A reading of Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami This is Mr Murakami's latest work, published in Japan in 2017, and translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen (I guess: a tour de force). First of all, I must say that, in my view, this is Mr Murakami's most accomplished work thus far, a fascinating, … Continue reading Between absence and presence
Germany
Urge to stay #fivewords
Weekly Writing Challenge #127 She answered his wish, his urge to spend another year in the City, among the ghosts, in the parks, on the banks of the river: yet he knew she would soon crave the sight of another river, the high cliff, her sister the Mermaid. At night he would listen to … Continue reading Urge to stay #fivewords
Departure
Henry Miller had written about his city, and Francis Lenôtre too had known happy days in his birthplace. The street was calm, a few children were playing near the school, a familiar sight. Francis closed the door, turned slowly round holding his light suitcase in a firm hand. The metro station was ten minutes walk … Continue reading Departure
Of a lost character named D
On Reformation Day he reflected on the times, the church's door in Wittenberg, the theses, the peasants revolts, the rivalries, the spies, and yet, the hopes. Lost in the pages were smaller stories: people's own struggles, love, and death. How he associated D with those times is hard to tell. He had not thought that … Continue reading Of a lost character named D
Turning the page… #amwriting
It has not been a productive year for writing, so far. In the depth of last winter there were good intentions, even some actual work (!) then it all melted away, washed out by the rain. A few sunny days were not enough to rekindle the fire, there was too much distraction. In part, … Continue reading Turning the page… #amwriting
In Reinickendorf
Jede Weltanschauung Die sich auf Gewalt gründet Rädert den Menschen Auf ihren Symbolen (Any ideology based on violence tortures human beings on its symbols) Photography of monument, near Reinickendorf's townhall, Berlin - ©2017 Honoré Dupuis
Of a Bottle of Coke, and a Typewriter
In 1937 the city of Berlin celebrated its 700th anniversary. 1237, was the year when the first artefacts and documents attested of the existence of an organised municipality, in what was then the town of Cölln, as Berlin was still then a mere nearby hamlet. In 1937, the NSDAP, the party of Adolf Hitler, had … Continue reading Of a Bottle of Coke, and a Typewriter
Blindly #DailyPrompt
Today’s one-word prompt He watches the City born again, the ghosts of the past walking, silently, amidst the joyous crowds. The ancient monuments look old and cleansed, no longer ruins martyred by war. Yet he does not follow the script, blindly, but, rather, reflects on the meanings, the hidden messages, the untold truths. Here were … Continue reading Blindly #DailyPrompt
By the Lake
The quiet street is bordered by sumptuous villas, surrounded by trees. Some of the buildings are ancient, although meticulously maintained, probably pre-1914; others are more recent. Most have views over the lake, for this is what would be described, in England, as a well sought-after, leafy suburb. It has been so for a long time, … Continue reading By the Lake
Teufelsberg, or, of the Vanity of Wars…
The woods are silent, high above the hills a hawk observes the few walkers: we are aware of what we are treading on: a still intact Nazi building that resisted attempts at destroying it, on top layers after layers of rubbles from ruined homes and monuments destroyed by the war. We admire the views, the lakes … Continue reading Teufelsberg, or, of the Vanity of Wars…
Of Glass & Paper 