Category Archives: Review

Iranian Religious Leaders embrace Technology

Posted on October 5, 2023 by odeboyz

Robots can’t replace senior clerics, but they can be a trusted assistant that can help them issue a fatwa1 in five hours instead of 50 days,” said Mohammad Ghotbi, who heads a state-linked organisation in Qom that encourages the growth … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Ian Rankin ~ A Heart Full of Headstones (2022)

Posted on September 25, 2023 by odeboyz

The hardest thing for a book-a-year author is character development. Some authors, like Lee Child, don’t bother. Reacher is littered with vicious, psychopathic murders, which are, loosely, righteous. Other authors, like Peter James, are drifting into mediocrity losing any connexion … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Philip Kerr ~ False Nine (2015)

Posted on August 28, 2023 by odeboyz

The late great Philip Kerr produced a wonderful series about the Nazi era detective, Bernie Gunther. A finely tuned understanding of the Nazi hierarchy and their corruption, sadism and gangster mentality made the series compelling. As if that wasn’t enough … Continue reading →

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Film Review: Oppenheimer (2023) (Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey jr)

Posted on August 7, 2023 by odeboyz

At three hours long I nearly avoided this film. A grave error of judgement. Three hours flew past leaving me with a warm sense of privilege. Why? I felt that I’d been part of something, which was out of the … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Sue Townsend ~ Adrian Mole: The prostate years (2009)

Posted on July 31, 2023 by odeboyz

Sue Townsend’s character Adrian Mole is a masterclass in English humour. Ever since she introduced us to The secret diary of Adrian Mole aged 133/4 the character has developed. The nerdy, geeky, unworldly, kindly and hapless Adrian continuously drifts towards … Continue reading →

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 Book Review: David McCloskey ~ Damascus Station (2021)

Posted on July 13, 2023 by odeboyz

This thrilling thriller reads like a CIA promo novel. It’s consistently on message presenting a compelling and unambiguous world view. The Syrians are portrayed as barbaric, merciless killers who’ll do anything for their nefarious ends. This includes torturing a CIA … Continue reading →

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A book for every decade: 1920 ~ 2020

Posted on July 3, 2023 by odeboyz

This list obviously flawed and contentious but put it down to boyish ambition if you will. 1920s All Quiet on the Western Front: Erich Maria Remarque (1929) The carnage of WW1 left a bitter legacy for which Germany was blamed. … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Aldous Huxley ~ Brave New World (1933)

Posted on June 19, 2023 by odeboyz

“….only pleasure has worth or value…” J S Mill Hedonism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)   Many years ago, a few friends and I wrote a list of five books, which must be read to satisfy the claim of being ‘well read’. … Continue reading →

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Football Review: Manchester City vs Real Madrid 17th May 2023

Posted on May 22, 2023 by odeboyz

Expectations were sky high. Two giants of European football playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League. What could possibly go wrong? Real Madrid froze. The anticipated titanic match between “galácticos” became a mismatch. Real relied on their world class … Continue reading →

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An early Bob Dylan review

Posted on May 15, 2023 by odeboyz

Apr. 13, 1963 – Bob Dylan, a folk musician, gave a well-received program of his own compositions at New York’s Town Hall last night. Mr. Dylan is 21 years old, hails from Hibbing, Minn., and looks like a cross between … Continue reading →

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