分類:讀的書

The Shape of Night 2021#2

Saturday, January 9, 2021

評分:3 分,滿分為 5。

Tess Gerritsen

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“After an unspeakable tragedy in Boston, Ava Collette flees to a remore village in Maine, where she rents an old house named Brodie’s Watch.

In thatt isolated seaside mansion, Ava finally feels at peace … until she glimpses the long-dead sea captain who still resides there.

Rumor has it that Captain Jeremiah Brodie has haunted the house for more than a century. One night, Ava confronts the apparition, who feels all too real, and who welcomes her into his world – and into his arms. Even as Ava questions her own sanity, she eagerly looks forward to the captain’s ghostly visits. But she soon learns that the house she loves comes with a terrible secret, a secret that those in the village don’t want to reveal: Every woman who has ever lived in Brodie’s Watch has also died there. Is the ghost of Captain Brodie responsible, or is a flesh-and-blood killer at work? A killer who is even now circling closer to Ava?

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This book, too sad, turns out to be an another disappointment of Gerritsen’s books, after the latest book of the Rizzoli & Isles series, I Know A Secret.

While reading this book, I kept thinking maybe I should just give up finishing it, since I really don’t like the main character, Ava something. And I so detested the ghost of the captain. I hate any books with main characters dealing with drinking problems. Like Harry Hole in Jo Nesbo’s books; Rachel Watson in The Girl on the Train; and now this, Ava something. I hate to read all the craps about why they ended up drinking so much; how hard they, if they really did, had tried to quit, and all sorts of excuses they found for themselves.

The only and one thing I like in the book was when Ava something tried her recipes in the fabulous kitchen. I always think it really wonderful when you can take your time to do things you like in a comfortable place.

And the rest, …. well…

Burglars Can’t Be Choosers 2021#1

Sunday, January 3, 2021

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

Lawrence Block

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“Bernie Rhodenbarr is a personable chap, a good neighbor, a passable poker player. His chosen profession, however, might not sit well with some. Bernie is a burglar, a good one, effortlessly lifting valuables from the not-so-well-protected abodes of well-to-do New Yorkers like a modern-day Robin Hood. (The poor, as Bernie would be the first to tell you, alas, have nothing worth stealing.)

He’s not perfect, however; he occasionally makes mistakes. Like accepting a paid assignment from a total stranger to retrieve a particular item from a rich man’s apartment. Like still being there when the cops arrive. Like having a freshly slain corpse lying in the next room, and no proof that Bernie isn’t the killer.

Now he’s really got his hands full, having to locate the true perpetrator while somehow eluding the police – a dirty job indeed, but if Bernie doesn’t do it, who will?"

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“Fifty thousand – oh, the money. What happens to the money now?" (Ellie)

“That’s a good question. It belongs to Michael Debus, I think, but how is he going to come around and claim it? I can’t see anybody letting Loren keep it, and I don’t think Ray’ll be able to grab it all for himself. I wish there was a way I could cut myself in for a piece of it. Not out of greed but just so that I could wind up close to even. The whole business is costing me a fortune, you know. I got a thousand dollars in front and gave it to Ray. Then Debus’s men did a few damage to my apartment and its contents, and finally my five grand case money went to Ray so that I could clear myself. It all adds up to a hell of a depressing balance sheet." (Bernie)

“Can you get part of the fifty thousand?"

“Not a chance. Cops don’t give money to crooks. I’m the one person in the world who won’t get a sniff of the fifty thou. I’ll have to go steal some money in a hurry, though. I’m as broke as I’ve ever been."

–> So hilarious!! Hahaha. No wonder New York Times Book Review said, “Bernie is one wry guy and some piece of work."

I certainly will read more of the Bernie Rhodenbarr series if I ever come across any of them.

The Silent Patient 2020#82

Saturday, November 21, 2020

評分:1 分,滿分為 5。

Alex Michaelides

“Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter mar hrried to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening, her husband, Gabriel, returns home late from work, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art sky-rockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure psychiatric unit in North London.

Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is captivated by Alicia’s story and jumps at the opportunity to work with her. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a path more unexpected, more terrifying than he ever imagined – a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.

Shocking, thought-provoking, and deeply twisted, The Silent Patient is a spellbinding psychological thriller about violence, obsession, and the dark side of passion.

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So, it is about “a patient tries to work with a patient". At the beginning, I wondered why the psychotherapist Theo Faver talked a lot about himself and his wife, which made me try so very hard not to skip. And then it turned out to be the reason why the tragedy had happened.

At first, the story seemed to have a promising start, and then, everything turned sour.

Not a very pleasant reading experience.

密室的安魂曲 2020#81

Friday, November 20, 2020

評分:1 分,滿分為 5。

岸田琉璃子

翻譯 紅色

皇冠叢書

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“由加用右手指著那幅骸骨揚著旗子的圖, 左手摀住嘴巴, 連連後退, 臉色蠟白地倒坐在椅子上, 並指著畫家麗子大叫: “把我老公, 把我老公交出來!"

由加是我高中同學, 她的老公鷹夫在五年前離奇的從自家別墅中消失, 從此音訊全無! 而知名畫家麗子是我的大學同學, 我很確定她和由加, 鷹夫毫無交集! 更令我毛骨聳然的是, 沒過多久, 失蹤現場的屋子裡又出事了! 這次是密室殺人, 而且受害者還在持續增加…"

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往昔的四個高中朋友, A喜歡 B, B喜歡C, C 喜歡D, D喜歡A … 大概是這樣吧. 然後, 多年之後又互相殘殺! 真是夠了!!

玻璃鳥不會歸來 2020#80

Sunday, November 15, 2020

評分:1 分,滿分為 5。

市川憂人

翻譯 黃永定

尖端

“瑪莉亞與漣進行大規模稀有動植物走私路線的調查時, 查出常客裡包含了不動產王休.桑德弗. 據說他在桑德弗塔頂的私人宅邸之中, 飼養祕藏的玻璃鳥與稀有動物. 無視中止命令造訪巨塔的兩人, 居然扯進爆炸恐攻事件!

同一時間, 休旗下玻璃製造公司的員工與四名關係人士, 發現自己不知不覺間被關進沒有窗戶的迷宮. 他們身旁, 還有不知怎麼混進來的玻璃鳥. 聽見休傳來的那句 “答案你門應該知道才對", 牆壁突然變得透明, 其中一人被發現倒臥在血泊裡…"

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才在想不要再看他的書了, 才發現, 這也是他目前這個系列三本書裡的第三本書.

把人當做稀有動物養著…. 他的題材月來越怪異. 令人不舒服.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend 2020#78

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

“Once you let a book into your life, the most unexpected things can happen …

Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her book-loving pen pal. When she arrives, however, she finds Amy’s funeral guests just leaving. The residents of Broken Wheel are happy to look after their bewildered visitor – there’s not much else to do in a dying small town that’s almost beyond repair.

You certainly wouldn’t open a bookstore. And definitely not with the tourist in charge. You’d nee a vacant storefront (Main Street is full of them), books (Amy’s house is full of them), and … customers.

The bookstore might be a little quirky. Then again, so is Sara. But Broken Wheel’s own story might be more eccentric and surprising than she thought.

A heartwarming reminder of why we are booklovers, this is a sweet, smart story about how books find us, change us, and connect us."

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Quite disappointed about the last few chapters (= the happy ending). It turned the book into THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM!

Loved the idea of opening a little bookstore. Love the idea of being able to sit in your favorite place and read.

But the American dream? Sigh ….

0能者九条湊 2020#76

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

葉山透

翻譯 邱鍾仁

台灣角川

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" ‘去除心靈的贅肉, 就能自由見到死者.’ 宣稱能與已逝者相見的 ‘彼岸會’, 其施行的降靈儀式中, 幽魂與生者的對談猶如生前, 完美而毫無破綻, 然而, 現場卻 ‘沒有幽靈’!

而與彼岸會有所牽扯的人們, 接連遭到毒手, 死狀悽慘… 這一樁樁的殺人命案, 與彼岸會之間又存在著何種關聯?

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0能者4 2020#75

Monday, November 2, 2020

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

葉山透

翻譯 邱鍾仁

台灣角川

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“豪華郵輪上傳出有幽靈出沒作亂, 為此搭上船的湊, 沙耶及勇氣, 自然不是為了解決異怪, 而是為了在郵輪上 — 美食吃到飽, 美酒喝到掛.

沒想到, “船就要沉了!" 本以為是起容易解決的小事件, 事見發展卻令人意想不到! 黒暗中伸出詭異長手, 海水結冰, 幽靈船憑空出現… 眼看郵輪即將翻覆, 湊還有辦法變出奇招來力挽狂瀾嗎?"

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有時候真的很不喜歡九条湊. 不知到作者為何要將主角設定為這麼惹人厭的傢伙. 要有反差的效果, 我能接受, 但變成反感, 就讓人很想跳過去.

東京下町古書店 2: 傳遞愛的使者 2020#74

Saturday, October 31, 2020

評分:5 分,滿分為 5。

小路幸也

翻譯 吳季倫

野人

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“Case 1 正準備慶祝耶誕夜的崛田一家, 突然發現在咖啡店的座位放置了一個嬰兒, 是未婚生子的棄嬰? 還是糊塗忘性的母親所做的荒唐事?

Case 2 拿著爺爺遺物 <古書類苑> 來典當的大學生, 隨書附上了爺爺的書信來證明這套書的清白無誤, 來源正常, 然而這套書內竟然藏著一個天大的秘密.

Case 3 崛田家的藏本書目, 不單是家傳寶物, 更是近代文人筆墨的精華文粹, 亦是古書界爭相收購爭奪的目標. 但, 這樣的一本珍本目錄, 卻是一本詛咒不祥之物.

Case 4 擁有優雅紳士氣質的藤島先生, 居然在秘密進行一件殺人計畫. 而殘酷的事實真相居然牽扯出數十年前一樁沉冤未雪的血案.

Case 5 堪一爺爺收到了一本來自坎貝拉夫人的舊書, 原本開朗健談的他自此開始變得落莫寡歡, 誰是坎貝拉夫人? 難道是爺爺昔日的紅粉知己事隔多年再度回頭尋覓當年的舊情人? 那已過世的幸奶奶是否知道爺爺當年的這段情?

東京下町古書店 1: 搖滾愛情魂 2020#73

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

評分:5 分,滿分為 5。

小路幸也

翻譯 吳季倫

野人出版社

“東京下町古書店  「舉凡與文化、文明相關的諸般問題,皆可圓滿解答」   不死百年愛書魂X硬漢搖滾精神+永無止盡的LOVE=東京下町古書店   書歸其所,書這東西會自尋歸宿,去到最合適的主人手裡。只有真心與書交流方能領略書中樂趣,而人與人之間亦是如此。   這是一則流傳在東京下町地區的百年傳說。   凡有任何困擾於心的疑難雜症,只要走進這家標榜著「舉凡與文化、文明相關的諸般問題,皆可獲得圓滿解答」的古書店,所有問題立刻迎刃而解。

 CASE1  百年古書店的書架上白天必定會平白無故多出兩冊百科全書,但為何到了傍晚卻又離奇消失無蹤? 

CASE2  貓兒玉三郎的項圈上夾著被撕下的書頁,接二連三的出現不同的篇章,究竟是什麼暗號? 

CASE3  外出估價的小掌櫃遠赴鄉間一家已停業的旅館為一批舊書估價,一夜醒來滿屋數百本的書竟然全部不翼而飛,消失一空,連旅館老闆也不見人影,這該不會是間幽靈旅館吧? 

CASE4  住在安養院的老婦人在看了一本古書店出借的散文集以後,為何人便消失無蹤不知去向? 

CASE5  和家裡斷絕關係的媳婦亞美、堅決不肯透露兒子生父的藍子、闖入堀田家而身分成謎的鈴美,這三個美女為何接連淌下了淚水?為何縱橫影壇數十年的玉女巨星,竟會出現在堀田家的婚禮上?   

四季更迭,充滿歡笑、淚水和LOVE的故事,就此展開……。  

春天 離奇消失的百科全書  

夏天 兩個媳婦的眼淚  

秋天 鼠賊雅盜與被遺忘的胸針  

冬天 一切都是為了愛

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