A Chronic Case of Start-i-tis

I've got this very bad habit of wanting to start reading new books even when I've not yet finished reading something I've been working on (even when I am really enjoying what I'm reading).  I'm also really good at rationalizing this desire.  In the case of Georges Simenon's Bar on the Seine my excuse is it's a Blog a Penguin Classic book.  They give you six weeks to read the book and then report back your thoughts on the title that was randomly selected.  I lucked out, as not only is the Simenon a slim little paperback, but I've wanted to read him for some time now.  He seems like an important mystery writer and I'd like to read broadly in the genre, and especially all the 'must-read' authors.  My copy is from the UK, and it looks like the book on the left.  The US version, on the right, is much more noir-ish looking.  At first I preferred the US cover and was disappointed to get the UK edition, but I have to say it's growing on me.  It's a nice compact size and fits easily in the hand.

Simenon wrote something like 70 books over the course of his long writing career.  I'm not at all familiar with Inspector Maigret.  Has anyone read any of his mysteries?  What I do know--he is a French detective.  He is married, and in this novel, which is set in Paris in the hot summer month of July (not sure of the year, perhaps the 30s?), Madame Maigret has traveled to Alsace for her yearly visit to her sister.  She expects Maigret to follow, but won't be surprised when he doesn't show up at the station.  He seems to be a bit of a workaholic.  I'm hoping that as I read more, his character will fill out.  I like having a strong visual image of my protagonist, but I realize I'm not starting with the first Maigret mystery and therefore might be missing out on his back story.  I'll save plot descriptions for later, but I have fallen into this story very easily and am curious to know more and keep reading.  I love the feeling of place I am getting from this novel.  I want to travel to Paris and drink Pernod, though I don't think I'd like the taste (but doesn't it sound very exotic?).

I finally decided to start reading Megan Chance's The Spiritualist.  Mostly it was a matter of just picking it up and reading a few pages and it caught my attention, so I'm willing to keep going.  Besides the book is set in the upstairs/downstairs world of 1850s New York City, and there are supposed to be elements of the occult and supernatural in the story as well.  Why does everything sound so tempting right now?  To make matters worse I stopped by the library today to pick up a few more holds.  And I have several other miscellaneous books sitting in a little pile by my bed that I've been contemplating starting.  Don't be surprised is something else new pops up here in the next few days. The only cure for this chronic condition is finishing a book every now and then, which I'd really like to do sometime soon.  I'm working on it anyway.            

Comments

[Andi]

I can't wait to hear what you think of The Spiritualist. I have a bad case of start-i-tus myself lately, and I'm fighting it with all I've got!

[Smithereens]

Happy to see you busy with inspector Maigret. It's a classics over here, not a mystery a la Christie where plot twists and red herrings are everywhere, but one where atmosphere and characters are more important, so expect it to be slow and melancholy.

[iliana]

I think I must be suffering from this too Danielle. I finished a couple of books but am still in the middle of four yet all I want to do is start another!
Glad to hear you are enjoying the Maigret book. Every time one of those "most important mystery writers" lists come out he's always on there it seems. One of these days I must meet the inspector :)

[Ann Darnton]

I've never read a Simenon, mainly, I think, because I have such strong memories of the television series that ran in my youth and of being frightened of the sense of dark and horror that pervaded. I really ought to get over that and try him. Library, here I come.

[Dorothy W.]

I'm glad you are enjoying the Simenon! Perhaps my mystery group will read him one of these days. He'd be a good choice, I think.

[Danielle]

Andi--I wish I was better at resisting! I'm intrigued with The Spiritualist--I think it should be a good read.
Smithereens--I dont' mind slow and melancholy at all. I'm really enjoying the mystery and already planning on trying more. I wonder if I should try and read them in order? Or maybe it doesn't matter? I do like Simenon's writing style!
Iliana--I feel like I'm just starting books left and right and I have to stop and catch up on some of the books I've nearly finished! I'm really enjoying the Simenon by the way.
Ann--I've never seen any film adaptations, but I'm not surprised they are dark and atmospheric. I want to know more about Inspector Maigret, though, I feel like I only know the barest facts about him so far.
Dorothy--I think Simenon would be a great choice for a book group. His books also seem fairly short, too. He's an author that I would love to talk about in a group.

[litlove]

Do you know, I've never read any Simenon? It's surprisingly really. However I feel very guilty about blog a penguin classic as I received a book early in the year and promptly forgot all about it. Ooops.

[Danielle]

Litlove--At least they never came after you demanding a review. Which book did you get? I'm glad I got something short as I would never managed a really long classic. And I like Inspector Maigret a lot by the way and will be looking for more of his mysteries. You should give him a try--I love the setting...it makes me want to travel to Paris (even though this is a crime novel).