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- 村上收音機 (258)
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By 村上春樹 -
Finished on May 24, 2013 
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- Time Reborn (1)
- From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe
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By Lee Smolin -
Finished on May 20, 2013
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- 銀女 (26)
- 亦舒作品之08
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By 亦舒 -
Finished on May 14, 2013
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雖然小說名為『銀女』，但我覺得王銀女不是主角，林無邁才是真正的主角，因為故事是通過林無邁說出來的。倪匡寫了兩篇序，一篇關於作者，一篇關於這本小說。小說末有『後記』和『後後記』！有意思:-)
作者好像對王銀女好壞的定位，有點猶疑不覺。如第244-245頁，將銀女說成是存心用計、做戲來『抬高價錢』(第244頁第14行)。之後，無邁好像已經對銀女死心了。我們以為銀女會墮落、變回壞孩子。但不久後、最後，銀女姊妹們都好像踏上『正途』。或者是作者不忍心糟蹋她們吧。
這是作者很早期的作品，看來文筆其實從那時起就已經成形了。這小說的故事不算最令人吃驚或感到懸疑的，但基本上風格或說故事的方式和近年的作品相當 ... (
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May 18, 2013 |
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- 密室的鑰匙借給你 (125)
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By 東川篤哉 -
Finished on May 12, 2013
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果然是靠幽默取勝的偵探小說，特別是作者好像很能體會到讀者的感覺，譬如第200頁倒數第3行：『直覺遲鈍的讀者也能從僅存的頁數推測...』，呵呵。
想不到、或曰勝於預期，最後的解釋還算合理。比較特別的是，解密的人這回不只一人，而是砂川警務和鵜飼杜夫偵探分別解開了紺野由紀和茂呂耕作被殺的懸疑的癥結。他們能夠破解兇案，其實都很了不起或很神奇，但由於作者文筆幽默，感覺上就不那麽不可思議，好像理所當然似的。主角戶村流平發現茂呂耕作死後的決策、行動將事情越弄越糟，但傻得可愛。其他角色如宏木刑警在作者的筆下都叫讀者喜歡。
小説中有一個關鍵的偶然：鵜飼杜夫認識的金藏竟然就是那意外捅了茂呂耕作一刀的遊民的 ... (
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May 15, 2013 |
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- Six Years (6)
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By Harlan Coben -
Finished on May 7, 2013
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Even at the 2nd last page, there is still a twist ! Though I would say that the ending is too good to be true, this book keeps the suspension hanging until the very end. I don't feel like doing any other things except keeping reading this novel. Its entertainment value as a mystery novel is treme ... (
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May 9, 2013 |
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- 誰？ (1129)
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By 宮部美幸 -
Finished on May 2, 2013
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這次的主角杉村三郎不是甚麼IQ極高或擁有超級推理能力的偵探，而是一個在岳父公司工作的記者、編輯。最後，在一切都好像差不多水落石出的時候，作者卻故意加上一些不肯定的可能性(第368頁)：『野瀨祐子真的殺死了父親嗎？...那具屍體又起死回生？』就連那個有點說不過去的(第369頁)『野瀨祐子逃走還說得過去，可是連梶田夫妻都不得不倉皇逃離』，作者也自己指出來，只可惜作者沒有完滿地自圓其說，只留下『真相，已經永遠無人知曉了』。在不知道野瀨祐子現在幸福與否，電話就掛斷了。就算和梶田聰美的電話，也好像沒有結束似的，我們究竟不知道她會確實怎麼處理她和濱天利和的關係，又怎麼面對破壞她婚姻的妹妹梨子？！感覺上作者 ... (
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May 7, 2013 |
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- 燕尾蝶 (159)
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By 岩井俊二 -
Finished on Apr 28, 2013
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本來還以為或許是有一點接近《情書》之類的愛情小說，結果卻完全不是！小說裏有非法移民，有間諜，有黑道殺手，各種各樣的人物在『錢都』里掙扎求存，令短短的小說(不算後記，才233頁)顯得很熱鬧和多姿多采。雖然小說以燕尾蝶為名，但燕尾蝶本人的篇幅不算多，甚至也不像是主角；當我發現原來燕尾蝶是小孩的時候，還有一丁點的驚訝。
一些幽默的筆觸使不少殘忍的傷亡也不顯得太令人難過。阿羅伍只不過是見義勇為，卻不得好死，可憐哦，大概是要怪自己有如此可恥的老婆比莉吧。當然布二倉也蠻無辜的，不過也許作者懲罰他的一點不義(收了音樂公司的錢跟固力果脫離關係和帶蜂生田那班人到阿標的地方)吧。固力果最後認為她還是喜歡比較簡單 ... (
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Apr 30, 2013 |
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- D之複合 (175)
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By 松本清張 -
Finished on Apr 23, 2013
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此小說包含不少民間傳說、甚至考古或歷史。一開始我還感到興趣，但到後來就覺得細節太繁瑣了，我讀得有點不耐煩。其實我覺得，到後來那些有關是拘留或羈留的民間傳說都只不過是幌子。我想很多讀者都會懷疑到底濱中三夫是不是幕後策劃者，或許讀到中段都希望自己猜得不對，因為他是最有可能的、因而覺得一般最明顯的可能性都不對的。但想不到，果然整個事端就是他搞出來的。猜不到的是背後的原因和他的身分。總編輯武田健策和社長奈良林保在餐館給人的關係是非常的老友鬼鬼，想不到武田最後是被奈良林所殺。
最後作者須要通過的濱中的長信來解釋那複雜的一切。解釋的實在太多，雖不能說是強湊出來，但總覺得若干的地方不自然。就像那個跟二宮健 ... (
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Apr 30, 2013 |
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- 弄潮兒 (31)
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By 亦舒 -
Finished on Apr 21, 2013
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作者這回講的是未來(~2047)的科幻故事。原 ZX 醫生很明顯就是原振俠，曼勒醫院和它的神奇功能也再次出現。小說背頁提示了『融為一體』，所以當讀到許弄潮因救小孩而身體被毀和看到主角石丙杰任性的女朋友游曼曼後，我就隱隱然預感到『融為一體』是怎麼一回事。
小說一開始有神秘的高人，但當知道原來就是原醫生後，就再沒有甚麼懸疑可言了。之後就是一些愛情、感情的糾纏，到底誰愛誰、或之後改變與否，我覺得此非作者最傑出的作品。
最後作者似乎還伏下了石丙杰與原醫生們到火星衛星德莫斯去尋找父母的故事。不過看來，作者後來沒有真為此另寫一本小說吧。
感覺上，石丙杰的機器家務助理愛瑪才是最可愛的角色！有人性，但沒 ... (
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Apr 23, 2013 |
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- 在世界的中心呼喊愛情 (1443)
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By 片山恭一 -
Finished on Apr 14, 2013
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這小說主要的內容描述主角(松本朔太郎)年少時是怎樣面對因白血病而不幸去逝的戀人(廣瀨亞紀，或其實是廣瀨堊紀)的故事。雖然是翻譯小說，以中文閱讀的讀者似乎也可以欣賞到作者對各人物和他們週遭環境美妙和細緻的描寫。讀者對亞紀的離去不能不感到莫大的悲痛。小說中呈現的是淒美的藝術色彩。
但我不能不說的是，在閱讀過程中，此小說好像幾乎沒有甚麼懸疑和令人期待的元素。很容易看幾頁，便撇下、去看其它的書等。一開始就已經告訴我們亞紀的病逝，就算讀著那純真、可愛和頑皮的戀愛片段時，心底始終隱隱然、戚戚地預期最後難免的傷悲，總覺得缺乏追讀下去勁頭。
但或者，這也是所謂的人生吧。就算你能夠不繳稅(因為太窮或住在沒有 ... (
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Apr 23, 2013 |
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- 嫌疑犯X的獻身 (5409)
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By 東野圭吾 -
Finished on Apr 10, 2013
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本以為兇殺案的真相一早就已再明白不過了，但竟然到最後還是給嚇了一跳。真的一點都想不到欸！正如陳國偉在最後附載的《解說》中所說(第355頁)，到小說的最後一頁我們才領略到，"X"原來不光指一個人，卻其實可以是 X = 石神哲哉，也可以是 X = 花岡靖子。
不過我不喜歡最後的結局，靖子這麼做，那美里怎麼辦了？不過如果她們一直將真相藏在心裏，一生也可能會很痛苦。其實，石神應不難想到這點。湯川學看出石神所謂的障眼法，不是真的邏輯，只是作者令他有這樣的功能而已。其實我們都希望石神的計劃會成功，不欲看到靖子最後的所謂『獻身』。這是相對比較本格推理小說，比較著眼於最後能否破解整個案情，而不著重考慮到底值 ... (
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Apr 13, 2013 |
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- 幻夜 下 (1314)
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By 東野圭吾 -
Finished on Apr 5, 2013
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最後的結局叫我不滿意，算是一般的讀者情緒吧。魔女竟然逍遙法外，而水原雅也無意中再次被魔女利用了。實際上，魔女真有運氣，本來有意殺死魔女的雅也，竟然與加藤亘同歸於盡！這樣下來，就永遠沒有人知道魔女的秘密和她的惡行。看完後，才看出創造魔女的不朽才是作者的原意。
在小說最後附載的《解說》中，陳國偉認為魔女的身分有兩個可能性，除了可能是新海美冬以前的老闆娘之外，也可能真是新海美冬，只不過她在模仿她的偶像、理想。但第二個可能是魔女自己的牽強辯白(第294-295頁)，我跟加藤刑警一樣，完全不相信這謊言。
最可惜的是，水原雅也不能和有子有進一步的發展。有子是善良的象徵，她是可以救贖雅也的唯一希 ... (
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Apr 12, 2013 |
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- 幻夜 上 (1405)
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By 東野圭吾 -
Finished on Mar 31, 2013
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差點想說，新海美冬真神啊！甚麼事都有她的妙法給解決了。不過其實她是魔女，因為她的方法都會加害某些無辜犧牲者。水原雅也和青江真一郎等被她利用了，還渾然不知！
曾我孝道的出現，令我們開始感覺到那各自稱是新海美冬的女子，看來不是真的新海美冬！第218頁，說新海美冬前年就一般走而且跟另一女子去了外國(好像是倫敦)，這就讓我開始思考各種可能性了。第251頁就確實印證了我們的懷疑，因為曾我恭子以前看過新海美冬，『氣質截然不同』欸。
一般來說，特別是到後來，作者都頗直接地明示了新海美冬的計謀。譬如，第360頁，通過小川經理的不肯定的記憶，很明顯跟美冬兩個星期前來"Silky"餐廳的不是青江(大概是雅也 ... (
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Apr 6, 2013 |
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- 真男人不哭泣 (77)
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By 亦舒 -
Finished on Mar 25, 2013
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作者這回講的是在七十年代的故事，周家當時已經從香港移民到英國多年了。讀者都會喜歡主角周萬亨的吧。萬亨讀書不多，第一次結婚前家裏靠炸魚薯條為生。小說開始不久，他(和家人)竟然被林秀枝欺騙，令人嚇了一條，但也因此開始有追讀下去的好奇心。
被林秀枝欺騙，間接令他改變了自己的命運，脫離被困在唐人街的局限。之後認識了曹慧群，本來真是一段美好的良緣，但可惜好景不長。讀到那些恐嚇信，我就已經有不好的預感了。這是小說中最教人傷感的一段，一個炸彈就令萬亨同時失去了妻兒，實在可惜哦！
但之後，萬亨身邊又出現了青梅竹馬的劉明珠，此小子真的很討女人喜歡嘛。最後他們兩人去到西雅圖和溫哥華，不只遇上了剛剛冒起了微軟， ... (
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Mar 28, 2013 |
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- The Dinner (26)
- A Novel
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By Herman Koch -
Finished on Mar 24, 2013
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At the beginning of the book, I like the narrator Paul Lohman for his being very cynical about dining in "top restaurants" such as the the process of approving a bottle of wine (p. 39-40) and "vast emptiness of the plate" (p. 43-44). Because I've felt the same ! Nevertheless, gradually and especia ... (
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Mar 26, 2013 |
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Time Reborn
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In my opinion, the book is not really about the "time" but rather about exploring the possibilities to go beyond General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and the Standard Model (of particle physics). Probably against what people normally think, the author told us that the Newtonian paradigm (including ... (continue)
In my opinion, the book is not really about the "time" but rather about exploring the possibilities to go beyond General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and the Standard Model (of particle physics). Probably against what people normally think, the author told us that the Newtonian paradigm (including General Relativity) is "timeless". The function f(t) is still "timeless" (p.235, 28th line) when the formula f(t) itself (say, f(t) = exp(-0.5*t) ) doesn't change over time. So, the author is suggesting that we should consider that the law of physics itself can change over time. But somehow the author doesn't put it in the most explicit way (in my opinion). For example, in Chapter 11 "Evolution of Laws", the author discusses his "cosmological natural selection" in which each black hole gives rise to a new universe which itself can produce more black holes. As times go, universes with parameters (laws or initial conditions) most suitable to produce the largest no. of black holes (the most fertile) dominate. Since it's not easy to make black holes, the most fertile ones are probably similar to each other, probably as ours. So, in this case, I guess the laws don't change within a universe but just that different universes may have different laws. This is a rather peculiar way of saying the law of physics changing over time.
There is no formula nor equation in this book. And thus there is no mathematical derivation. But the author seems to be doing his derivations in words. As a consequence or not, I find the arguments not very convincing. Without mathematical logics, one or at least I feel that words are cheap. There are quite a few interesting principles that the author has mentioned. The most frequently used is Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason: "there must be a rational reason for every apparent choice made in the construction of the universe" (xxvii). This is more like an idealism rather than a law of physics and I feel that the author has used it a bit too much. I'd put more bet on the principle of special relativity (nothing faster than the speed of light) rather than the principle of sufficient reason, when we consider the viability of certain contentious theories such as the real-ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics as described on p.160-2.
Then on Chapter 19, the author discusses about the meta-law which governs how the law of physics changes over time. Probably due to my limited imagination, it's just too difficult for me to fathom how far we can go with the meta-law at this stage. This also reveals the sentiment that I've often had while reading this book. That is, the subjects that the author has talked about don't seem to have any solutions or even any hope of solutions in near future. I guess it's an interesting intellectual experience and training for us to start thinking about it. But it'll be difficult to convince any layperson that physicists are doing serious scientific research with something that scientists are so unsure about.
The last chapter "Epilogue" is probably the weirdest one yet when the author ventures to discuss about the climate change, economics and then even consciousness. I've found it very agreeable when the author expresses that there is no real division the natural and the artificial as we're all part of the universe ! Nevertheless, this chapter seems quite a bit distinct from the rest of the book and their relevance to time is especially far-fetched :-)
As the author is not the biggest fan of string theories, he has discussed other theories such as the loop quantum gravity. It is this subject that the readers would probably learn the most about from this book :-) The problem related to nonlocal links is also interesting or even inspiring.
On p.155, hidden variables theory was discussed and I thought this kind of theories have died (so to speak) when the Bell's theorem was vindicated by experiments. But then on p.163 (2nd paragraph), I was reminded that only local (communication < the speed of light) hidden-variable theories were ruled out. Good to learn or be reminded about this bit ...
Overall, it is probably not the easiest book to read if you actually hope to learn something. Though the author doesn't use equations or formulae, you actually need to be quite familiar with all the advanced physics topics in order to appreciate and understand what the author is talking about. Quite a few subjects are probably a bit ahead of contemporary physicists. Including the author, quite a few physicists in the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (Waterloo, Canada) have been mentioned in this book. Wrong or right, this book together with the author's previous book "The Troube with Physics" have given me some ideas what those guys are doing in the Perimeter Institute !
Compared to Sean Carroll’s “From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time” (2010) --- in which the only thing that I remember is the detailed discussion about the time arrow related to entropy, this book wouldn’t make you feel repetitive and is even more forward-looking.
On p.81, something seems to be wrong somewhere in the 2nd last paragraph: "The universe can have zero total energy is the total gravitational potential energy holding all its parts together exactly cancels all the positive energy in the universe". The simplest correction is probably that "is" be replaced by "because". p.198 (14th line): "then" should really be "than". On p.287 (12th line), the "have" in the sentence "..which is that it have what is called ..." should be "has".