31 review for The Naked Man: The Mystery Of Georges Simenon

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Andrew MacDonald – Feb 05, 2020

   A chatty biography that doesn't stand up to Pierre Assouline's more recent, more excellent, biography of Simenon. There's a bit too much of the biographer in this, a bit too many moments where I can feel Bresler's hand shaping our reading of Simenon's life. Moreover, the book was written while Simenon was still alive - which comes with so many problems I don't know where to start. One, if the subject of the biography is still alive, there's obviously more life to be documented. Two, the biographer A chatty biography that doesn't stand up to Pierre Assouline's more recent, more excellent, biography of Simenon. There's a bit too much of the biographer in this, a bit too many moments where I can feel Bresler's hand shaping our reading of Simenon's life. Moreover, the book was written while Simenon was still alive - which comes with so many problems I don't know where to start. One, if the subject of the biography is still alive, there's obviously more life to be documented. Two, the biographer necessarily has to buddy up to the subject, and there's a kind of 'pay for play' scheme going on where perhaps some of the more controversial aspects of Simenon's character gets downplayed and wiped. Three, the effect can sometimes feel gossipy. I'd let this book stew in the obscurity from whence I rescued it and select Assouline's more studiously crafted, though still entertaining, take on Simenon's life instead. Sorry, Fenton.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Lois – Mar 16, 2010

   I'm a fan of the Maigret novels. I have a collection of them and read two or more a year, and tho they are quite short, they are usually satisfying in an easy going kind of way. Having read Simenon's massive "Intimate Memoirs" and in anticipation of reading the biography by Pierre Assouline, which got good reviews here, I found this one interesting, but since it was completed while Simenon was still living, a bit dated and obviously incomplete. I enjoyed reading about the almost Gatsby-like part I'm a fan of the Maigret novels. I have a collection of them and read two or more a year, and tho they are quite short, they are usually satisfying in an easy going kind of way. Having read Simenon's massive "Intimate Memoirs" and in anticipation of reading the biography by Pierre Assouline, which got good reviews here, I found this one interesting, but since it was completed while Simenon was still living, a bit dated and obviously incomplete. I enjoyed reading about the almost Gatsby-like party held, instead of normal advertising at Simenon's request, just before the first Maigret books were released, and how it raised anticipation and probably contributed to the popularity of the books right from the beginning. Also very sad, of course, to read again about his beloved daughter's suicide and the impact it had on the rest of his life.

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Justin K. Rivers – Aug 21, 2016

   Some good details and synthesis of Simenon's varying memoirs and accounts. Written before Simenon's death. Periodically, the author has some weird interjections, as if blurting out some off the cuff judgements and pronunciations. Very odd. Scan it for interesting information, but don't expect useful analysis or anything like graceful prose. Some good details and synthesis of Simenon's varying memoirs and accounts. Written before Simenon's death. Periodically, the author has some weird interjections, as if blurting out some off the cuff judgements and pronunciations. Very odd. Scan it for interesting information, but don't expect useful analysis or anything like graceful prose.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Sasha – Feb 04, 2009

   This biography is written almost like a substantial, readable report. As a work of writing, it is not very commendable. However, it contains a lot of information about Simenon, which is what I was looking for.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Yooperprof – Nov 07, 2013

   10,000 women in his lifetime? Really?

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Molly –

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Damian Kelly –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Chris Bloom –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Dan –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Thomas Cotterill –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Jean Marie –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Phillip Kay –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    David –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Jon –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Michael Romo –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Stefan –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Maria-Anne –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Jerry –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    BookQueen –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    BookDB –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Troybear –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Tako1989 –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Sinan Öner –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Marsha –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    rêveur d'art –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Richard –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Maria Baarslag –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    ElizrdbthSpeaks –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    鑫广天野 –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Deborah Franklin –

31. 

    5 out of 5

    Dean Jobb –