Haruki Murakami - Japan's Most Successful Novelist

On this page you will find my book review of Water Lily by Susanna Jones about a Japanese woman teacher who has an affair with a pupil and then worrying about being discovered she flees the country for Shanghai.

But also on this page you will see a 50 minute programme about Haruki Murakami, Japan's most successful novelist.

Murakami was a baby boomer growing up in the sixties with all that entails. His strange books have been translated into 40 languages.

The programme was made by Alan Yentob of the BBC and you can see that and read the book review on this page.

Thank you for visiting and reading.

David Coleman has Passed Away

I have just heard that David Coleman, the sports broadcaster, has passed away, aged 87

Quite simply David Coleman was a GIANT in his field. He practically invented sports broadcasting in Britain, and everyone who has ever had a interest in sports from say 1956 to 2006 will have their own special memories that he brought into our living rooms.

For me the 1968 Olympics from Mexico, and then the world cup from Mexico in 1970 will always live in the memory.

And then there was that tragic Olympics from Munich that he brought to us in such detail.

Thank you, Mr C for all the sheer enjoyment and memories you brought into all of our lives.

David Coleman - Broadcaster - 1926 - 2013    RIP.  

The Sound of Sirens Release Date

The Sound of Sirens, David Carter's new book featuring his detective Inspector Walter Darriteau who operates in and around the city of Chester, has now been scheduled for release on the lst January 2014.

Today a new review has come in for the book from the New York Book Pundit and you can see that review right here right now.

The Lord Lucan Murder(s) - New TV Programme

Conicidentally a new TV programme has just been made by the ITV network in the UK about the Lucan murder(s) - the first part of 2, which was aired last night - the programme was based on John Pearson's book "The Gamblers" which was reviewed here recently. You can catch up on that book review and see more (different) TV investigative coverage on the same page about the whole Lucan affair here if you missed it.

If you'd like to catch up with ITV's new prog that everyone seemed to be talking about in the supermarket this morning as they went about their Christmas shopping you should be able to watch that here on the ITV Player.

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/search/term/lucan

The disappearance of Lord Lucan after the murder of his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, remains one of the great unsolved murder riddles of the 20th century in Britain.

If you are interested in fictional murder cases please check out my Inspector Walter Darriteau cases, The Murder Diaries Seven Times Over here, and The Sound of Sirens here.

Take care,

DC

Infamous - the Life of Truman Capote

I watched this movie last night and really enjoyed it. Hadn't seen it before. Great cast - Toby Jones (he played Hitchcock in another film) Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Sigourney Weaver, Gwyneth Paltrow (would like to have seen more of her) Peter Bogdanovich and more besides.

You can read the review here and see a clip of the film as well,

hope you like it,

David C

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The American - Stylish Thriller

If you like the whole Nordic genre of thrillers and murders then you might be interested in The American starring George Clooney which is a sylish thriller set in Sweden and Italy.

You can read a new film review of the movie here and you can also watch the official trailer to give you a taste of what the film is all about.

Hope you like it.

Oriental Fiction - Book Reviews.

If you have any interest in modern Chinese and Japanese fiction you might be interested in checking out these book reviews now on this site:

Tokyo Tango by Rika Yokomori

Waiting by Ha Jin

Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino

Marrying Buddha by Wei Hui 

Most of the pages have video reviews on there too so there is always something worth watching after you have had a read.

Thanks for taking a peep,

David C

The Lord Lucan Murder

When one reads anything about the Lord Lucan murder the writers are really talking about the murder of the nanny Sandra Rivett. But in John Pearson's book The Gamblers, he is exploring the possibility that Lord Lucan himself was murdered by his "friends" and colleagues simply because he had become too much of a liability.

One thing is for sure, this unsolved mystery has more to tell - though whether that information will ever enter the public domain must be open to huge doubt.

If you are interested in unsolved murders, and this fascinating case in particular, you can read an updated review on the book, the Gamblers, right here where you can also watch the whole of Fred Dineage's TV investigative programme on the Lord Lucan murder. Read more and see more here

The Cheshire Fire Service Choir on TV

Fab rendition by the guys and gals of the Cheshire Fire Service of Bruce Springsteen's moving song The Rising on the BBC TV programme The Choir - Sing While You Work, last night. Had me in tears!

Much respect.

More here on the Cheshire Fire Service.

Stay safe,

DC 

Book Reviews Welcomed

If you are into writing book reviews why not write a book review for inclusion on this site? You can do that right here today.

Alternatively, if you like reading book reviews and watching some accompanying video (where available) then you might like to check out this page.

As ever, thanks reading and thanks for stopping by,

David C