Author Archives: odeboyz

Book Review: Keigo Higashino – The Devotion of Suspect X (translated by Alexander O Smith)

Posted on May 8, 2018 by odeboyz

Those of us who read a lot of Anglo-American thrillers are used to a particular narrative arc. There’s usually a sadistic murder say of a woman/women, a maverick Detective Inspector accompanied by a hero-worshipping sergeant, who solve the crime. Often … Continue reading →

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Two Horses

Posted on May 8, 2018 by odeboyz

Both immensely strong, but gentle in nature Softly nodding greetings, ready for the day Not yet fully dawn light spreads from the East The ‘tack room’ holding leather smells Chains, stout collars braids and brasses Long girth belts, bridle bits … Continue reading →

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Authors are born not made

Posted on May 4, 2018 by odeboyz

A little girl was staying with her grandparents, who worshipped the ground she walked on. Her grand-dad was surprised to see her pounding away on the laptop with intense concentration. “What are you doing, my little treasure?” “Writing a novel.” … Continue reading →

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The importance of the Winter War: Finland’s resistance to the Soviet Union, November 1939- March 1940

Posted on May 4, 2018 by odeboyz

  The Soviet Union’s victory over Finland, March 1940, followed a very competitive war, which was unexpected. This, military observers believed, resulted from Stalin’s purge of the Red Army, 1937-8, which had badly weakened the military capacity of the Soviet … Continue reading →

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A Hedy Lamarre quip

Posted on May 1, 2018 by odeboyz

“Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.” In addition to being a film star she was an engineer in the first rank Lamarr was inspired to innovate as [Howard] Hughes wanted … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Andre Aciman – Call me by your name

Posted on May 1, 2018 by odeboyz

Aciman’s wonderfully sensitive book about a teenager’s rite-of-passage proved eminently translatable to the big screen. It was a wonderful film but the book is possibly(?) better. Aciman sets his novel in an erudite hot-house intellectual atmosphere. Elio, the son of … Continue reading →

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The perils of buying a Google pizza

Posted on April 27, 2018 by odeboyz

“Is this Gordon’s Pizza?” “No sir, it’s Google Pizza.” “Sorry. I must have called the wrong number.” “No sir, Google bought Gordon’s Pizza last month.” “OK. I’d like to order a pizza.” “Do you want the usual?” “The usual?” “According … Continue reading →

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Window cleaners and their insatiable curiosity

Posted on April 27, 2018 by odeboyz

When I was a teenager I let in the window cleaner into the house. He came round once a month doing the windows both inside and outside. He was a seedy looking thin faced man, with ever shifting eyes. I … Continue reading →

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Why Syria was really bombed: three photos

Posted on April 24, 2018 by odeboyz

Chris

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Book Review: Mohsin Hamid ~ How to get filthy rich in Rising Asia

Posted on April 24, 2018 by odeboyz

When your first book is The Reluctant Fundamentalist the bar is set very high indeed for subsequent books. The temptation is to write the same book again. I have in mind Lee Child, Ian Rankin et al. who write scores … Continue reading →

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