脚本

I gotta admit it - this had to be one of the weirdest book I ever read. Is it considered crime, science fiction, romance or perhaps gothic?

One thing for sure, its a mystery. An almost Burtonesque one...

The Butler

I have to confess. I tried so very hard. To be moved by this movie.

Alas, I cannot.

The narrative was short and choppy. If you are not well versed in American politics and the lineup of presidents? Forget it - you would be left wondering what-the-heck just happened as scenes moved on almost like newsreel without in-depth commentaries. And if you don't recognised the caricatures of presidential portrayals, you would be lost at sea at who's who amongst these weird guys or talking heads.

So many cameos, only one stood out. It gave me a flickering impulse to applause but before i could put my hands together, she was gone. Yes her appearance was that short. Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan. Truly stellar, in a class of her own.

The rest of the performance were forgettable. Most were underwhelmed, running to stereotypical. The hype over Mz O? Well, it left me feeling lukewarmed, if not cold.

As for Mr Whitaker? I was very very very disappointed.

Italian Men I Love: #2 Inspector Bordelli

And on to Italian men i love #2 - the sardonic Inspector Bordelli. Like Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano, he too loves food and women. Are we surprised? They are Italian men after all.

Set in Florence in the 1960s, Inspector Bordelli spends most of his time, thinking, drinking, loving and solving. And not always in that order. He has a great sense of justice and has no qualms bending some rules to ensure justice is served.

Surrounded by his loyal team of police officers, and a supporting case of quirky medical examiners, crime scene investigators and sex-criminals; he always gets his man, altough not always his women, in the end.

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Italian Men I Love: #1 Inspector Montalbano

From icy cold Scandinavian Europe I now move into warm Mediterranean Europe to discover Italian mysteries men.

The first of which is the quirky Inspector Montalbano. He who loves food, almost more than he loves women, and not quite as much as he perversely enjoys tormenting his boss.

To date, I have read the first 15 English translated versions of this enjoyable series by Andrea Camilleri. And hopefully my favorite library will bring in the next five once they are in print!

October Fest !

这个十月，与书为伍！我是超级推理小说迷。。。Thanks to NLB, here is the dozen of new books (translated from Japanese) that I will be looking forward to devouring in October..great to spend time with 东野圭吾，岛田庄司，宫部幸美，道尾秀介，有栖川有栖，东传笃哉！

Discovering another Icelandic writer : Yrsa Sigurdardottir

Discovering Yrsa Sigurdardottir was a fantastic experience. I enjoyed her novels tremendously. Especially the creepy and intriguing criminal tendencies behind them. Worthy of the accolades and awards she has won!

Jussi Adler Olsen vs Mons Kallentoft

Continuing my exploration into European crime thrillers, I have discovered two more authors. Though both cover the exploits of police officers, the protagonists and tones of the stories could not be more different.

Danish Jussi-Adler Olsen's Detective Superintendent Carl Morck and his sidekick Assad operate out of Department Q for unsolved crimes aka cold cases. They were soon joined by Rose, a secretary somewhat inclined towards bossiness and insubordination.

The books are fast paced and the criminal elements titillating enough to keep me going non- stop once I started reading. Tremendously enjoyable. Yet despite the breeziness, there are nuances on human psychology and motives that sneak up to give one cold chills.



Scandinavian Mon Kallentoft's books are much more sobering. One could even said the female protagonist Superintendent Marlin Fors is depressing, and getting increasingly more so with each new chapter.

There is an unique element in all the novels that I find very intriguing. In fact, I do not recall any other crime writers using this perspective towards the crimes committed in each novel.

Populaire

A charmer of a movie.It made me smile.

Partly because the main lead reminded me so much of a beloved friend.

Then there were the beautifully recreated retro images and even more beautiful fashion. And I did not mean just the dresses - it was the typewriters that got me.

I typed with two fingers most of my life, I used to slam the typewriter in the exact same way when i reached the end of a paragraph. And yes, my machine had flown off in the same fashion too when i used too much of my "superhero" strength.

America for business, France for love. Indeed!

Flavia de Luce

Ah....it has been a long time since i read a series of books with a constant smile on my face!

The spirited irrepressible Flavia de Luce gets up to all kinds of situations and mysteries. But she always get the culprits who perpetuate the evil deed.

A very enjoyable series that has an acute underlying sense of humor. Love it !

Just heard news that these books will soon be adapted for a TV series. Hurray!

MARLEY

"Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together - black, white, Chinese, everyone - that's all.” ― Bob Marley

A movie that moved me immensely. The man, his philosophy, the way he lived his life. Most of all, his music, his words. His spirit.

More than an artiste, he was a revolutionist, a prophet.

In his own words: Light up the darkness!

He did and still does.

 My all-time hero Atticus Finch. The book and movie that broadened my perspective and taught me very important things in life.

It is perhaps timely that at this juncture of our nation's struggle to find its soul to remember this quote by Atticus Finch:

 "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." 

Into the bleak Reykjavik cityscape ...

In this cold January it is befitting that my journey into the European criminal psyche should bring me into the bleak Reykjavik cityscape of the icelandic through the words of Arnaldur Indridason. Personified by the middle aged Inspector Erlendur with his perpetual bouts of blues. I could almost breathe in the cold climate at times.

Norwegian Queen of Crime

Next up on my European crime thriller journey: The Norwegian Queen of Crime! With Inspector Konrad Sejer, I journeyed into the cold climate of Norway to discover human follies and sins.