Opinion

An updated version of the classic DIY manual from the editors of The Family Handyman.

Peter Heller's astute observations of nature and his poetic introspection into his characters elevate this bookThe Dog Stars," to a thoughtful, heartbreaking literary work.

Oh, get the popcorn and the super-size Coke, it's time for fun and games at the local planetary nebula...

A gag gift ends up on Lydia Manx's "Desperate Reads" bookshelf...

Finally the local theater gets around to showing "Birdman," an Acadamy Award Nominee for Best Picture...

A brutal novel, and not for the faint of heart, "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" by Richard Flanagan explores the violence and suffering of POWs and looks deeply into the strength of the human spirit.

Fred Russell offers some thoughts on "escapism" and inadequacy after watching the film "Taken."

Bernie takes his grand-daughter to the movies to give her some perspective on the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

Bernie is using his retirement to catch up on reading, and in this case, his is reading Cornel West's 1993 book "Race Matters." Dr. West looks at the social issues that are plaguing the black community and argues that these are the same issues that threaten the future of our nation as a whole.

Barry Kirwan takes his readers on a thrilling science fiction journey in the fourth novel of his Eden series -- "Eden's Endgame."

"All The Light We Cannot See," by Anthony Doerr, is a magical, searing novel about war, fear, radio, and the resilience of the human heart.

Guest opinionator Marcus Absent reviews the controversial film about the attempted assassination of Kim Jong Un.

Who doesn't enjoy a musical? Off to the movies to see "Into the Woods."

In her novel, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog," Muriel Barbery has written an exceptional story about appearance, class, beauty, and the search for meaning in one's life.

Ah, Christmas -- and the traditional story of Scrooge...

Emily St. John Mandel's novel, "Station Eleven" examines the idea of connectedness between individuals, the importance of art and literature in one's life, faith, and the appreciation of the things we take for granted.

Gillian Flynn's debut novel "Sharp Objects" is a dark psychological thriller -- a good introduction to Flynn's skill as a writer.

Forget the lavish parties in the Capitol, forget the battles to the death in the Games -- "Mockingjay" takes the viewer back to everyday oppression in Panem.

A science fiction movie from Christopher Nolan? Well, naturally we'd have to go see "Interstellar" the first chance we'd get!

Chris Bohjalian explores the aftermath of domestic violence, betrayal, and the consequences of secrets in his novel, "Secrets of Eden."

A disproportionate number of Aboriginal women are missing or murdered. Isn't it time to find out why?

A new animated feature! And what artist wouldn't want to check out this amazing stylized artwork?

In his novel "A Sudden Light," Garth Stein has written a family saga that fully immerses the reader in the Pacific Northwest's timber industry.

Sure, James Lick looked like Abraham Lincoln with a drug problem. He was, after all, one of California's first crazy rich dudes. But he's also a great example of someone who put a lot of thought into how they wanted to be remembered when they die.

Vampire writer Lydia Manx avoids the sunlight by seeing "Dracula Untold" in IMAX.

Monica Ali's novella, "Alentejo Blue," adeptly explores the lives and conflicts of characters in a small town in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

Leila Aboulela transports the reader to another culture in her novel, "The Translator."

Exploring the themes of regret and redemption against the historical background of the Indian Wars, Lin Enger has penned a truly American novel in his book "The High Divide."

Who has to prove their genetic identity?

Tom Rob Smith's novel of murder, conspiracy, and the quest to uncover the truth, "The Farm" weaves a convoluted story around a woman alleged to be insane.