Opinion

Welcome to the Piker Press, now celebrating our FIFTH anniversary as a weekly ezine dedicated to keeping writers WRITING. Five years go by very quickly, and it was with a good bit of surprise that I realized how far we've come on this merry adventure.

The Piker Press from conception to two years of age. An editor's retrospective.(Originally appeared 04-10-2004)

Katrina Stonoff reviews the "charming" book, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.

KK Brown reminds readers that there are different ways of looking at how people of varied races interact with each other -- especially when hatred and fear are not on the agenda.

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Geographer's Library," a book about mystery and antiquities.

Mel Trent Reviews "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children", finding it visually extraordinary, even for those who have not played the video game.

Dust off your Chanel suit and find the other white glove -- Katrina Stonoff is reviewing the book, "What Would Jackie Do?" which claims to be "an inspired guide to distinctive living."

Mel Trent reviews anime "Howl's Moving Castle" from director Hayao Miyazaki. "Pretty animation and great characters ... " says Trent, " you could do a lot worse than this one."

Katrina Stonoff reviews Nick Hornby's book, "A Long Way Down," and finds it a masterful example of the use of characters "voice" in a funny and fascinating tale of four suicides.

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, a book that reveals the life of a circus more than the illusion, and which Stonoff calls "compelling, suspenseful, filled with characters I loved and hated."

Mel Trent reviews "Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa" and gives this anime feature a thumbs up.

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro, and frankly, her review is driving the editor crazy enough to buy the book on the spot!

A popular online comic, MegaTokyo's silly gags and flawed but fascinating characters hold up even in print.

The desire to be creative is part of human nature, but often that desire withers from lack of respect. With this book, the author hopes to bring everyone's creative dreams back to life.

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Violent Friendship of Esther Johnson."

"Snow Flower" is a rich, detailed texture of sisterhood. Although despised in childhood as extra mouths and valued in womanhood only as the mothers of sons, women created a subculture for themselves, a culture that honored sisterhood, women?s arts, and their personal relationships. Stonoff calls "Snow Flower" a "veritable time machine."

Katrina Stonoff reviews <i>The Night Journal</i> by Elizabeth Crook, and has some observations that all authors would do well to hear.

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book <i>Between, Georgia</i> by Joshilyn Jackson, and finds it as tasty as an almond croissant.

"Ph Balanced for a Woman" Ain't Near Enough

Katrina Stonoff tackles <i>A Family Forever</i>, inspirational romance by Brenda Coulter, wondering if she will be able to look herself in the mirror the next day. Will she be embarrassed?

If you must choose between this and a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, you will need the following information to make an informed choice.

Hooray for a heat wave that sends Sand and Bernie off to the movies just in time for The Summer Blockbuster -- <i>Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest</i>!

Another hot weekend sends Bernie and Sand to the movies, this time both of them sure they're going to trash <i>Superman Returns</i> in the ensuing review. Were they wrong?

"You can have your old churches and monuments, take me to the place the locals go to spend an evening in convivial conversation." Jerry visits Zapata, a <i>tapas</i> bar in Cadiz, Spain.

I read <i>A Strong West Wind</i>, by Gail Caldwell (chief book critic for the <i>Boston Globe),</i> because I was interested in her agent, and it came highly recommended. Caldwell is a Pulitzer Prize winner, and the jacket calls it an "exquisitely rendered memoir."

Sometimes the most obvious ideas aren't very obvious at all. But a look at history can help us stop repeating the mistakes of the past. Tedi takes a simple approach to the modern issues that ail us all.