Category Archives: Literature

Georges Simenon, author and sex addict

Posted on September 8, 2022 by odeboyz

“Simenon famously claimed to have had sex with 10,000 women, and was equally famously corrected by his estranged second wife, who claimed the real figure was 1200. She had good data. When they lived in the US, Denise and Georges would … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Jussi Alder-Olsen ~ Redemption (2013) (Translator Martin Aitken)

Posted on September 1, 2022 by odeboyz

Redemption is the third in the series of Department Q novels which centre on Danish detective Carl Morck and his assistant Assad. So far so trivial. But! This is a scandi-noir novel of the highest quality. It’s brilliantly written with … Continue reading →

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17th century snowflakes were protected

Posted on August 25, 2022 by odeboyz
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Book Reviews: Russian Themed Thrillers

Posted on August 11, 2022 by odeboyz

When Martin Cruz Smith’s Gorky Park (1981), was published it was an instant hit. The subsequent series had everything. A Russian version of a maverick Detective Inspector who was brilliant and opposed by the forces of institutional corruption. And they … Continue reading →

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 Book Review: Nigel Williams ~ R.I.P. (2015)

Posted on July 18, 2022 by odeboyz

Williams is the king of the suburban black comedy. He dives into the sheer nastiness of family life amongst the well-heeled with enthusiasm. This book is superb example of his genre.  George Pearmain is a bank manager with a 99 … Continue reading →

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Lady Chatterley’s maid demands a raise

Posted on June 9, 2022 by odeboyz

Maid: “I’d like a raise.” Lady Chatterley: “Why do you deserve a raise? Maid: “Two reasons. I’m a better cook than you.” Lady Chatterley: “Who told you?” Maid: “Your husband. And I’m better in bed than you are as well.” … Continue reading →

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Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie

Posted on May 16, 2022 by odeboyz

People have told me that they’ve heard a song of mine and it’s changed their lives. Now I can only believe that or disbelieve it, but I know what it is to feel that, because I’ve felt that way myself … Continue reading →

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Book Review: David Baldacci ~ A Gambling Man (2021)

Posted on May 2, 2022 by odeboyz

I bought this solely because of a Facebook advert, which is the modern version of Waterstone’s seductive: ‘Buy one, get one half price’. It was 99p on Kindle and I wanted an undemanding read. What I got was a revelation. … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Viet Thanh Nguyen ~ The Sympathizer (2015)

Posted on April 11, 2022 by odeboyz

This superb book won the USA’s Pulitzer Prize. Nguyen is brilliant and the real thing: a great author. Opening sentences are important, I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces.1 The unnamed hero/anti-hero is a … Continue reading →

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Woody Guthrie discovers Catholic hypocrisy

Posted on March 28, 2022 by odeboyz

“Son, I have been in this service [Roman Catholic priest] all my life. I have seen to it that thousands of men just like you got to work for a meal. But, right at this moment, there is no kind … Continue reading →

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