Piker Press — Weekly Journal of Arts and Literature
March 23, 2026

Opinion

Opinion pieces published in Piker Press, a weekly journal of arts and literature.

1,094 articles — page 9 of 37


The Death of Bees: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Lisa O'Donnell's novel, "The Death of Bees," leads the reader on a dark and mysterious path to drugs and a backyard burial.

Warm Bodies: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

What could be more classic than Boy meets Girl -- with Zombies?

Wanderers: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Edward Belfar's collection of stories, "Wanderers," describes the ethical and personal trials of men and women around the world.

Silver Linings Playbook: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Finally, the movie powers-that-be decide to be merciful and do a general release of "Silver Linings Playbook," a movie nominated for 8 Academy Awards in 2013.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters - Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Giggling with anticipation, Bernie and Sand grab their popcorn for a movie with witches, crossbows, and gatling guns!

All Our Worldly Goods: Book Review by Wendy Robards

In "All Our Worldly Goods," published five years after her death at the hands of Nazis, Irene Nemirovsky writes of the heart-wrenching uncertainties of life during wartime.

The Secret Keeper: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Laurel, a well-known English actress living in London, wants to uncover the horrific secret her mother has kept all these years ... and must do so before her mother dies, in this novel by Kate Morton, "The Secret Keeper."

The Impossible: Movie Review by Bernie Pilarski

A movie about the 2004 tsunami draws the Pilarski duo back into their roles as movie critics.

The Stockholm Octavo: Book Review by Wendy Robards

A mysterious vision experienced by a strange woman leads Emil Larsson into a turmoil of murder and political intrigue in Karen Engelman's novel "The Stockholm Octavo."

The Lace Reader: Book Review by Wendy Robards

A woman travels across the country to New England to investigate her great-aunt's disappearance -- and finds clues to her own shattered past in Brunonia Barry's debut novel, "The Lace Reader."

Les Miserables: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

A book made into a stage play made into a movie -- is this a good idea? Eat your popcorn before the movies starts, though ...

The Invisible Bridge: Book Review by Wendy Robards

The story of Hungarian Jews during WW II, Julie Orringer's novel "The Invisible Bridge" is a searing, sweeping, and ultimately triumphant story about love, war, survival and the endurance of the human spirit.

Love Slave: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Jennifer Spiegel's novel "Love Slave" is a funny yet surprisingly poignant journey into the heart of a young woman looking for real love in New York City.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

After years of waiting, Bernie and Sand eagerly trek to the theater to see what Peter Jackson has come up with in his version of Tolkien's Middle Earth.

Sea of Ink: Book Review by Wendy Robards

The life of Zhu Da, the Prince of Yiyang, the influential Chinese poet and painter, is at the heart of this poetic novella by Richard Weihe.

Moonrise Kingdom: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Two troubled kids run away from home, have a great time together, and outrage their respective adults in this quirky movie, which Sand and Bernie have waited a long time to see.

The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Wendy Robards reviews Kathleen Alcott's debut novel of childhood, memory, and loss: "The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets."

The Orphan Master's Son: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Author Adam Johnson takes the reader behind the secrecy of North Korea in his novel "The Orphan Master's Son."

Life of Pi: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Curious about what director Ang Lee has been up to lately, Sand and Bernie get in line for the first area showing of "Life of Pi."

Lincoln: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Wearing their Steven Spielberg Fan Club hats, Bernie and Sand brave the first big winter storm to see "Lincoln" in the theater.

Skyfall: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Can the latest Bond film redeem the dreadful mess that was "Quantum of Solace?" Bernie is eager to see, and Sand would rather accompany him to watch "Skyfall" than stay home and scrub potatoes.

Flight Behavior: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Barbara Kingsolver's newest novel, Flight Behavior," explores the impact of global warming and the divide between science and religion.

The Lighthouse Road: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Wendy Robards reviews the novel "The Lighthouse Road," by Peter Geye.

Flight: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Denzel Washington stars in this gripping tale of the wreckage following an in-flight mechanical failure of a passenger jet.

Silver Sparrow: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Two daughters of a bigamist compete for their father's love in this novel "Silver Sparrow," by Tayari Jones.

Cloud Atlas: Movie Review by Bernie and Sand Pilarski

Made curious about an astonishing lack of promotion, Bernie and Sand attend the first area screening of "Cloud Atlas."

The Other Woman: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Woman are dying, murdered by what appears to be a serial killer stalking the streets of Boston ... Hank Phillippi Ryan's novel "The Other Woman" takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of tension and mystery.

The Light Between Oceans: Book Review by Wendy Robards

A couple recovering from tragedy find a baby washed up in a boat. In keeping the child as their own, how will they work their way through the moral obligation to find the child's mother? "The Light Between Oceans" is M.L. Stedman's debut novel.

Fall of Giants: Book Review by Wendy Robards

Wendy Robards reviews the first book in Ken Follett's "Century Trilogy" -- "Fall of Giants."

Home: Book Review by Wendy Robards

A soldier returns home after service in the Korean War, emotionally scarred, in this novel "Home" by Toni Morrison.