Showing 51 - 60 of 87
Don't judge these books by their titles
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 25/11/2018
» It is generally agreed that a snappy title helps the sales of a book, although some can be a real turnoff. With this in mind, for 40 years the English literary magazine Bookseller, has been holding an annual award for the oddest book title. Also known as the Diagram Prize, last year's winner was the enthralling The Commuter Pig Keeper which just edged out the thought-provoking Nipples on My Knee.
Throwing the cat among the pigeons
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/09/2018
» The rapidly increasing numbers of pigeons (nok pilab) has ruffled a few official feathers in Bangkok. There was bit of a flap after authorities warned that citizens caught feeding the birds would face a stiff fine, explaining the pigeons were spreading disease. These birds divide opinion, some calling them "rats with wings", others more generously "doves without the PR".
Say a little prayer for the Queen of Soul
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/08/2018
» One sunny morning in 1968, I had settled down to my customary reading of the Sunday newspapers on Hampstead Heath in London, when a couple sat on the grass near me. I was a little irritated when they switched on a transistor radio and was pondering giving them a lecture on the sanctity of peace and quiet. But then I heard the piano intro to I Say A Little Prayer and all was forgiven. A rare sunny day on the Heath with musical accompaniment by Aretha Franklin -- what more could one ask for?
Rodents are simply a master of taste
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/08/2018
» There was a news report last week about the arrest on the Cambodian border of a gentleman smuggling 800kgs of dead rats. Imagine that. There are plenty of ways to make money through smuggling, but bootlegging deceased rodents is not one that immediately springs to mind.
A commuter's lot is not a happy one
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/07/2018
» Commuting in Bangkok has never been much fun and last week it got a whole lot worse if you happened to be a regular traveller on the BTS. The word "frustration" springs to mind, with perhaps a touch of "exasperation", "agitation" and a general feeling of "disgruntlement". It was definitely not good for the blood pressure.
Any fool can criticise and several do
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 24/06/2018
» It is probably fair to say that whether it be in the realm of the theatre, cinema or literature, critics are not the most beloved people. British playwright John Osborne once observed: "Ask a working writer what he feels about critics is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs."
Time to get the sledgehammers out
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 20/05/2018
» Life is full of surprises, especially if you are living in Thailand, as a long-time English resident discovered recently. His work involves a lot of overseas travel and after one exhausting trip he was happy to get home to his Sukhumvit apartment and catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Reading habits that come to a dead end
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 29/04/2018
» The other evening, I had just finished the crime thriller Time of Death by Mark Billingham and put it in my bookcase where it nestled next to Stephen Leather's Dead Men.
Taking a strong stance on doughnuts
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/04/2018
» It was Oscar Wilde who famously observed "the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it," which is my excuse for munching on a free doughnut proffered by staffers at a bakery in Bangkok last week. It was only a little one and wasn't that tasty -- too much sugar -- but I still scoffed it down, quietly cursing Mr Wilde's seductive bon mot.
And the award goes to … not these films
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 04/03/2018
» It's Oscar time again and as usual Hollywood is ignoring exciting Thai productions. Here are a few that caught the eye: