English Blog

It is really a cool movie. Aisholpan, a 13 year-old girl, trains to become the first female eagle huntress in 12 generations of her Kazah family. She is strong, she loves eagles, she loves nature, she loves her family, she loves her friends at school, SO she is a good girl! This attempt is against […]

I have read this book at least 5 times by now. Each time I cry at the same places, one is the cucumber scene when Watanabe at Midori’s father’s death bed. It is very quiet, tender, gentle, and beautiful scene. Murakami is known to be a sort of Japanese-American style writer, but he is really […]

“The Handmaiden“ uses a Victorian crime novel, Sara Waters’ “Fingersmith”,  as the loose inspiration to create Japanese-occupied Korea in the 1930s. The result is a historical drama, an erotically charged thriller, and, most importantly, true romance. Park Chan-wook, a director, is very sophisticated, creative and flexible. I don’t want to go into the details of the story. […]

First of all, it is a beautiful book. And it is very heavy.. They use very nice paper. If you like Schubert’s Winterreise this is the book to read. I have played many of songs in this collection and recently heard Alfred Brendel/Matthias Goerne’s performance of Winterreise at Disney Concert Hall. I believe it was […]

I have been in love with Robert Schumann’s Davidsbündlertänze. After coming back from the summer concerts I decided to learn this piece. I have played several Schumann pieces, but I never had a chance to play Davidsbündlertänze. This was basically written for the wedding gift to Clara. He took the opening melody from Clara’s Mazurka […]

Fantastic combination of compositions were presented at Green Umbrella on Saturday October 1. I truly enjoyed listening the concert, but also being there was something very special. The Disney Concert Hall had an energy. Noon to Midnight project had so many aspects, and I went for the Green Umbrella part which is from 1000 crickets […]

I joined Highland Park Book Club this month and this is their choice for September. I tend to read Japanese books, mainly I am familiar with the authors, but I wanted to explore American literature. It is an entertaining book, that is sure. I told in the book club meeting this book is like music. […]

I always love Rachel Weisz’ movies… But not this one. The movie has a good point “changing identities”. That could be people’s desire, sometime. But the movie is beyond fantasy. No one can be a first class medical doctor, first class science researcher, first class artist, first class performer in few year!!! Also the ending […]

The super market was kind of empty so the cashier was in the mood to chat. She was lively. She said she has been working at the same market for 37 years (I immediately congratulated her) and she is getting close to the retirement. Her house will be paid off next September. She is looking forward […]

Well….. I totally did not understand this movie. I simply did not get it. That is all!