2026年9月29日 星期二

《謊言裡的魔術師》東野圭吾著 真誠的欺騙專家


東野圭吾筆下的神尾武史，是一名急流勇退的魔術師。在《迷宮裏的魔術師》中擔當了偵探的角色。這本後續的「短篇」繼續展示了他的欺詐力與洞察力，不過與其稱之為「拆穿謊言」，我更覺得這位魔術師變成了一個心靈輔導員。

所以原名《黑魔術師與覺醒的女人們》，個人覺得是頗貼切的。

《謊言裡的魔術師》東野圭吾著 （皇冠文化出版有限公司 / 王蘊潔譯）

（讀畢東野圭吾老師第32本作品，此作個人心水排25位）

六個短篇故事都發生在武史經營的酒吧「陷阱手」（TRAPHAND)內。這是表面冷酷而市儈的武史與他的姪女真世，遇上不同的女性的小故事。

有別於凶殺案的推理橋段，武史憑藉出色的觀察、縝密的思辨、努力的搜證去拆解不同的謊言。

謊言隱藏的既有惡，也可以是善。

《裝修的女人》中反轉的橋段很有驚喜，當中亦說明人生被遺棄、被捆綁，都是一種詛咒。真相，有時真的是不知道更好。另一個小故事是它的後續，推理性較少，但讀起來有份釋懷的感覺。

個人覺得《虛幻女人》內容是有點牽強，不過帶出的訊息不錯。

「在人生的旅途上，對我們有幫助的不是那些已經失去的東西，而是掌握在手上的東西。」（153）

真相也許只是朋友的一個騙局，但也印證著一份可貴的友誼。

《懷了繼承人的女人》結局有點出人意表，也是我最喜歡的一個故事。我喜歡東野老師在繼承關係上鑽研出這個點子。（「天使的枕」這個伏筆，我就是沒可能看得穿。）最後的一杯Le-Casey de I’Ange，把故事的結尾修飾得更有格調。

神尾武史，總令我想起GTO的鬼塚老師、城市獵人的孟波。那份外冷內熱，表裡不一，看似冷模卻是熱情，在《迷宮》的他，破案之外也努力鼓勵真世真實面對自己的感情。在短篇中的他更成了女人們的人生輔導員，讓她們從謊言中覺醒。

這個昔日魔法舞台上的「武士」，如今成為了一個真誠的欺詐師。他有著哪些禁忌的過去？有著哪些不為人知的悲痛？隨着東野老師的離世，神尾武史的身世，永遠成為一個迷。

這本短篇整體推理性不強，為了找適合演員而大費周章設騙局的橋段亦有點牽強。但單是為了看神尾武史這位角色，已值得一讀。

《謊言裡的魔術師》東野圭吾著 真誠的欺騙專家 - 閱後感 - 完 (351頁 - 第83本書  / 東野圭吾作品 32/106）

如果覺得看我的網誌有一些意思，請輕輕點擊網誌上的Google AdSense廣告以示支持。這些廣告帶來的收入是少得很可憐（按一下才不足一毛錢），但對我來說這是一個很大的支持與肯定，讓我在這個文字已不太流行的世代下繼續這份堅持。謝謝各位！

紀念文章：東野圭吾老師，感謝您

閱讀分享︰老麥的閱讀專頁 (推理 / 文學 / 健康 / 理財)
電影分享︰老麥的電影專頁
日本專頁︰老麥的日本旅遊專頁 (東京 / 大阪 / 沖繩 / 九州)
北上專頁︰老麥的北上旅遊專頁 (廣州 / 深圳)
泰國專頁︰老麥的泰國旅遊專頁 (曼谷 / 布吉)
台灣專頁︰老麥的台灣旅遊專頁 (高雄 / 宜蘭 / 台北)

以下是其他書籍分享文章連結：（*為個人特別推介）

東野圭吾專區︰










*《天鵝與蝙蝠》東野圭吾著 以家屬視角描寫的出色推理 NEW 2026!




















推理小說︰


































當代小說























文學類別︰

《對倒》劉以鬯著 兩個靈魂碰撞的日常 NEW 2026!!

《異鄉人》卡繆著 非我族類的錯對 NEW 2026!!

*《酒徒》劉以鬯著 醉中智慧話、酒裡意識流 NEW 2026!

《羅生門》芥川龍之介著 - 批判與嘲諷時代的短篇集 NEW 2026!

《金閣寺》三島由紀夫著 - 衝擊美與善的經典 NEW 2026!

《追憶似水年華1 - 在斯萬家那邊》A la recherche du temps perdu 馬塞爾.普魯斯特著 Marcel Proust - 平庸讀者初嘗意識流經典文學 NEW 2026!

《小團圓》張愛玲著 把破碎團圓在一起的故事 NEW!

《百年孤寂》- 賈西亞.馬奎斯著 拉丁美洲的文學經典 NEW!

《馬奎斯與他的百年孤寂 - 活着是為了說故事》 楊照著 - 解讀經典之所以成為經典的意義 

NEW!




*《雙城記》 狄更斯 再黑暗的世界也需要光

《罪與罰》 Crime and Punishment 杜斯妥也夫斯著 - 以思想為戰場的故事

《呼蘭河傳》 蕭紅著 - 寫的是河也是人

《挪威的森林》村上春樹著 - 生死間的三角關係

*《傲慢與偏見》 珍.奧斯汀著 - 人性的兩大弱點

《銀河鐵道之夜》 宮澤賢治著 - 談生死的童話故事

《魯迅散文選》 - 魯迅 著 （楊澤編）- 走進當代文人的世界 （保留）

*《圍城》錢鍾書著 - 沒有蕩氣迴腸、卻語重深長的愛情故事 


投資理財類別︰

















科幻類別︰











生活及健康︰



基督教書藉︰








其他類別︰















English Book


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2026年9月25日 星期五

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 13): Penguins and Polar Bears at the Sweltering Ueno Zoo


 "Won't it be unbearably hot if we go to the zoo?"

Zoos and blazing sunshine seem like two brothers who simply can't get along, yet are forced to live together. Most zoos are outdoor attractions, they don't open at night, and daytime visitors have to endure the full force of the scorching sun.

Personally, I'm not particularly supportive of keeping animals in captivity. However, as a tour leader, I can't simply follow my own interests and spend the day immersed in an art museum. That was why I came up with Ueno Zoo, a historical attraction with broad appeal. Besides, compared with setting off early in the morning for Tokyo Disneyland or Fuji-Q Highland, this activity was clearly a much more relaxed option.

(Photo: To combat the blazing heat, your battle-hardened tour leader Mak wrapped a soaking wet cooling towel around his head. The look may not be particularly flattering, but it works wonders for cooling down. No fans or parasols required.)

Having visited Ueno countless times, I hardly need Google Maps to find my way around Ueno Zoo. We entered through the Benten Gate and planned to begin our visit in the Western Garden.

(Photo: Admission is only ¥600 for adults, ¥200 for junior high school students, and free for children aged 12 and under. A family of four can get in for just ¥1,400. An excellent budget-friendly attraction.)

10:30 AM - Entering the Western Garden


The moment we stepped inside, a few shameless members of the group immediately rushed off to see the tortoises and rabbits. The real reason, of course, was the indoor, air-conditioned viewing area.

Looking at the map, two animals in the Western Garden particularly caught my interest. The first was the African penguin.

"Penguins? Surely their enclosure must be air-conditioned if they live in icy environments?"

As it turned out, not all penguins live among snow and ice.

"According to the information panel, African penguins inhabit the southwestern coasts of South Africa and Namibia, where ocean temperatures range from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius..."

Before I could finish reading, the younger members of the group had already hurried toward the next exhibit. The intense heat had clearly claimed more than a few casualties among their curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

The second animal was the shoebill stork, one of Ueno Zoo's biggest stars. Its popularity probably stems from its status as an endangered species. There are only ten shoebills in all of Japan, and remarkably, four of them live at Ueno Zoo.

(Photo: It has a rather amusing appearance, and its head seems capable of rotating almost 360 degrees.)

Beside Shinobazu Pond, where lotus flowers were in full bloom, lies the Western Garden area. The surroundings were beautiful, albeit a little too hot. Giraffes and hippos, animals rarely seen in Hong Kong, could also be found here.

After exploring the Western Garden, we crossed the Aesop Bridge toward the Eastern Garden. The walk between the two sections takes only five to eight minutes, so there's really no need to wait for the shuttle bus. There are also restaurants and rest areas along the way, making the journey quite manageable.

12:00 PM - After a Short Break - Eastern Garden

The Eastern Garden is home to many of the larger animals, including polar bears, elephants, and Sumatran tigers.

However, when we entered the indoor viewing corridor for the polar bears, we discovered that the bears had been kept inside their air-conditioned quarters and were not visible to visitors. In fact, it wasn't just the polar bears. Even the tigers, animals that naturally live in tropical rainforests, were hiding from the heat during the hottest part of the day.

If you want to see the animals actively moving around, it's best to arrive early, before the sun climbs high into the sky.

At this point, readers may be wondering why I chose to feature "Polar Bears" in the title.

Well, I simply wanted everyone to share the disappointment I felt when I desperately wanted to see them but couldn't.

(Photo: Given the oppressive heat, it's impressive that the elephant still found the energy to play with a giant tyre.)

Fortunately, there were still elephants and orangutans to see. The biggest surprise for me, however, was the Small Mammal House, which featured dozens of bats. Watching them hang upside down and swoop through the enclosure together was a fascinating and rather rare sight.



(Bats - there's a video!)

12:40 PM

Hot, hungry, and exhausted, the tour members decided it was time to leave.

"Why didn't we just visit an art museum? At least they have air conditioning!"

As we passed the long queue outside one of the nearby museums, the group once again began questioning the tour leader's planning.

"You lot aren't even interested in Hong Kong's M+ Museum. Why have you suddenly become art lovers the moment you arrive in Tokyo?"

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 - To be continued 

Next chapter: (14) Farewell to Ueno, Once Again

If you find it interesting to read my blog, please click on the google ads on the blog to show your support. The income from these ads is very pitiful, but for me this is a great support and recognition, allowing me to continue to persevere in this era when writing are no longer popular. Thank you!

Below are other sharing about My Previous trips in Japan, including Disney Sea Tokyo, The Making of Harry Potter, USJ Osaka, and also my last 2 couple trips in Bangkok, Thailand

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Busily working on my write-up...)

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 - Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 2) – Arrival: The Hotel in Ueno NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 3) – Disneyland vs DisneySea Ultimate Showdown NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 4) Tokyo Disneyland – Pre-Trip Preparations NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 5): Full‑Day Field Log at Tokyo Disneyland NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 6) - The Akihabara Dad Squad NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 7): Complete Guide to Shibuya Sky NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 8) Preparation!‑ Fuji‑Q Highland NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 9) Fuji‑Q Highland – Thrills, Scares and the Attack NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 10) TeamLab Plants Tokyo: Immersed NEW2026!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 11) Dad’s “One‑Unicorn Show” NEW2026!!

Tokyo Again 2025

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary（Part 12) Shopping‑Culture Experience – Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Again 2025

Tokyo Again 2025(1) - 72 hours of traveling in Tokyo (3 -days Itinerary plan, plus 7-days in 2024) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (2) - Tokyo Transportation - Simplified Package for Dummies NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (3) -APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae - with Movie NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (4) The First Night in Ueno（GYU STAR All you can eat BBQ / Donki in Ueno) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (5) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 1 - How Did We Go?) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (6) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 2 - Leisurely Stroll......Kumoba Pond) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (7) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 3 - Can't Miss......Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Shopping Street) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (8) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 4 - Day and Night......Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (9) - Under the cherry blossom trees (Ueno Park / Tsukiji Market) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (10) - First Avenue Tokyo Station - Tokyo Character Street NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (11) - Shopping Paradise (Ginza) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (12) - Ueno Again NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (13) - Prepare for Next Tokyo Trip NEW!!

Tokyo 2024 

Tokyo 2024 - 7 days itinerary (Family of 4 - Attractions and Shopping Experience) NEW!!

Disney Sea Tokyo 1 - Basic Information and Tips for your journey NEW!!

Disney Sea Tokyo 2 - Busy First Half with Mobile Phone (Tower of Terror / Journey to the Center of the Earth / Rapunzel's Lantern Festival)

Dinery Sea Tokyo 3 - Busy Second Half Having fun (Peter Pan / Toy Story Mania)

The Making of Harry Potter (Tokyo)

Hotel in Ikebukuro (Hotel Hisoca Ikebukuro)

USJ Osaka 2023 

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 1 - Basic Information and Some Tips for your journey

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 2 - Preparation with Kids



Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) Part 6 - Harry Porter and His Magic Wand

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) Part 7 - Our Forbidden Journey

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 8 - Universal Wonderland and Others

Bangkok 2023/2024

Bangkok Trip - Previous Articles













THANKS FOR YOUR READING!


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