tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post57304937380374408..comments2024-03-19T05:28:00.356-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Polar ReadingsLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59673684291180415142012-02-09T23:58:39.886-05:002012-02-09T23:58:39.886-05:00Sorry to hear you were under the weather, buddy. ...Sorry to hear you were under the weather, buddy. And now I have several new names to hunt down. Thanks!<br /><br />Haven't read any Maigret novels, but recently completed reading <i>Dirty Snow</i> by the same author (Simenon) for the Hard-Boiled Book Club i'm in at the Poisoned Pen bookstore here in town. Great writing; gut-wrenching read! Really grabs a reader by the throat and won't let go. Thankfully, it was in English, as the extent of my French these days is pretty much limited to trying to look Continental while staring back perpleexed. <br /><br />Sorry for the late response.<br /><br />--DixDixon Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11220791609338404147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80091759340179694752012-02-08T21:08:21.193-05:002012-02-08T21:08:21.193-05:00Glad you're feeling better! I've got to le...Glad you're feeling better! I've got to learn to read French!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2095991889416277292012-02-08T10:55:58.499-05:002012-02-08T10:55:58.499-05:00Even in English, Japrisot's One Deadly Summer ...Even in English, Japrisot's <i>One Deadly Summer</i> takes a little work to read, but the shocking dénouement is well worth it.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-1784750833876829922012-02-08T10:42:48.116-05:002012-02-08T10:42:48.116-05:00Thanks for your kind words, Neil, and I'm glad...Thanks for your kind words, Neil, and I'm glad that you're feeling better. I recall a dispatcher once who, (in)famously, called in sick for his shift, and when questioned as to the exact problem replied tersely, "My spleen fell out." There had been a ferocious batchelor send-off the night before in which he had distinguished himself. Naturally, I was aware of this, as chiefs know all (I was there, actually). Police dispatchers are a notoriously touchy and contentious crew. As for the spleen bit, I'm not sure he was entirely incorrect, as I felt that many of my organs might not be functioning properly the following day, either.<br /><br />I must admit to having little knowledge of French crime novels beyond Inspector Maigret. I discovered him many years ago and raced through all the novels...novellas, really, and loved them. I will be looking for the wonderfully titled "The Lady In The Car With Glasses And A Gun". Why can't I come up with titles like that?David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-58840065219374500292012-02-08T09:48:49.212-05:002012-02-08T09:48:49.212-05:00Elizabeth -
Leo Mallet was one of hundreds of thou...Elizabeth -<br />Leo Mallet was one of hundreds of thousands of French who were transported to Germany not as concentration camp fodder but as workers in factories, mines and so on. After a certain period some of them were allowed to go home. I know at least two families whose grandfathers spent a year or two in Germany and then came back.Neil Schofieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00599226205552596916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2141421539897464762012-02-08T09:17:12.565-05:002012-02-08T09:17:12.565-05:00I read and enjoyed Sebastien Japrisot's work y...I read and enjoyed Sebastien Japrisot's work years ago--in English, though en principe j'aurais pu le lire en français. Too much like work! I'm impressed you can call it comfort reading. ;)<br />But the most potentially fascinating story you've mentioned is one you didn't tell: how on earth did Leo Mallet survive a concentration camp from 1941 till the end of the war--or (not sure which you meant) get out in time to publish a crime novel in 1942?Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59364003751355339002012-02-08T07:39:31.201-05:002012-02-08T07:39:31.201-05:00Neil, glad you're feeling better. I understan...Neil, glad you're feeling better. I understand about comfort reading being what you need when sick, but I'm going to try that "Gerrup out of that, yer lazy, leadswinging little whelp."Fran Rizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655783035179620991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-53969181585986945292012-02-08T03:44:25.266-05:002012-02-08T03:44:25.266-05:00I've obviously been preaching to the choir, Le...I've obviously been preaching to the choir, Leigh. It was also a terrific film which got a couple of César awards.Neil Schofieldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29029751329860106372012-02-08T00:32:42.619-05:002012-02-08T00:32:42.619-05:00I recommend Sebastien Japrisot’s horrifying L’été ...I recommend Sebastien Japrisot’s horrifying <i>L’été meurtrier</i> (<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-deadly-summer-sebastien-japrisot/1002108967?ean=9780452277809&itm=8&usri=sebastien+japrisot" rel="nofollow"><i>One Deadly Summer</i></a>) I don't think it's possible to forget this book once you've read it. <a href="http://criminalbrief.com/?p=38" rel="nofollow"><i>Sérieusement</i>.</a><br>Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.com