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bookwomble's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
richardhannay's review against another edition
4.0
Esta es sólo la segunda novela de Simenon que leo pero confirma mi impresión anterior: un escritor que ha sido capaz de despojar el oficio de novelista hasta lo esencial. Ni una palabra de más, ni una descripción innecesaria, ni un revoloteo retórico. Nada. Concentrado de alma humana en estado puro. En esta novela Maigret investiga un caso de persecución de la luz verde, como Scott Fitzgerald en el Gran Gatsby. Un capitán de barco y un telegrafista tratan de escapar al estrecho horizonte de posibilidades en el que ellos mismos se han encerrado. Las consecuencias son nefastas para uno y dudosas para el otro. Huelga decir que ninguno de los dos alcanza la luz verde y que, en cualquier caso no era luz sino espejismo, y no muy bueno. Maigret, resuelve el caso para su propia satisfacción. No estoy seguro de que Simenon haya hecho otro tanto: deja de celebrar a la verdadera heroina del caso: Marie, la prometida del telegrafista, a quien con escrúpulo pequeño-burgués condena por ser hija de escrupuloso comerciante pequeño-burgués ignorando sus enormes cualidades y es incapaz de identificar la felicidad allá donde se encuentra: en ver jugar a tu hijo con una peonza. O si. Quizá si, y por eso lo de Simenon es un enigma y un tesoro.
highlander2006's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
geoffreyjen's review
4.0
Another exceptional early Maigret. Simenon wrote a sizeable number of novels that weren't about Inspector Maigret - instead they were psychological studies of people, often in extreme situations. This book, which is a Maigret case, has some of that feel, perhaps abetted by the fact that Maigret is not the official in charge of this case. The book is moody and atmospheric, it takes place in the seaside town of Fécamp on France's northern shore,mand deals with the cod fishing industry. Another slice of French life, another exploration of the often irrational behaviour people adopt. Wonderful, as usual.
geoffreyjen's review against another edition
5.0
I love how Simenon begins his books by examining events from odd persoectives, and focussing on character flaws. This book starts from there and by the time you reach the conclusion you feel that every step was a character study and inevitable. I love Simenon at his best, and this is prime material.
lynnej98's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
writerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I sped through the Maigret that had been sitting in my to read pile for months now. I needed to take back the book to the library. Au rendez-vous des terra-nova was a gritty, smelly, dark tale of obsession, lust, jealousy and despair. Done amazingly in less than 100 pages. A tight thriller in a quiet, dark way. Simenon is a master at capturing the dark side of souls. Every day souls. That's what makes it frightening even more.
christinevellis's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0