tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post4967149323532314360..comments2024-03-28T11:17:43.586+00:00Comments on Read-warbler: Maigret Goes to School #1954ClubCathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-37061314437632377052022-05-01T09:37:18.618+01:002022-05-01T09:37:18.618+01:00Sam: Absolutely it did, I kept expecting a Mr. Bea...Sam: Absolutely it did, I kept expecting a Mr. Bean face or a Blackadder response and in all honesty there were one or two funny moments. Yes, I find there's a bit of a difference between those set in the 1920s and those from the 50s. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-60269314108494533662022-04-30T19:43:55.075+01:002022-04-30T19:43:55.075+01:00I agree that it took some getting used to to see R...I agree that it took some getting used to to see Rowan Atkinson in the role...franklym a whole lot of getting used to...but in the end, I thought he was pretty good. The novels are fun for me because of the decades they are set in as much as for any other reason. And, too, I like the author's style.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-17640823092297299772022-04-28T12:10:17.984+01:002022-04-28T12:10:17.984+01:00Yvonne: Yes, the dialogue in the books is very muc...Yvonne: Yes, the dialogue in the books is very much what you might call 'sparse' and these days writers are far more likely to write in a much more fluid manner with more depth. I couldn't live on a diet of Maigret books but the odd one now and then is fine. To be honest I like more 'body' in my books, I want the characters fleshed out and I want history too. <br /><br />It's obviously a very personal thing but once I got used to Rowan Atkinson as a straight actor I was fine. At first though you're waiting for him to pull a face and there were also moments of humour when he delivered a line in his own inimital style. It wouldn't work for everyone though and I suspect you weren't alone in not liking it much.<br /><br />Thank you, I'm taking loads of books... of course!<br />Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-44535802348291552892022-04-28T11:50:30.202+01:002022-04-28T11:50:30.202+01:00Margaret: I think this one is worth a read. I foun...Margaret: I think this one is worth a read. I found it a little different to the Paris based ones as he's dealing with village mentality and also the thinking of young children. Yes, I do actually think that the TV dramas have the edge on the books. And I'm really enjoying the Rupert Davies version I must say. Rowan Atkinson really did surprise me once I got used to him. What a pity they made so few with him. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-31306967698007437342022-04-28T11:49:05.251+01:002022-04-28T11:49:05.251+01:00I read these books avidly as a teenager and now yo...I read these books avidly as a teenager and now you have made me long for them all over again.<br /><br />I know what you mean about the stories probably presenting better on screen, but don't you think that is just a sign of the times, as the writing is couched in words and phraseology, almost alien to us these days? I quite enjoy the 'reserved' narrative and dialogue of these classic series, however I guess too many of the books in a short space of time would have me longing for more action and 'life' in the stories!<br /><br />Personally, I didn't rate Rowan Atkinson in the part of Maigret and only watched one of the programmes. But I think that is because he is so 'typecast' as a comedic actor, I just can't visualise that face in a serious role!<br /><br />Thanks for the trip down memory lane and enjoy your Cornish break next week :)Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14821114534056290177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-14930800874403057572022-04-28T11:46:38.914+01:002022-04-28T11:46:38.914+01:00Diane: Yes, early to mid-20th century France is qu...Diane: Yes, early to mid-20th century France is quite an interesting setting though oddly enough WW2 does not warrant even a small mention if memory serves. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-77800700839800184032022-04-28T11:45:04.124+01:002022-04-28T11:45:04.124+01:00Tracy: Yes, I understand that feeling of missing a...Tracy: Yes, I understand that feeling of missing a series that you haven't read in a while. I have a handful that I mean to return to soon. But I love the way that a Maigret book is very easy to slip into your reading schedule, them being slim volumes and quick to read. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-41120338125674011552022-04-28T11:43:05.859+01:002022-04-28T11:43:05.859+01:00Lark: And it's 'impossible' to read ab...Lark: And it's 'impossible' to read absolutely everything, despite how much we might want to. So I understand your predicament completely. But it's a nice problem to have I suppose. :-)Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-46767589428664824622022-04-28T11:41:34.008+01:002022-04-28T11:41:34.008+01:00Margot: It's nice to meet someone else who lik...Margot: It's nice to meet someone else who likes the Maigret on the road books too because I think most people prefer the Paris based ones. But I love Simenon's ability to create a sense of place, I think he must've loved wild, coastal areas because he is superb at describing them. And yes, I agree, I also like hown Maigret is so good at wheedling details out of his suspects. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-34208222581141929292022-04-28T07:27:41.755+01:002022-04-28T07:27:41.755+01:00As I was reading your post I thought this book sou...As I was reading your post I thought this book sounded very familiar - and then I realised I'd downloaded a sample, but didn't buy the book. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, it is one I want to read. I agree about the TV versions, and for once I think they are better than the books.The books can be a bit too brief. I'm old enough to remember watching the Rupert Davies series too and I like the Rowan Atkinson programmes as well.Margaret @ BooksPleasehttp://www.booksplease.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-3805605343628965682022-04-28T00:55:36.830+01:002022-04-28T00:55:36.830+01:00The Maigret books sound delightful. The setting an...The Maigret books sound delightful. The setting and time period make me even more curious.(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-3422809890051358072022-04-27T23:38:30.952+01:002022-04-27T23:38:30.952+01:00I was just recently lamenting that I had not read ...I was just recently lamenting that I had not read any more Maigret books since early this year. This one does sound very good. I will look out for a copy.<br /><br />I will have to look into which of the Maigret TV adaptations are available for us to view. I would like to try any of them.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-29201286693837200292022-04-27T22:02:45.146+01:002022-04-27T22:02:45.146+01:00I still haven't read any of these Maigret myst...I still haven't read any of these Maigret mysteries. I've been aware of them for years, and have always meant to give one of them a try...but you know how that goes! Other books keep getting in the way. :) Lark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-9560586615148968072022-04-27T18:29:01.021+01:002022-04-27T18:29:01.021+01:00I like those 'Maigret on the road,' books,...I like those 'Maigret on the road,' books, too, Cath. And, yes, that seaside setting and the small-town insularity are appealing for this sort of story. One of the things I like about the Maigret stories, too, is his way of getting to the truth. He finds ways to talk to people and find out things that I'm not even sure I can describe well, but he has the knack if that makes any sense. Margot Kinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599589137890528065noreply@blogger.com