Literature
The Bulletin:
"Belgian crime writer Pieter Aspe has had his first novel published in the United States – 18 years after its original release. The Square of Revenge is published by Pegasus Crime – an achievement in itself, considering that less than 3% of all books sold in the US are translations of foreign authors – and has been receiving positive reviews. “A welcome addition (…) Set in the splendid medieval city of Bruges, it stars Inspector Pieter Van In, a brusque cop with every bad habit you can think of (…) Van In’s intuitive and often impulsive detection style can be disorienting, but his powers of observation are sharp and his insider’s view of this ancient and grandly aloof city are priceless”, writes the New York Times, while Publishers Weekly is of the opinion that “Van In and his eccentric cast of colleagues will be welcome companions for many readers, who will probably find comparisons to Simenon’s Maigret”."
Simenon, of course, is a Belgian crime writer who achieved world wide recognition for his series starring Inspecteur Maigret.
"Belgian crime writer Pieter Aspe has had his first novel published in the United States – 18 years after its original release. The Square of Revenge is published by Pegasus Crime – an achievement in itself, considering that less than 3% of all books sold in the US are translations of foreign authors – and has been receiving positive reviews. “A welcome addition (…) Set in the splendid medieval city of Bruges, it stars Inspector Pieter Van In, a brusque cop with every bad habit you can think of (…) Van In’s intuitive and often impulsive detection style can be disorienting, but his powers of observation are sharp and his insider’s view of this ancient and grandly aloof city are priceless”, writes the New York Times, while Publishers Weekly is of the opinion that “Van In and his eccentric cast of colleagues will be welcome companions for many readers, who will probably find comparisons to Simenon’s Maigret”."
Simenon, of course, is a Belgian crime writer who achieved world wide recognition for his series starring Inspecteur Maigret.
photo: Richard Harris
A billboard on St. Géry Square tells part of a story. Where's the rest?
A billboard on St. Géry Square tells part of a story. Where's the rest?
photo: Richard Harris
Librairie Ptyx is a new bookstore that is making full use of its façade to attract customers; click here for a video of the painting of the façade.
Librairie Ptyx is a new bookstore that is making full use of its façade to attract customers; click here for a video of the painting of the façade.
photo: Richard Harris
And in the center of town Het "B"-Gevaar, a small comic book store on Greepstraat (Pitchfork Street) which is also attracting customers with façade images.
And in the center of town Het "B"-Gevaar, a small comic book store on Greepstraat (Pitchfork Street) which is also attracting customers with façade images.
photo: Richard Harris
This little bookshop between the old village center and the Woluwe megamall caught my eye because of the clever pun involved in its name.
The store is called Le Rat Conteur which means the rat who tells stories. However, a "raconteur" is a story teller. And, of course, the sign is as successful as the pun.
This little bookshop between the old village center and the Woluwe megamall caught my eye because of the clever pun involved in its name.
The store is called Le Rat Conteur which means the rat who tells stories. However, a "raconteur" is a story teller. And, of course, the sign is as successful as the pun.