going on.

There are some very unpleasant attitudes in it, which seem to be the author's views, rather than just the characters. But it was written pre-WW2.

[Susan in NC]

Rosina wrote: "I am listening to the audio book, but finding it very difficult to follow, and my mind keeps drifting away. I've had to go back several times, and I'm still not sure I understand what's going on.

..."
I had bits like that, I don’t know if it’s Simenon’s writing style, a translation issue, or both. I found it helpful to switch to my library ebook at those points. That’s why I generally prefer reading a book or ebook to audiobook for a new to me author - if I don’t know their writing style, I’m not sure how to interpret scenes. Context helps - of course, I lost half my hearing after my last brain surgery, so that could be it, also! ;)

[Frances]

I'm about 1/4 of the way in-bought an omnibus edition of the first 4 novels -the first translated by David Bellos but then there are 2 different translators for the 2nd and 3rd+4th novels so it will be interesting to see how much of a difference the translation makes.

I am enjoying it so far. Are there any other Louise Penny fans reading this? I am struck by similarities so far between Maigret and Gamache, the solid somewhat proletarian build, the focus on the person behind the incident, the close relationship with his subordinate of many years, and the fact that that subordinate calls him "Patron"-is that the case in other translations? So the two men are now quite similar in my mental picture of them!

[Abigail]

That’s a good analogy, Frances! I love the Gamache novels.

[Sandy]

Frances wrote: "I'm about 1/4 of the way in-bought an omnibus edition of the first 4 novels -the first translated by David Bellos but then there are 2 different translators for the 2nd and 3rd+4th novels so it wil..."

I've read the Gamache novels and the similarity didn't strike me, but the physical description certainly fits. I noticed "Patron" and assumed it was a common French usage for boss.

[Rosina]

I have started reading the Pel series by Mark Hebden, The lead French detective (in Burgundy) often compares his job with Maigret's (the fictional one, not as if he were real). His subordinates call him Patron too, so I assume it's the equivalent of Guv.

[Sandy]

Rosina wrote: "I have started reading the Pel series by Mark Hebden, The lead French detective (in Burgundy) often compares his job with Maigret's (the fictional one, not as if he were real). His ..."

The description of the Pel series sounds promising. Let us know how you like them (though I think I should get to know Maigret better before I add another French detective),

[ChrisGA]

Listened to this on Youtube audiobook--just 4 -5 hours. It seemed to move along quickly, but it was obviously it is a short book.