Better late than never!

I can't believe it's been more than a year since I started reading 'For The Sake Of Elena', written by Elizabeth George. And it's just now, the 8th June 2009, that I've turned the last page of this murder-whodunit novel, featuring the author's very human and fallible crime-solving duo, Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers. Elizabeth George's novels are set in an England very much like the rustic English countryside of Midsomer Murders (my parents' favourite murder mystery show after 'Murder, She Wrote'). The author has a very descriptive style, and one may  wonder if some fat could have been trimmed, but the exposition does offer the patient reader additional insights into the characters' feelings and motivations. There will be occasion too when you'll feel like reaching out for a dictionary when one of the many uncommon words commonly pop up. At least the words are all English words, unlike in an Agatha Christie novel where no dictionary within easy reach could help illuminate the meaning of one of Hercule Poirot's sage French proverbs. Poirot is my favourite detective though, and I have to say that although Inspector Lynley is nowhere near as charming a character as Poirot, his very human frailties and dilemmas strike a chord, and the questions he brutally asks himself seem also directed at the reader. It is strange to have a murder mystery novel posing such sharp and insightful questions about love and marriage. This is, however, not a criticism, but more of a bemused observation. I'll have to borrow the next novel in the series from my sister, who's also a fan. But only after I read a novel from an author I've recommended to others so many times but haven't read yet - Jodi Picoult. So, next target - 'Salem Falls'! 

aches and pains, but satisfaction!

my new pair of Adidas F5 boots :)

Haven't bought a pair of football boots in ages, and I'd forgotten how it felt to pull on thick socks, squeeze into stiff seams and lace up, wobbling to the field and feeling the reassuring grip of the studs on soft grass and harder mud. It felt good! Had a great time playing in a 'Cousin's Cup' football match, and I actually lasted the whole match! This time, it's a case of quantity over quality :) It felt natural to be on the field again, but nowadays the body doesn't always listen to what the mind tells it to do, or believes it still can do! The best part of the match was getting together with family. Of course, now I get to wince at the aches and pains that have suddenly surfaced, post-match syndrome. But it was worth it! :)

"My nerd is all natural"

Was watching Smallville Season Seven episode 9, 'Gemini', and there's this wonderful scene where Jimmy Olsen and Chloe are having a conversation about her being a meteor freak. It's a touching moment because Chloe finally feels she can trust Jimmy enough to tell him. He's trying to guess what power she has, and he asks her if it's her intelligence / analytical ability / general all-round geek braininess, and then she says, "No. My nerd is all natural."

(sorry the picture is badly taken, used my hand phone and snapped my tv while the dvd was paused)

For some reason, I just love those lines..."My nerd is all natural." Regardless of what word class the word "nerd" belongs to in this usage, the lines just fit the moment, and it's great characterization, because it's so Chloe. Coming from a show that has a few great moments against a backdrop of baffling, 'what were they thinking?!' moments, it brought a smile to my face. Kind of weird too, that the first time I feel compelled to write something about Smallville it turns out to be about Chloe and Jimmy Olsen! But Chloe's a great character, and someone who has remained relatively consistent throughout the show... unlike the lady with the alliterative name and who isn't a reporter for the Daily Planet.

Oh, since we're on that topic, I wonder if anyone ever made a conscious decision to have Clark always fall for girls with the initials LL? Lana Lang, Lori Lemaris, Lois Lane... any I missed?

Scanned the cover of the Life section of the Straits Times - sorry that it's a poor scan! I was intrigued by the use of the title 'Hitman' because although it may seem out of the blue, unrelated, and an odd choice for a title (it doesn't seem to have much to do with the brief summary of the article - At the grand old age of...), it actually makes sense once you consider who it is being used to describe (or put another way, once we consider the context).

Clint Eastwood is a veteran actor who starred in many 'tough-guy' films where he was the lone gunslinger or trigger-happy cop. Hence the term 'hitman' is appropriate when we take into account his acting history and his roles in those films.

In his later years, he started to direct films, which have done very well at the box office, winning awards and critical acclaim. Therefore, his films were 'hits', making him the 'hitman'!

The play on the word 'hit' is what makes the title work - it takes advantage of the two possible meanings of 'hit' - an act of violence, or a succesful project, product or venture.

Just thought I'd share this for fun! Are there any hidden layers of meaning you've spotted and would like to point out?