Opinion

An Olympic rower hopeful is found dead. Wendy Robards reviews the mystery, "No Mark Upon Her," by Deborah Crombie.

Wendy Robards reviews Gin Phillips' second novel, "Come In and Cover Me," a story of grief and the enigmas of archeology.

Off to the movies for breakfast popcorn, and the comedic "This Means War!"

A novel informed by the Rwandan Genocide, "Running the Rift," by Naomi Benaron, gets high approval in Wendy Robards' review.

Sand and Bernie go for the popcorn, not the movie, but stop crunching, drawn into the super-powers story, "Chronicle."

Wendy Robards reviews the novel, "The Invisible Ones," by Stef Penney, about an investigation into the disappearance of a Romany girl in England.

Sand and Bernie go to see "Haywire," but only for the popcorn, not for the action, and certainly not for the woman. "What woman?" Bernie asks.

Wendy Robards reviews the book "Swamplandia!" by Karen Russell. Alligator wrestling? Ghosts? You may find them in this book.

Bernie and Sand join an astonishingly full theater for the first showing of "Red Tails," a movie about the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII.

Wendy Robards reviews the collection of novellas set in India, "The Artist of Disappearance" by Anita Desai.

Wendy Robards reviews Eliot Perlman's novel about connected lives and racial hatred, "The Street Sweeper."

Fed up with the local theater, Bernie and Sand take off down the highway to Modesto, to finally catch a showing of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Wendy Robards reviews Justin Torres' debut novel about domestic violence and individual identity, "We the Animals."

The Pilarski Duo, clutching popcorn and an overpriced soda, brave the holiday throngs to see and review the long awaited Spielberg movie, "War Horse."

Lydia Manx reviews the book, soon to be a movie, "The Lost City of Z."

Wendy Robards reviews Diana Athill's remarkable collection of short stories, "Midsummer Night in the Workhouse."

Bernie and Sand head off to see the future of animation: "The Adventures of Tintin."

Wendy Robards reviews the book "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.

Lydia Manx reviews Barry Kirwan's second book in the Eden Trilogy: science fiction thriller "Eden's Trial."

Sand and Bernie share some popcorn, but not necessarily the same opinions as they review the movie "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows."

Wendy Robards reviews Donia Bijan's memoir, "Maman's Homesick Pie."

Wendy Robards reviews the novel "The Devil's Ribbon," by D. E. Meredith.

Bernie Pilarski reviews the Paul Johnson biography "Socrates."

Bernie and Sand head off to the theater to visit old friends in the movie, "The Muppets."

Wendy Robards reviews the book "The Marriage Plot," by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Bernie and Sand catch the movie "Hugo."

Wendy Robards reviews the novel "Tides of War" by Stella Tillyard.

Bernie has a manly day at the movies with his son-in-law, and sees "Immortals."

Wendy Robards reviews the novel "The Taste of Salt," by Martha Southgate.

Wendy Robards reviews the novella "Schoolgirl," by Osamu Dazai.