Blacklist (V I Warshawaski #11) 2022#41

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

評分:3 分,滿分為 5。

Sara Paretsky

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“As a favor to her most important client, V. I. agrees t check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterious intruder, she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond – a reporter for an African-American publication whom the suburban cops are quick to dismiss as a suicide.

When the man’s shattered family hires V. I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V. I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die – and V. I.’s own life will hang in the balance.

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I knew Sara Paretsky from an introdution of another book by another author. Don’t remember which and when, though. She was mentioned as one of the author’s favorite authors. Since then, I started looking for her books here. Not easy. I have two of her books, I guess. This is my second reading of the I. V. Warshawaski series. I don’t particularly like I. V. Warshawaski. She is tough in a way I don’t like. Eve Dallas is tough, too. But she is my favorite. Not like Dallas, who knows what she is doing and do well, I. V., well, to me, seems to be always fighting a war in the wrong way? Poor girl.

Divded In Death (Eve Dallas #18) 2022#40

Saturday, April 23, 2022

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

J D Robb

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“Reva Ewing was a former member of the Secret Service, and then a security specilalist for Roarke Enterprises – untill she was found standing over the dead bodies of her husband, renowned artist Blair Bissel, and her best friend. But Lieutenant Eve Dallas believes there was more to the killings than jealous rage – all of Bissel’s computer files were deliberately corrupted. To Roarke, it’s the computer attack that poses the real threat. He and Reva have been under a Code Red government contract to develop a program that would shield against techno-terrorists. But this deadly new breed of hackers isn’t afraid to kill to protect their secret – and it’s up to Lieutenant Eve Dallas t shut them down before the nightmare can spread to the whole country.

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The quality of the paper the publisher used for the cover was terribly bad. I had to carry books in my backpack so I could read books on the train. I certainly put it carefully in a compartment so not to damage the cover. I am always careful about my books. But this one, doesn’t matter how hard I tried, it became so ugly after I finished reading.

This is prabably my least favorite book in the In Death series, so far. The conspiracy behind the murders is really boring and tiring.

It was too bad that Roarke couldn’t revenge on those who had stood aside and watched when Dallas was abused by her own father. Too bad!!

作家的秘密地圖 2022#39

The Writers’s Map An Atlas of Imaginary Lands

Saturday, April 9, 2022

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

Huw Lewis-Jones

翻譯 清揚

奇幻基地

我很喜歡讀的書裡有地圖, 更喜歡邊看書, 邊研究地圖. 所以知道有這本書時, 立刻預約. 這本書很搶手, 我也是等了好幾個月才輪到.

很想好好地配合這本書, 把書中提到的書都拿來看. 可惜書很廣泛, 時間很少 (只能借一個月, 後面還有人排隊, 無法續借). 然後又很貴… 不可能買下… 只能放手囉. 可惜. 不知道日後會不會遇到二手書??

失落詞詞典 2022#38

Friday, April 8, 2022

評分:3 分,滿分為 5。

Pip Williams

翻譯 聞若婷

商周出版

被詞典編纂師淘汰的詞彙, 會在時間的洪流中消失, 我不能讓這些詞被奪走, 因為正是它們解釋了我這個人.

1857 年, 倫敦語文學會決定展開一個百年大計畫: 編纂一部史上最權威, 完整的英語大詞典. 他們公開向天下徵求資料, 每天都有如雪片般的詞彙從世界各地寄來, 由詞典編纂師一一檢視, 篩選, 並寫下最終定義.

其中一名編纂師的女兒艾絲玫, 從小就對文字情有獨鍾. 每當遇到挫折, 她總會從某個詞彙的定義找到救贖. 但最吸引她注意的, 是那些被男性編纂師們忽略, 鄙視或丟棄的詞彙, 而這些詞絕大多數是關於女性.

艾絲玫偷偷收集這些被她「失落詞」的詞彙, 甚至開始自己寫下從市場, 妓女, 女僕那邊聽到的各種用詞, 但是, 這些話語若沒有印刷成冊, 就永遠只會是秘密…

本書故事基於真實事件, 透過瑰麗的文字, 生動重現詞典編纂師的工作與大詞典的編輯細節, 更講述了在充滿巨變的十九至二十世紀, 一個隱藏在男性書寫歷史背後的動人故事."

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聽人說很好看, 找不到英文版, 就借中文版的囉.

首先, 這不算是 「基於真實事件」, 充其量只能說是基於真實歷史背景吧. 因為我就真的以為有艾絲玫與她的父親這兩個人. 還好我一邊讀, 一邊查資料, 才發現, 編纂大詞典是真的有這回事. 故事發生時的時間軸也都相符, 但, 艾絲玫是個杜撰的角色, 她的故事也不是真的喔.

然後, 戰爭是我很不喜歡的題材. 所以我只給三顆星.

然然後, Edith Thompson (真有其人) 「獲准坐在樓座看著男人用餐」這種事, 真的很誇張!! 還好我生於現代!!

Level 7 2020#37

Thursday, April 7, 2022

評分:3 分,滿分為 5。

宮部美幸

翻譯 劉子倩

獨步文化

“一對一覺醒來記憶全失, 身分不明, 手臂被印上「Level 7」文字的年輕男女; 一個在日記上留下「到了 Level 7 會不會回不來?」 , 便離奇失蹤的高中女學生; 究竟, Level 7 是什麼? 屋內的一大箱現金, 一把手槍和一條染血的毛巾, 又涉及什麼樣的險惡陰謀? 當失憶的男女焦急萬分地想找回自己, 高中女學生的友人積極地援救身陷險境女學生的同時, 兩宗看似無關的事件突然產生戲劇性的交集. 不料, 所有的事件都與一宗極其凶殘的命案息息相關…"

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最近讀的宮部美幸, 都沒有以前讀的幾本令人感動. 揭發黑暗面的題材, 我也沒有很愛就是了. 倒是真行寺一家: 外公, 媽媽, 小女孩, 頗有宮部式的溫情, 對一位只有一面之緣的高中女生, 全家動員找尋她的下落.

Vision In Death (Eve Dallas #19) 2022#36

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

J. D. Robb

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“The summer of 2059 has been long, hot – and bloody. On one of the city’s warmest nights, a call from dispatch sends Lieutenant Eve Dallas t Central Park – and into a hellish new investigation. The victim was found on the rocks, just above the still, dark water of Central Park Lake. She wore nothing but a red ribbon tied around her neck. Her hands were posed as if in prayer. But it is her eyes – removed with such precision, as if by the careful hand of a surgeon – that have Dallas most alarmed.

As more bodies turn up, each with the same defining scars, Eve is frantic for answers. Against her instincts, she accepts help from a psychic, who offers one vision after another – each with shockingly accurate details of the murders. And when Eve’s partner and friend Peabody is badly injured after escaping an attack, the stakes are raised. Are the eyes a symbol? A twisted religious ritual? A souvenir? With the help of her husband, Roarke, Dallas must uncover the killer’s motivation before another vision becomes another nightmare …"

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I am collecting this series as best as I can. Everytime I see a book I don’t have, I have to take it home. This way, I can’t collect the books in the order. I just have to read the series in the order. So, sometimes I buy books from online bookstores, like 誠品, 博客來, 金石堂, 三民書局, Book Depository.

However, this time, I had to skip #16, which I realized too late that I didn’t have, and #18, which I couldn’t find anywhere in my house. After I just tidied up a little part of my library, I so wanted to start my want-to-read list, so I skipped #16, finished #17, again skipped #18, and then this, #19.

The plot itself was not very surprising. The way Eve Dallas looks after (she really is looking after) Peabody is really touching. While Peabody was attacked and fought for her life in the hospital, everyone is just so worried about her. This full-of-love atmosphere really makes J. D. Robb’s In Death series very different from other detective novels.

One thing I didn’t like about this book, or story, was Celina Sanchez’s plan to kill her ex-boy friend’s girl friend. Such a woman!! Selfish, evil, and good for nothing.

理由 2022#35

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

評分:3 分,滿分為 5。

宮部美幸

翻譯 陳寶蓮

臉譜

“住在東京荒川區一棟超高大樓 20 樓的一家四口, 在大雨之夜慘遭殺害. 經調查後發現, 同住一個屋簷下的四人既非該宅住戶, 彼此也毫無血緣關係. 涉有重嫌的男子石田直澄逃亡三個多月後決心投案, 因為他的現身, 命案的謎底與黑幕部分即將露出曙光…

命案為什麼發生? 被殺的是「誰」?「誰」又是凶手?

命案之前發生了什麼? 之後又留下了什麼?

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好吧, 因為林林總總的 「理由」, 我耐心地翻完這本磚塊書.

宮部美幸真的厲害. 鋪了一堆線頭, 乍看凌亂無章法, 最後卻能巧手一一撿起, 串成一個結果.

不是很喜歡謎底揭曉後的殺人「理由」就是了.

我比較喜歡溫暖的宮部美幸.

憎惡的請求 2022#34

Saturday, April 2, 2022

評分:1 分,滿分為 5。

松本清張

翻譯 曾鴻燕

新雨

“<憎惡的依賴> 起訴書裡記錄著我殺人的原因是因為外借的九萬圓. 但那只是我的供詞. 沒有人能知道真正的犯罪動機….

<美麗的假象> 解不開的名畫贗品之謎, 如假包換的大師名作到底隱藏者什麼樣的秘密?

<沒有記錄的首次登峰> 毫無證據的登峰記錄, 唯一的證人, 卻成為不能說的秘密…

本書共收錄松本清張十篇短篇極作."

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不是很喜歡的十個短篇.

一路讀來,, 松本清張的書, 有喜歡的, 有不喜歡的. 差異真大.

希波克拉底的誓言 2022#33

Friday, April 1, 2022

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

中山七里

翻譯 劉姿君

時報出版

“跨越基礎醫學和臨床醫學的隔閡, 不分生者與死者, 在法醫面前同樣都是患者.

木母野真琴是浦和醫大的實習醫生, 因為臨床實習的學分不足, 眼看即將無法順利成為正式醫師, 只好不情願的 (地) 接受指導教授津久場的指派到法醫學教室幫忙. 因此遇到了法醫學權威光崎藤次郎教授和喜歡屍體的美籍副教授凱西. 看似平凡不起眼的光崎教授以超高明的解剖技術探究死因聞名醫界, 許多重大的案件經由他精準的解剖分析後往往能夠得到隱藏在屍體的背後真相, 因而經常接受刑警委託. 而真琴也在百般不願的狀態下, 開始接受屍體們的引導, 慢慢進入法醫學的領域, 同時也揭開醫療, 警界不為人知的祕辛…"

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是我喜歡的很有個性 (是怪怪個性吧這個光崎教授, 哈哈) 的角色. 很喜歡看他罵人 / 酸人, 不帶髒字, 卻可以把人罵得不知該如何回應.

古手川刑警是渡瀨的手下喔.

已預約第二本.

交錯的場景 2022#32

Thursday, March 31, 2022

評分:4 分,滿分為 5。

松本清張

翻譯 梁容

新雨

“知名小說家前往小鎮尋求創作的靈感, 並投宿於當地的「千島旅館」. 負責整理小說家房間的真野信子, 是個非常喜愛閱讀文學作品的女子, 她有個致力於文學創作但卻毫無才氣的秘密情人. 某日, 信子在小說家出門後前去打掃房間, 意外發現了他未完成的稿子, 她好奇地閱讀後覺得非常精彩, 而私自將文章抄下, 交給她的秘密情人…"

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這本的破案手法設計, 真的很厲害. 那個「四國地方某縣的縣警搜查一科科長」香春銀作也太厲害了, 「躺在自家走廊上, 曬著秋日的暖陽, 翻看雜誌 <文藝界>」, 居然給他看出那個祕密渣男情人剽竊別人作品而被刊出的文章裡, 某些描述與正在調查的案件中, 嫌疑人口供裡的某些自白吻合. 然後就這樣循著幾乎看不見的線索, 一舉破了完全不相干的兩個命案. 把那個渣男也繩之以法, 大快人心. 這個香春銀作, 真的很神.