As a teenager, I saw my grandfather (who functioned as a father to me) always reading Simenon, always, always. He was a highly intelligent and sort of important man, and I as a developing intellectual snob asked myself: "How is this possible?". I left it there at the time. But lately, every time I go to France (which is quite often), I scrutinise the bookstores with their hundreds of Simenons, but then cannot decide where to start and then abandon the project. After listening to you, I walked over to our local library (in Copenhagen) and found this book in a 1951 edition on their shelves! Read it, and from start to finish was amazed and blown away. A masterpiece of writing. So thank you ever so much, I wouldn't have done it without you. Forward towards more Simenon !
You're right on about Ebert, one of his favorite books was Suttree by Cormac McCarthy! This book looks very interesting, thank you for all the awesome recommendations!
I just found this channel and I have to say it’s one of my favorites. You’re brilliant at breaking down a book and making them so interesting. So Just thanks for doing what you like to do.
Currently half way through George Simenon's 'The Iron Staircase' and it is damn good. Definitely more racy and complex than I thought it would be. Definitely top notch noir mystery too. When I heard he wrote 500 or so novels, I was expecting it to be fairly shallow pulp fiction but it's quiet the opposite. Very nuanced page turner of a novel.
I skimmed the review as I want to go in as blind as possible but I really dig your style. I just finished The Man Who Watched The Trains Go By from Simenon and now I'm adding this one to the list.
Just bought and read this extraordinary book on your indication, loved the way he uses the symbols of shadow and light. Definetely going to check out other books by simenon, really hope to find more of them in portuguese or english versions on ebook. Simenon orquestrated this narrative so brilliantly... It also reminded me of Lolita for the obvious wicked way it transforms the motives behind psychological and fisic violence into beauty. A sad, raw and twisted beauty, but so human, fuck this book is so human in terms of how some may experience desire and passion because of how rare it may be to encounter. And the wife on this is... On point, really. And when we live in such sterile days, its really compelling to read characters that go out and just fucking grap the opportunity to feel alive.
As a student in college a part of our French reading, was a couple chapters from Maigret et la Jeune Morte, definitely would recommend giving that a read if you read french.
For how fucking prolific he was the quality still stands up as brilliant. Truly admirable. You should try Dirty Snow, another brilliant book... Nice one my man
This one can't be found cheap though. I've been able to get loads of Simenon books for normal price new or second hand. A new paperback of Act of Passion is 20 quid!
@@irena7777777 Oh no! :O Thank you for the warning. It's so weird how many books on my 'wanted second hand' list just never come down in price, Some, I've been monitoring for years just waiting to pounce because I know what a 'good price' is after seeing copies just sit at 30 quid ballpark for years. I bought that little door stopper of a book 'Project Japan' for 11 quid in Oxfam in Bloomsbury and felt so chuffed with myself that I even spotted it on the way out the door but even on amazon it just never comes down in price-- I look every now and then. 'The Price of Death' by Hikaru Suzuki and 'Almost Transparent Blue' are another two books I can never find at a reasonable price. Strange, isn't it?
@@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293 I resent paying so much for books but it's also good to support local independent bookstores and charity shops. I also read loads on my Kindle. It's so much more practical than carrying books around and can read it in the dark which is a massive plus
There are different types of Simenon novels. Most famous are his Maigret stories but there's also his "romans durs", the hard novels. I guess the book you've reviewed falls into the latter category. I've read two of them but I didn't really like them. Not bad but just, ok. One of them was "The Black Hand", can't remember the other title. In case you want to delve further into Belgian literature: Louis Paul Boon's "Chapel Road" is a masterpiece, one of the best books I've ever read. Probably my favourite Belgian / Flemish author. Give "Chapel Road" a try, you've never read anything like it before, I'm serious, and after looking at which books you review, this will be right up your alley. It's both an experimental existential novel about literature and writing itself and a coming of age story of a young girl set to the background of the rise and fall of early socialism. It consists of hundreds of short two-page chapters: anecdotes, philosophical musings, political ramblings, autobiography, discussions about art and writing, reinterpretations of medieval satire (especially "Reynard The Fox"), ... And it's all very very bleak, but in a Céline way: dark and funny at the same time. It actually captures the essence of what it is to Belgian / Flemish, if that's even possible. His story-telling skills are absolutely incredible in "Chapel Road". This book changed the way I look at literature, it's the measure I use to determine if books are good: how does it compare to "Chapel Road"? It was a real privilege to be able to read it in its original language, but I'm sure the English translation is good too: it came out in 1972 and immediately bombarded L.P. Boon to "let's give him the Nobel Prize" status. According to legend, weeks before he died in the late 70s he received a call from the commission in Sweden inviting him to come over to have a chat. Interesting bit of trivia: most of his work was blacklisted by the church and it was forbidden to read/discuss/study it at Catholic schools.
I ordered the book 7 minutes in🤣 and when you said train station meeting, I immediately thought of A Brief Encounter...that movie and Cinema Paradiso are the movies that made me want to still give movies a chance , of course, they still tend to be relegated under a few gems like what this book will hopefully be. I'm excited, thanks, nothing induces a mental tug of war like a well written unreliable chracter will....😂
This book just blew my mind. I think because I related to it on such a deep level...sans murder of course. Well so far anyway. I must read more of his writing and soon. I'm thinking Dirty Snow. Cliff if you or the others here have an opinion do share. Cliff, at this point you've turned me onto dozens of AMAZING reads that it's now getting ridiculous. thanks and I've joined you on Patreon. By the way have you read Don Quixote? If not, do so, and would love to hear your take. I loved it.
have you ever read A Personal Matter by Kenzaburo Oe? i have read it multiple times and can't decide if i hate it or not lol. would love to hear your take on it!
I had this same sort of 'love-hate-deep confusion' kind of reaction to 'Manazuru' by Hiromi Kawakami. It's been half a year and I STILL don't know what my real conclusion is.
Ok my next read! Btw knowing your taste in books I highly HIGHLY recommend The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat it is so mind-bending and well very depressing also. Would love to know your opinion on it!
Some random recommendations: Sergei Dovlatov - anything by this author, really, but I would recommend "The Suitcase". Simple, pleasant, unpretentious, humorous writing, but still with a lot of depth comming from lived experience and, if I may say so,with a lot of soul. Come and see (1985) - Soviet war film. Even if you are not a huge fan of war films, this one is quite...unique. It might not click with everyone, tho. Edward Louis Bernays - Just read about the guy. Crazy stuff.
@@Philliben1991 My hunch is that 2021 will show us, globally, many new and ambitious career politicians who are a hideous combination of the two things. :(
does anyone know of online reading clubs where people read and discuss books etc? i’m so tired of reading books and not having anyone to talk with about. 🦧💔 or maybe someone here would like to be reading buddies or something? IDK.
As a 47 year old I can only repeat the warning that very soon you will be too old to do things you want to do. If only I could pour the present day me into the 25 year old.
Ordered it! I recommend The Magus by John Fowles. I will tell you why I got an A+100 for my interpretation of this book in college, after you read it, if you ask. I got As in Science and Math, never literature. The movie has no appeal. This book so far surpasses the movie, the movie insults the book.
Simenon should have stuck to short stories. His " novels"' are padded out with dreary ,monotonous repetitive musings by plodding Inspector Maigret - presumably in order to reach the required length ? Then......out of a hat the solution is presented to the reader ! He was capable of greater things - - The Man From Archangel ? - but he realised he could produce a lucrative Maigret off the assembly line in a very short time ( 10 days! ) Who can blame him for that. ? He led a very full and active (!) life funded by his undoubted talents . There are a handful of good "Maigrets " but too many cut and paste jobs. Comparison with Camus is quite ridiculous !!
Rumoured to be. Why wld you repeat unsubstantiated rumours of that sort? Or in a very "fat" autobiography just mention his profilic sex life? It actually says more about you than Simenon imo. It's also a very genophobic american attitude. Simenon was a European where sexual attitudes are much healthier..
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I love how passionate you are in your reviews, it's contagious.
As a teenager, I saw my grandfather (who functioned as a father to me) always reading Simenon, always, always. He was a highly intelligent and sort of important man, and I as a developing intellectual snob asked myself: "How is this possible?". I left it there at the time.
But lately, every time I go to France (which is quite often), I scrutinise the bookstores with their hundreds of Simenons, but then cannot decide where to start and then abandon the project. After listening to you, I walked over to our local library (in Copenhagen) and found this book in a 1951 edition on their shelves! Read it, and from start to finish was amazed and blown away. A masterpiece of writing. So thank you ever so much, I wouldn't have done it without you. Forward towards more Simenon !
Ha ha, I love this comment! :)
@@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293 I love that you like it, and I love your 'name'
You're right on about Ebert, one of his favorite books was Suttree by Cormac McCarthy! This book looks very interesting, thank you for all the awesome recommendations!
Hey Belgian (Liège) follower here! Happy to see someone speaking of Simenon :)
When Cliff says a book is brilliant, I buy and then I read.
I bought and read the largesse of the sea maiden and agua viva because Cliff did reviews on them.
@@kanelowrey4089 Reading Agua Viva now
Thank you aisha.
شكراً عائشة.
I just found this channel and I have to say it’s one of my favorites. You’re brilliant at breaking down a book and making them so interesting. So Just thanks for doing what you like to do.
I have become one of your biggest fans so far. The way you articulate and interpreting books is amazing. Wish you all the best
Currently half way through George Simenon's 'The Iron Staircase' and it is damn good. Definitely more racy and complex than I thought it would be. Definitely top notch noir mystery too. When I heard he wrote 500 or so novels, I was expecting it to be fairly shallow pulp fiction but it's quiet the opposite. Very nuanced page turner of a novel.
I skimmed the review as I want to go in as blind as possible but I really dig your style. I just finished The Man Who Watched The Trains Go By from Simenon and now I'm adding this one to the list.
Just bought and read this extraordinary book on your indication, loved the way he uses the symbols of shadow and light. Definetely going to check out other books by simenon, really hope to find more of them in portuguese or english versions on ebook. Simenon orquestrated this narrative so brilliantly... It also reminded me of Lolita for the obvious wicked way it transforms the motives behind psychological and fisic violence into beauty. A sad, raw and twisted beauty, but so human, fuck this book is so human in terms of how some may experience desire and passion because of how rare it may be to encounter. And the wife on this is... On point, really. And when we live in such sterile days, its really compelling to read characters that go out and just fucking grap the opportunity to feel alive.
Off to search for the book! Thanks , Cliff!
By 9:36 I'd already added it to my shopping basket, :D. What a terrific review.
Este canal fue como una bendicion para mi.
Thank you for inspiring us to delve into the wonderful world of literature.
Have you read Emile Zola's Rougon-Macquart series? Also, definitely recommend reading Leon Bloy's The Tarantula's Parlor and Other Unkind Tales.
Excellent recommendation
As a student in college a part of our French reading, was a couple chapters from Maigret et la Jeune Morte, definitely would recommend giving that a read if you read french.
For how fucking prolific he was the quality still stands up as brilliant. Truly admirable. You should try Dirty Snow, another brilliant book... Nice one my man
Finally found this book on google Play. Loving it so far.
The Stain on the Snow is one of my favorite books!!! Highly recommended if you like really dark stuff. Like a darker version of The Outsider by Camus
My problem with prolific authors like Simenon is that I never know where to start with their writing! Act of Passion sounds like a solid possibility.
Juan Ramos that's not a problem, that's called a privilege!
Love your reviews. Only thing is, I feel compelled to buy all the books you review! Keep up the good work
Me too! Cliff's going to cost me a small fortune this winter, I can tell already.
This one can't be found cheap though. I've been able to get loads of Simenon books for normal price new or second hand. A new paperback of Act of Passion is 20 quid!
@@irena7777777 Oh no! :O Thank you for the warning. It's so weird how many books on my 'wanted second hand' list just never come down in price, Some, I've been monitoring for years just waiting to pounce because I know what a 'good price' is after seeing copies just sit at 30 quid ballpark for years. I bought that little door stopper of a book 'Project Japan' for 11 quid in Oxfam in Bloomsbury and felt so chuffed with myself that I even spotted it on the way out the door but even on amazon it just never comes down in price-- I look every now and then. 'The Price of Death' by Hikaru Suzuki and 'Almost Transparent Blue' are another two books I can never find at a reasonable price. Strange, isn't it?
@@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293 I resent paying so much for books but it's also good to support local independent bookstores and charity shops. I also read loads on my Kindle. It's so much more practical than carrying books around and can read it in the dark which is a massive plus
I just saw an interview with Simenon's son on French radio. Apparently he wrote a book every three weeks or something. Epic output.
There are different types of Simenon novels. Most famous are his Maigret stories but there's also his "romans durs", the hard novels. I guess the book you've reviewed falls into the latter category. I've read two of them but I didn't really like them. Not bad but just, ok. One of them was "The Black Hand", can't remember the other title.
In case you want to delve further into Belgian literature: Louis Paul Boon's "Chapel Road" is a masterpiece, one of the best books I've ever read. Probably my favourite Belgian / Flemish author. Give "Chapel Road" a try, you've never read anything like it before, I'm serious, and after looking at which books you review, this will be right up your alley. It's both an experimental existential novel about literature and writing itself and a coming of age story of a young girl set to the background of the rise and fall of early socialism. It consists of hundreds of short two-page chapters: anecdotes, philosophical musings, political ramblings, autobiography, discussions about art and writing, reinterpretations of medieval satire (especially "Reynard The Fox"), ... And it's all very very bleak, but in a Céline way: dark and funny at the same time. It actually captures the essence of what it is to Belgian / Flemish, if that's even possible. His story-telling skills are absolutely incredible in "Chapel Road". This book changed the way I look at literature, it's the measure I use to determine if books are good: how does it compare to "Chapel Road"?
It was a real privilege to be able to read it in its original language, but I'm sure the English translation is good too: it came out in 1972 and immediately bombarded L.P. Boon to "let's give him the Nobel Prize" status. According to legend, weeks before he died in the late 70s he received a call from the commission in Sweden inviting him to come over to have a chat.
Interesting bit of trivia: most of his work was blacklisted by the church and it was forbidden to read/discuss/study it at Catholic schools.
Hey Cliff, have you ever read "No Longer Human" by Osamu Dazai? I think you might like it. It's one of my favorites!
Cliff did you read Dirty Havana Trilogy
by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez? It’s great.
I ordered the book 7 minutes in🤣 and when you said train station meeting, I immediately thought of A Brief Encounter...that movie and Cinema Paradiso are the movies that made me want to still give movies a chance , of course, they still tend to be relegated under a few gems like what this book will hopefully be.
I'm excited, thanks, nothing induces a mental tug of war like a well written unreliable chracter will....😂
Watched the first third of the review and I already wanna read this.
I’ve read many Simenon books but not this one. Getting it ASAP!
This book just blew my mind. I think because I related to it on such a deep level...sans murder of course. Well so far anyway. I must read more of his writing and soon. I'm thinking Dirty Snow. Cliff if you or the others here have an opinion do share.
Cliff, at this point you've turned me onto dozens of AMAZING reads that it's now getting ridiculous. thanks and I've joined you on Patreon.
By the way have you read Don Quixote? If not, do so, and would love to hear your take. I loved it.
I just finished reading Simenon's The Mahé Circle and was blown away by his powerful writing. I highly recommend it.
The snow was dirty or The man Who watched the trains go by are amazing novels by Simenon.
have you ever read A Personal Matter by Kenzaburo Oe? i have read it multiple times and can't decide if i hate it or not lol. would love to hear your take on it!
I had this same sort of 'love-hate-deep confusion' kind of reaction to 'Manazuru' by Hiromi Kawakami. It's been half a year and I STILL don't know what my real conclusion is.
Ok my next read! Btw knowing your taste in books I highly HIGHLY recommend The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat it is so mind-bending and well very depressing also. Would love to know your opinion on it!
This book from NYRB is out of print now and I would consider this now a rare find for regular price. It has inflated
"Nothing. It's perfect." Sounds like it. Thanks!
Have you reviewed "The End of the Affair" by Graham Greene? I listened to Colin Firth reading it yesterday on RUclips. I think you would like it.
Hey, Cliff! Will you be reading Antkind by Charlie Kaufman?
Ever read Justice Undone by Thor Vilhjálmsson?
You might enjoy the film The Man from London by Béla Tarr, made after Simenon's book of the same title :)
Have you ever read the patrick melrose novels?
The blue room by simenon is also great
Love the channel. Have you read any Richard Yates, Raymond Carver, or John Cheever?
Yates is always worth having a conversation about. So compelling, I love hearing other people's views on his work.
Some random recommendations:
Sergei Dovlatov - anything by this author, really, but I would recommend "The Suitcase". Simple, pleasant, unpretentious, humorous writing, but still with a lot of depth comming from lived experience and, if I may say so,with a lot of soul.
Come and see (1985) - Soviet war film. Even if you are not a huge fan of war films, this one is quite...unique. It might not click with everyone, tho.
Edward Louis Bernays - Just read about the guy. Crazy stuff.
Will definitely read The Suitcase. The book interested me. Thanks for the recommendation.
Come and See is an amazing film.
Do you usually read one book at a time? Or several?
As someone from Belgium, I can confirm that we hang out with at least a few criminals. But we call them 'politicians'...
The philosopher E. M. Cioran said you ought to wish your politicians are corrupt rather than ideologues. He might be right....
@@Philliben1991 My hunch is that 2021 will show us, globally, many new and ambitious career politicians who are a hideous combination of the two things. :(
I love your book reviews! Thank you for always recommending gems 💎✨ “Nothing, not a damn thing, nothing , it’s perfect 👌 “
does anyone know of online reading clubs where people read and discuss books etc? i’m so tired of reading books and not having anyone to talk with about. 🦧💔
or maybe someone here would like to be reading buddies or something? IDK.
Dose anybody know if this novel has been translated to Arabic?
You should read Niels Lyhne by Jens Peter Jacobsen
As a 47 year old I can only repeat the warning that very soon you will be too old to do things you want to do. If only I could pour the present day me into the 25 year old.
I hear you.
read Sebregondi Retrocede, by Osvaldo Lamborghini. He´s an argentinian genius, absolutely different to everything you´ll read.
Hey! I just finished "Ocean sea" by Alessandro Baricco and I loved it. You shoud read it. Just Saying. Great review! XO
On the surface this books sounds pretty similar to The Tunnel by Ernesto Sabato
Review No Longer Human pls
lars von trier - the house that jack built
Ordered it!
I recommend The Magus by John Fowles.
I will tell you why I got an A+100 for my interpretation of this book in college, after you read it, if you ask. I got As in Science and Math, never literature. The movie has no appeal. This book so far surpasses the movie, the movie insults the book.
I strongly recommend moravagine by blaise cendrars! Jail breakout murderer and adventurer on the search for his own lust for life.
The Old Man Who Read Love Stories by Luis Sepulveda. Nothing more to say!!!
I read his "The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By". Goof stuff.
Weres the movie bub
what a review
Get that money Cliff!
Looks like some damn fine coffee right there
Oh haah, I got this even before I glanced at your profile pic. ;)
A little bit like Lolita then
Breath smells like coffee and moustache is uneven. Who could that be? 🤔
Get that coffee.
Uhum
Amacord
Simenon should have stuck to short stories. His " novels"' are padded out
with dreary ,monotonous repetitive musings by plodding Inspector Maigret
- presumably in order to reach the required length ?
Then......out of a hat the solution is presented to the reader ! He was capable of
greater things - - The Man From Archangel ? - but he realised he could produce
a lucrative Maigret off the assembly line in a very short time ( 10 days! )
Who can blame him for that. ? He led a very full and active (!) life funded by his
undoubted talents . There are a handful of good "Maigrets " but too many cut
and paste jobs. Comparison with Camus is quite ridiculous !!
I dare you to review Ulysses.
Rumoured to be. Why wld you repeat unsubstantiated rumours of that sort? Or in a very "fat" autobiography just mention his profilic sex life? It actually says more about you than Simenon imo. It's also a very genophobic american attitude. Simenon was a European where sexual attitudes are much healthier..
Roger Ebert ewwww