Opinion

If you're going to steal a garbage can, at least take the garbage with you. But watch out. That can might be rigged to explode.

At last -- Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the Incredible Hulk -- oh, my heroes, where you been?

To pee or not to pee, that is the question. A look at how great acoustics and clever designs can still result in a very bad bathroom.

David Cristofano's debut novel, "The Girl She Used To Be," is a fast-paced, compelling look at identity, and our ability to trust and love after tragedy.

"The Sweet Relief of Missing Children" by Sarah Braunstein is a gritty, raw novel that explores the darker side of human nature.

How many computers have I used up in the past 13 years?

Pilarski examines the response of Dietrich Bonhoeffer during WWII, when he not only helped Jews escape from death in Germany but also helped plot an assassination attempt on Adolph Hitler.

Lynn Sloan's first novel, "Principles of Navigation," is a moving portrayal of a marriage unraveling.

The definition of family has changed and evolved through the years, and Karen Joy Fowler's latest novel, "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves," puts an extra twist on that definition.

If art is suffering, doodling sure beats paying the therapy bills. But it's not without its hazards.

Tatjana Soli's newest novel, "The Last Good Paradise," explores the idea of failed dreams, and the search for an ever more illusive paradise.

The character Tess Monaghan returns in "Hush Hush" by Laura Lippman, as a new parent drawn into a disturbing case of a murder and a manipulative mother.

Returning to the grave subject of Missing and Murdered First Nation women, the book "Kwe: Standing with Our Sisters" is a compilation by dozens of acclaimed writers and artists.

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.