Citizen Staff Writer
Movies

POLLY HIGGINS

phiggins@tucsoncitizen.com

Mink Stole is the Philip Seymour Hoffman of John Waters’ world. The actress has played leads (“Desperate Living”), supporting (“Pink Flamingoes”) and smaller roles (“Serial Mom”), creating compelling characters no matter what their prominence.

Even if she’d appeared only in Waters’ films, Stole would still be a cult film queen. (Maybe wearing the crown she attempted to share with Queen Carlotta in “Desperate Living”?) But in addition to the high trash of Waters, Stole has appeared in dozens of films. In an e-mail interview after shooting her latest, a women’s prison movie called “Stuck,” Stole talks about her many “mother of the gay” roles and her best buddy on the “Female Trouble” set. That film is the reason – well, today, anyway – for thinkin’ Mink: Stole will attend a special screening of the Waters classic Saturday at the Loft Cinema.

What are you doing right now? Where are you?

It’s about 7 p.m. and I just got home from Macon, Ga. I was there working on a new film by Steve Balderson called “Stuck.” It’s a black-and-white women-in-prison movie about a young woman mistakenly accused of killing her mother and sentenced to be hanged. It has all the good stuff you’d expect from a death-row film noir: the innocent one, tough-on-the-outside-cream puff-on the-inside lesbians, vicious prison guards and the religious fanatic – that’s me. We filmed all the cell block scenes on a soundstage, but used the local jail for the prison yard stuff, and a beautiful, real antebellum mansion for a dream scene. Macon is absolutely gorgeous, so pretty that (Gen. William) Sherman decided to spare it on his horrific destructive march through Georgia during the War Between the States, and we, the cast and crew, were treated with true Southern hospitality. Many of us stayed in private homes and by the time we left we all felt like we had become members of the family. I stayed with Kim and Terrell Sandefur and their 10-year-old twins, Nina and Wyatt, and I already miss them.

We’ve read that Taffy Davenport, your woman-child role in “Female Trouble” – is your favorite of the many fabulous characters you’ve played in John Waters’ films. What is it about her that you so love?

I’ve always felt a really strong connection to Taffy, probably because as a kid most of the time I felt misunderstood and unappreciated. I’m the fifth of 10 kids – hardly an only child like Taffy was – and I deeply resented being “the problem child,” so of course I acted out, which made things worse. I’ve always felt that Taffy was just like that, just trying to be good, but nobody wanted to believe her, so she got attention however she could. And from an actor’s POV, it’s always fun to play extreme characters, so Taffy was a blast. We shopped the children’s departments of the local thrift shops for her wardrobe. It was also great to be able to film so much inside – a real change from the bitterly cold exteriors of “Pink Flamingos.”

Who of the rich cast of folks from “Female Trouble” were you most comfortable with, most likely to grab a cup of coffee with?

Probably my best friend on the set was David Lochary. We spent a lot of off-camera time together, but this was the fifth movie I’d worked on with John and most of the same cast members and crew, so we were all good friends by then. Vincent Peranio, our production designer, and Van Smith, our costume/ makeup designer, and Pat Moran, the production chief, were just like family, too. We all socialized together off set.

What has been your favorite non-John Waters film and/or role?

I really enjoyed playing Natasha Lyonne’s mom in “But I’m a Cheerleader” a few years ago, and Robin Greenspan’s mom in “Girl Play” in 2004. Both of those were “mother of the gay” roles, another of which I did in “Eating Out 2″ in 2006. My favorite role is usually the one I’m either working on at the moment or have just completed, so right now I’m totally in love with Esther, the devout death-row inmate in “Stuck,” and Evelyn the librarian in “All About Evil,” the Joshua Grannell film just wrapped in San Francisco. This was the first horror movie I’ve been in where I’ve actually been tortured, and it has an amazing cast, including Natasha Lyonne. I loved working with her again, as well as Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson and Patrick Bristow. It’s really funny and really bloody. I don’t know when “All About Evil” will be released, but we expect “Stuck” to premiere at MAGA, the Macon, Ga., film festival in February 2010.

How does your filmography reflect who you are (your politics, beliefs, etc.)?

Hmmmmm. I’m a yellow-dog Democrat and a tolerant atheist. I believe in human rights (including gay marriage) and animal rights. I’ve never chosen films because of any of these beliefs, but the way I think and live have definitely had an influence on the roles I’m offered.

The only recording we’ve heard of Mink and Her Wonderful Band is “Sometimes I Wish I Had a Gun.” Are there other recordings out there? How active is the band?

When I moved from Los Angeles back to Baltimore in 2007, I had to leave my band behind, which broke my heart. I’ve put together a great group here in Baltimore, and we’ve done one concert so far, but are hoping to do more. What I’d really love is to be the house band in some supper club for a while, but I have been out of town way too much to put that together. “Gun” is the only tune that’s been released but, although I have no specific dates or plans, I will do an album as soon as I can. I’ve been very lucky to work with some wonderful musicians, and I want to record with them all.

IF YOU GO

What: actress Mink Stole screens “Female Trouble”

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Price: $8 general, $6 Loft members

Info: 795-7777, www.loftcinema.com

Citizen Staff Writer
Cover story

CHUCK GRAHAM

cgraham@tucsoncitizen.com

Nothing says ornery independence louder than Tucson and nothing says ornery independent film louder than the Arizona International Film Festival.

This is the 18th annual showcase for those filmmakers who follow a different drummer, with spots for 74 cinema entries (31 from the U.S.). Leading the American contingent is Tucson’s own Kathryn Ferguson, who poured several years of her life into the feature-length documentary “Rita of the Sky.” This is the incredible story of a Tarahumara woman who left her native home in Mexico’s untamed Copper Canyon and started walking north.

In Kansas, some 1,500 miles later, she was detained in a mental hospital because no one in Kansas could speak Tarahumara and she spoke no English. Health officials thought she was babbling gibberish and was mentally disturbed. For 10 years she was confined there, until a visiting social worker from Mexico who spoke Tarahumara recognized what she was saying. Her story was also adapted to the stage by Mexican playwright Victor Hugo Rascon Banda. It has been produced here at Borderlands Theater, in other American cities and a number of countries.

The festival program also includes a two-part showcase of 10 animated short films that offer, according to the program, a “plethora of animation styles.”

Giulio Scalinger, the festival’s founding director, calls this year’s animation collection his best ever.

“And it also includes one from Bill Plympton,” Scalinger adds. The infamous Plympton has been an AIFF friend for many years.

Other countries represented in the festival are Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Selections include 12 films that played earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, 10 at the accompanying Slamdance festival and three from the Berlin International Film Festival.

For the complete lineup of 17 feature-length films and 57 shorts, visit www.filmfestivalarizona.com or call 882-0204.

OPENING NIGHTS

It will take three special ceremonies to get the Arizona International Film Festival officially up and running. The first is Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. Kick-Off Celebration at the downtown Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Enjoy a reception in the hotel lobby, rub shoulders with visiting filmmakers and do a little networking, enjoy the obligatory introductory remarks and then stroll over to La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave., for a free outdoor screening of “Veer” at 7:30 p.m.

This documentary narrated by Matthew Modine details all the spontaneous craziness of the bicycle culture in Portland, Ore. Whether you want nude bike races, the reckless Zoobombers ignoring all traffic laws or the thrill of bicycle jousting matches, they’ve got it. These free spirits also hold afternoon bike safety programs and free cycling clinics. The short film “BICAS Works” also screens, proving bicycle rims, spokes and wheels can become recycled art.

Friday brings two opening night feature films. Dealing with border culture is “Emilio” at 8 p.m. at the Crossroads Festival theater, 4811 E. Grant Road. For the art film crowd comes “Distanz” from Germany, playing at 9 p.m. in the Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St.

“Emilio” is the story of a 19-year-old lad from Chiapas determined to track down and save his 14-year-old sister, believed to be held captive by a despicable restaurateur in Los Angeles. “Distanz” dramatizes the unknown life of a quiet young man who works in a botanical garden by day, then turns violent after dark. These conflicting lifestyles complicate his relationship with Jana, his sweetly innocent coworker. Regular admission for both films.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

• The Reel Frontier Film and Video Competition is a juried program that celebrates and rewards excellence and innovation in narrative features, dramatic and comedy shorts, animation, documentaries and experimental pieces.

• Cine Español showcases new works by established and Spanish filmmakers.

• Festival-in-the-Schools introduces the film world to young students.

• Indie Youth features the first works of young filmmakers from around the world.

• The Music Café is a revolving series of late night concerts in local venues by indie musicians who are kindred spirits.

IF YOU GO

What: 18th annual Arizona International Film Festival

When: April 16-26

Where: various venues; most events at the Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St., or the Crossroads Festival theater, 4811 E. Grant Road

Price: $5 late night screenings; $6 matinees; $8 prime time screenings – single tickets go on sale an hour before each screening; $25 Saver Pass for five festival screenings; $50 student producer pass (with current school ID); $100 producer pass.

Info: 882-0204, www.filmfestivalarizona.com

Freelance
Cover story

STEPHEN ROSANELLI

Special to Metromix.com

So you put off buying a Valentine’s Day gift until the last minute. Don’t worry! You still have options.

Most gas stations are open 24 hours a day, if not more. A little effort and a lot of panache can save the day and help you make this one of the most romantic days of her year. With a Walgreens on nearly every other corner in Tucson, and a Circle K on all the rest, you really have no excuse not to get her something. The following ideas are quick, easy, and cheap, and will, we hope, not make her feel likewise.

• Stuffed animals – Make sure you get the synthetic kind and not the ones that require a visit to the taxidermist, which are romantic only if the person you are dating happens to be Ted Nugent. Walgreens, Fry’s and Circle K all have these in spades. In fact, stuffed gorillas holding boxes of chocolates are set to become the fourth largest minority group in America by 2012, and that’s not even true! A good rule of thumb here is that the bigger the stuffed animal you get, the more you love her. Yes, size counts with stuffed animals as well.

• Chocolates – While there are many to choose from, there’s only one worth mentioning: the Whitman’s sampler. It will let her know that you care about her just enough. Just enough that you made it to the drugstore in time to pick up some chocolates. If your valentine has a sense of humor or, alternatively, you can’t stand her and want to send a not-so-subtle hint to that effect, get her a large chocolate shaped like a fish that says “You’re a keeper!” These have been a hard item to keep in stock this season, so hopefully they won’t all be sold out by the time you make it to the store.

• Roses – but not the real kind, which are overpriced and die within the week. Get her a Valentine’s Day flashing rose. It will last forever (certainly longer than your relationship), which means it can be re-gifted next Valentine’s Day.

• Write her a poem – If you’ve read any modern poetry, then you know that poems don’t have to rhyme anymore, or even make the least damn bit of sense. Tell her that if she really loves you, she’ll know what it means. Make sure to include lots of metaphors about trains going into tunnels and cigars. She’ll get the hint). If you are still intimidated by the prospect of writing a poem, then just copy one from a card in the store. Don’t worry – it’ll be our little secret.

• Write her a song – If you can’t play a musical instrument, then get some friends together and play her Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” on Rock Band. She’ll love it even if it makes Steve Perry roll over in his grave.

• Finally, get her a boxed set of Dawson’s Creek – You might have a harder time finding this at Walgreens or the gas station, so you may have to settle with any DVD starring James Van Der Beek. Trust me, it will have the same effect.

*Steve Perry is alive and well, despite your renditions of Journey songs at karaoke and Rock Band

Citizen Staff Writer
Perfect together:

POLLY HIGGINS

phiggins@tucsoncitizen.com

For many people (read: folks in relationships), Valentine’s Day is so much more than a Hallmark holiday. It’s a litmus test of where the relationship is and where it’s going – or not going. That restaurant you choose will speak loudly (“you don’t care,” “you care too much”) as will whatever entertainment you have planned for the night.

Don’t mess this up.

When thinking about what to do on Valentine’s Day – where to eat, where to play – it’s crucial to consider what stage a relationship is in. You wouldn’t want to, say, take a loved one of six months to eegees for dinner, nor would you want to take a first date somewhere overwhelmingly romantic.

This is no time to be ironic, to take your date to Sue’s Fish and Chips in some postmodern attempt to recognize Valentine’s Day as part of the system while still buying into that system with subpar cuisine.

We’re here to help.

First date

If you’re wackadoodle enough to plan a first date to coincide with Valentine’s Day, there may be no talking to you, but we’ll try.

Tone: Keep it low key. Obviously it was important enough to have a date on V Day rather than be home alone, but, remember, a first date is just one date from single, and if this night is filled with pressure, s/he may not come back for seconds.

The restaurant: If you’re feeling flush and think your date is worth some dollars, Feast (4122 E Speedway Blvd., 326-9363) is a good choice. It’s a casual spot with menu items that put a modern spin on American cuisine. Though Feast normally doesn’t take reservations, it will for its special Valentine’s Day dinner.

If money’s tight, why not take this opportunity to find out how adventurous your date is, culinarily speaking? We recommend Alibaba (2545 E. Speedway Blvd. 319-2559), a Mediterranean joint with good prices. Then, when your lady or guy tries to eat the hummus with a fork instead of just scooping it up on a pita, you can make plans to ditch ‘em.

The entertainment: There’s a reason why “dinner and a movie” is a cliché: It works and it’s fun. Go first, then you’ll have something to talk about during the meal.

We suggest avoiding “He’s Just Not That Into You.” How about “Notorious,” the story of The Notorious B.I.G.? Everybody likes a biopic, and this one’s gotten good reviews.

Going out less than a month

You’re in similar territory as the first daters, but with a twist. That twist is expectations.

Tone: Playful with a side of serious. Assuming you’re past the first kiss and all that, you two are in the fun zone, still learning about each other and liking what you learn. Valentine’s is no time to force things, so make it like a normal date expect better planned and, well, a little special.

The restaurant: For you guys we’re suggesting spending more money on the entertainment (see “the entertainment”), so keep dinner simple and reasonable. Sushi is always fun, what with the sharing and all, and Tatsu Sushi (7332 N. Oracle Road, 219-6989) has a nice, relaxed atmosphere belying its strip-mall locale.

The entertainment: Experimental folkster Andrew Bird is playing at the Rialto (318 E. Congress St., 740-1000). The multi-instrumentalist is just enough under the radar to earn you some cool points and his music is – yep – playful.

More than a month,

less than six months

Can you hear Kenny Loggins singing in the background? You, dear reader, are in the danger zone. If your significant other cares about Valentine’s Day – and, odds are, s/he does – everything will be remembered from this, your first V Day together.

Tone: Serious with a side of playful. Toasts must be made, feelings expressed. And put on some nice slacks, for crying out loud.

The restaurant: Selecting a romantic spot is crucial. If you can afford it, you will never, ever, go wrong with The Ventana Room (7000 N. Resort Drive., 299-2020). Having said that, you also need at least $300 hanging around in your pocket.

Get more bang for your buck – and adoration for your thoughtfulness – by dining at Casa Vicente (375 S. Stone Ave., 884-5253). The Spanish restaurant features tapas, so here you can truly indulge in the pleasures of eating while sharing each dish. Imagine, you reach for a bite of something, brushing your lover’s hand lightly, the sweet sounds of live flamenco guitar wafting gently by . . . You’re welcome.

We’re not done. Leave a little room in your belly and sweep your sweetie away for dessert and coffee somewhere else. How indulgent is that, right? The Cup Cafe (311 E. Congress St., 798-1618) is the evergreen choice here, and for a reason: Their baker rocks the house (so many options) and the espresso drinks are good.

The entertainment: Head to the Loft Cinema (3233 E. Speedway Blvd., 795-7777) for its special V Day screening of “Moulin Rouge.” There’s even a “Lady Marmalade” singalong before the film; that’s the side of playful, no?

Six months to 11 months, 30 days

If your lover (that’s laaaaahhhver) has stuck around this long, Feb. 14 likely isn’t make-or-break for you. Having said that, keep in mind that it’s also a popular holiday for breaking up, so don’t be a total idiot.

Tone: “I’m so lucky to have you.”

The restaurant: In the stage where going out to dinner has given way to pizza eaten in front of the TV? We thought so. It’s time to get out of the sweats and rekindle things a bit. We like JaxKitchen (7286 N. Oracle Road, 219-1235) for this, a restaurant that has been open about the length of your relationship.

It’s fine dining, but the prices aren’t outrageous and the décor is urban-hip, sleek yet cozy. The wine selection is equally good.

The entertainment: Do something active. Head to Club Congress (311 E. Congress St., 622-8848), where they promise to embrace love at this year’s V Day festivities. With Obama in office, we’re pretty sure we’re supposed to stop being cynical, and what’s more straightforward sexy than a burlesque show? Switchblade Parade performs, walking that dangerous line between titillating and giving it away.

More than a year

Don’t be lazy. You know you can be, which is why you shouldn’t be.

Tone: Amorous.

The restaurant: You’ve eaten at so many restaurants together already, it’s getting a bit tough to be creative. So, you need some place that’s new. And what says amore more than Italian?

Luna Bella (2990 N. Swan Road, 325-3895) and Amereno’s Little Italy (2933 E. Grant Road, 721-1210) opened in 2008 and both are excellent. Luna Bella shoots to the head of the class because it’s from Steve Schultz, he of the acclaimed Red Sky Cafe, and its cuisine is focused and decidedly un-Americanized.

The entertainment: Get a room, people. (See our sexy gifts story, page 24)

Citizen Staff Writer
Cover story

OTTO ROSS

ottoross@tucsoncitizen.com

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching and this year I was determined to get my girlfriend something out of the ordinary.

Forget Tiffany & Co., Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret and all of the other usual mall hot spots that crank out the same old Valentine’s Day options year after year. This year, I would get my gal something special, a gift she would never forget. This year, I shopped at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet.

I understand this is not the first place people think of when trying to woo that special someone. Still, the swap meet has many of the same gift options provided by fancy mall stores. It is simply much more affordable.

For instance, a high-quality, designer Coach bag that would generally run somewhere between $300-$400 can be found hanging on a dusty wall at the swap meet for a smooth $20. The same goes for Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and even Gucci.

Thinking about spending an exorbitant amount of money on some sexy lingerie for your lady? Surprisingly, the swap meet has you covered there as well. There is an entire booth dedicated to lingerie and women’s undergarments. Not only are sexy thongs priced at 2 for $5, but there is an entire bin to fish through to find that perfect pair. While I told myself I would not go the traditional route this V-Day, I couldn’t resist the price and picked up two pair that I was sure my girlfriend would love.

While the butterfly and “love me” thongs were great gifts, I continued my hunt for the surprise she would never expect, the one that would knock her socks off. That’s when I saw the sword and knives booth. “Well, you never know,” I thought.

The booth was lined with about a dozen glass cases chock-full of knives, brass knuckles, stun guns, pepper spray, swords and all kinds of horrible looking things, including a weapon called “vampire claws.” As I perused, a man next to me was interested in a fine set of knucks with the the letters L-O-V-E protruding so that, should the weapon be used, his lady friend would leave behind a message. I assumed he too was looking for that special gift.

Eventually the man behind the counter approached me and asked if he could help. I asked him if he could recommend a weapon for my girlfriend.

“Lethal or non-lethal,” he asked.

Aw, what the hell. “Show me the knives,” I said.

The man turned out to be very knowledgeable about his weapons. He recommended that I get a knife with what he called a “blood groove.” This would allow for a “smooth insertion” and would also be helpful for quickly removing after repeated stabbings, he said. While this was all very interesting, I came to the conclusion that describing how the “blood groove” worked in the candlelight of a nice dinner would be far from romantic.

While many of the booths at the swap meet had a fascinating variety of the strange and unusual, (i.e. open boxes of douches, assorted cough medicines and anything your heart could desire with a pot leaf printed on it) I couldn’t find a gift that was both unique and a legitimately good gift. Outside of getting her name tattooed in a heart on my neck at the swap meet tattoo shop, nothing said both romance and “surprise!” It wasn’t until my way out that I found my answer.

Just as I was ready to call it quits, I poked my head into one last shop near the exit. To my surprise, the shop was filled with a beautiful and colorful assortment of Middle Eastern shoes, bags, jewelry and clothing. This was it – the unique, exotic option that I had hoped to find by avoiding conventional stores. After checking out a few different options, I settled on a pair of shoes with a bright, intricately designed pattern flowing across the top of them that my girlfriend would absolutely love. They were only $15.

During my trip to the Tanque Verde Swap Meet I learned a lot of things: the value of an open box of tampons, the importance of a blood groove and that a whole pack of “Sharnie,” not to be confused with “Sharpie” permanent markers, only cost $1. The most important lesson? If you are willing to take the time and look around the swap meet, not only will you have a great time, but you really can find a diamond, or a least a faux diamond, that really sparkles.

Freelance
Year in Review

Larry Cox

During the past 12 months, more than 400 books were featured in this column. The annual Laurel & Hardly Books of 2008 are served up and presented in no certain order.

LAURELS

Non-Fiction

“American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA, When FDR Put the Nation to Work” by Nick Taylor (Bantam, $27)

This is, without a doubt, one of the most comprehensive books ever written about the Work Projects Administration, a program that served as the linchpin of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and was responsible for putting more than eight million Americans back to work during the Great Depression. This highly readable history is crisply written and relevant, especially during our present economic meltdown.

“American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau” edited by Bill McKibben (The Library of America, $40)

McKibben, a scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College, edits what could be called environmentalists’ greatest hits, a collection of thought-provoking essays covering such hot-button issues as overpopulation, trashing the planet, consumerism and energy policies by some of our greatest thinkers and writers on the subjects including Barbara Kingsolver, Edward Abbey, Rachel Carson, Theodore Roosevelt and Rick Bass.

“The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict” by Joseph E. Stiglitz and Linda J. Bilmes (Norton, $22.95)

This is the book that made most Americans sputter with rage last spring. Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, and Bilmes, a lecturer at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, built a convincing case that the eventual cost of the war in Iraq could be $3 trillion, maybe even more. According to the authors, it’s wake-up time in America and we need to take a long, hard look at the impact of this war and how it is draining not just our national treasury but, perhaps, even our future as well.

“Vets Under Siege: How America Deceives and Dishonors Those Who Have Fought Our Battles” by Martin J. Schram (Thomas Dunne Books, $25.95)

Syndicated columnist Schram lays out in cold, graphic detail the pattern of institutional neglect, delay and denial of the Veterans Administration in an account that is nothing less than an expose and indictment of this troubled agency. Schram claims the time has come to cut through VA red tape and provide these brave men and women the care and help they need since they deserve nothing less.

“The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World’s Greatest Reptile Smugglers” by Bryan Christy (Twelve, $24.99)

Christy, an attorney and freelance writer, exposes one of the most underreported fields of international crime – reptile smuggling. His fascinating book investigates this subculture filled with intrigue, shady characters and violence. Think “Sopranos” but with less of the charm. This no-nonsense, impeccably researched book is an example of exceptional crime reporting that is both impassioned and focused.

“Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to Understand the World’s Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Raw Squid” by J. Maarten Troost (Broadway Books, $22.95)

This highly entertaining book, filled with exotic locales, frightening typhoons, camels, mobsters, bizarre foods (think processed ox stomach) and a dishy translator, who may or may not be a “take out” girl, is the perfect sequel to this author’s previous bestsellers, “The Sex Lives of Cannibals” and “Getting Stoned With Savages.” Your passport has been stamped. Settle back and enjoy my favorite travel book of the year.

“Spiders: The Ultimate Predators” by Stephen Dalton (Firefly, $34.95)

Dalton, a wildlife photographer and author of 15 nature books, points out that, regardless of where we are, there is more than likely a spider within a few feet of us. Even though most of us grab a rolled up magazine when we spot a spider, Dalton is more inclined to pick up his camera. This beautifully executed book captures the elusive world of spiders through more than 250 spectacular photographs. In addition to the images, Dalton sorts out the anatomy of spiders and reveals such things as how catch their prey and construct their webs.

“The Partnership: The Making of Goldman Sachs” by Charles D. Ellis (Penguin Press, $37.95)

When the author began researching Goldman Sachs 10 years ago, not even he could have comprehended that by the time he finished his book, the financial world would be in an economic meltdown. This grim twist is just one of the many reasons this book is so fascinating and, yes, relevant.

“The Night of the Gun: A Reporter Investigates the Darkest Story of His Life, His Own” by David Carr (Simon & Schuster, $26)

In one of the most searing, shocking books of the year, Carr, a cultural reporter for The New York Times, tracked down and interviewed more than 50 people from his past who were swept up in his life during a time of addiction. In his harrowing narrative, Carr reconstructs his own history as he would any legitimate news story. The result is a candid account that packs all of the pain and surprise of a punch to the gut.

“Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon” by Philip B. Kunhardt III, Peter W. Kunhardt and Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr. (Knopf, $50)

Featuring more than 1,000 illustrations, this magnificent volume begins with Lincoln’s assassination in 1865 and concludes with the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922. Much like a remarkable national scrapbook, this is an intriguing and enlightening tribute to Lincoln as we observe the 200th anniversary of his birth.

Novels

“Netherland” by Joseph O’Neill (Pantheon, $23.95)

In this story of heritage and home, friendship and love, a European man living in post-9/11 Manhattan is troubled by two loves, the one he has for his wife and the other for his adopted country.

“The Little Book” by Selden Edwards (Dutton, $24.95)

This is the debut novel that everyone was reading and talking about this summer. This atmospheric, multilayered story defies categorization. It is inventive, bracing, poignant, and well-written and, despite the title, there’s nothing little about it.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson (Knopf, $24.95)

This debut novel by the late Larsson features colorful characters, intriguing locales and a exciting plot. An uncle’s determination to find out if his niece was murdered triggered one of the most exciting mystery stories of the year.

Regional Books

“A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca – The Extraordinary Tale of a Shipwrecked Spaniard Who Walked Across America in the Sixteenth Century” by Andrés Reséndez (Basic Books, $26.95)

In 1527, a mission set out from Spain to colonize Florida. After numerous setbacks, only four members of the original party survived: three Spaniards and an African slave. This is the gripping story of their adventures as they wandered through Florida and across what is now the American Southwest.

“Arizona” by David Muench (Graphic Arts Books, 50)

Muench is one of the country’s most gifted photographers and his book presents some of the most breathtaking views of our state ever captured on film.

“Sanctuaries of Earth, Stone, and Light: The Churches of Northern New Spain, 1530-1821″ by Gloria Fraser Giffords (University of Arizona Press, $75)

This is, perhaps, the definitive book on the architecture of the mission churches of New Spain. It is sweeping, comprehensive and highly readable. Giffords makes Spanish colonial architecture accessible and has proved once again that she is a scholar at the top of her game.

“With Picks, Shovels & Hope: The CCC and Its Legacy on the Colorado Plateau” by Wayne K. Hinton and Elizabeth A. Green (Mountain Press, $30)

This crisply written history of the Civilian Conservation Corps focuses on the camps and projects on the Colorado Plateau, an area that included the Four Corners region. Filled with vintage photographs and images and brimming with rich detail, this book puts the CCC and its regional accomplishments in context.

“A Place of Refuge: Maynard Dixon’s Arizona” by Thomas Brent Smith (Tucson Museum of Art, $40)

This richly illustrated book documents the life and work of Dixon, one of America’s most talented Southwestern artists of the last century.

“Shadows at Dawn: A Borderland Massacre and the Violence of History” by Karl Jacoby (Penguin Press, $32.95)

On April 30, 1871, just before dawn, a rag-tag group of Americans, Mexicans and members of the Tohono O’odham tribe surrounded and attacked a small settlement of Apaches near Tucson. Nearly 150 Apaches, mostly women and children, were slain in their sleep, making it one of the bloodiest American Indian massacres ever. Prize-winning historian Jacoby documents the attack and its aftermath.

HARDLIES

“A Wolf at the Table” by Augusten Burroughs (St. Martin’s Press, $24.95)

How could a writer with such promise crank out such a whiny piece of crap?

“Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality” by Jerome Corsi (Threshold, $28)

This is the literary swiftboat that sank. Corsi didn’t let sloppy research and outright fabrications get in his way when he set out to attack and defame Barack Obama in his latest book. Fortunately, readers saw through his ploy and after a few weeks as a bestseller, it fizzled and had little impact on the national election that followed.

Citizen Staff Writer
Movies

CHUCK GRAHAM

cgraham@tucsoncitizen.com

Rating: Not Rated Length: 93 minutes

Filmmaker Wong Kar Wai’s rhapsodically beautiful and lovingly reworked “Ashes of Time Redux” has the look of ravishing poetry, one breath-taking scene after another stretching across endless vistas that make the big screen seem even bigger. But its dark heart of rue and regret is classic film noir.

As seen through the camera lens of Asian genius Christopher Doyle, emptiness is emphasized on China’s rolling sand dunes by the stark silhouette of a single tree defiantly isolated on the horizon. An instant metaphor of every rejected lover who’s been forced to stand alone in the cold. A passion for revenge may not be as comforting as romance, he implies, but it will definitely steam up the soul.

Bittersweet solos played on wooden flutes wrap around the dream images of sullen eyes in icy faces turning slowly toward the camera as desert winds whip swirls of dust reflecting sparkles of dying sunlight. Ghostly images add to the confusion, as do haunted expressions shared by couples looking equally androgynous, being spirited down narrow hallways filled with shadows concealing all the exits.

A story line? There might be one. Who cares? “Ashes of Time Redux” is advertised as a martial arts movie, but really, it’s all about the atmosphere. As one tattered warrior comments, “The important thing in life is not what happens but how we remember what happens.” Just like in this film.

The protagonist Ou-yang Feng (Leslie Cheung) isn’t even a fighter. He’s a broker. You want someone killed, Ou-yang can arrange it. The Blind Swordsman (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) is a good friend. Another is Huang Yaoshi (Tony Leung Ka Fai), a drifter with his own weapons. He also brings a bottle of wine that is supposed to erase one’s memory.

Ou-Yang is a man held prisoner by his past, choosing this desert hermit’s life after The Woman (Maggie Cheung) broke his heart many years before. Ou-yang always refuses to drink Huang’s wine of forgetfulness, although Huang insists on drinking deeply with every visit. For without memory, every day is a new beginning.

Other restless souls make their way through “Ashes of Time,” as well, leaving mental footprints that always point toward deeper thoughts rather than tidy conclusions.

Citizen Staff Writer
Movies

At the Loft Cinema

This week’s events at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Friday: “The Last Mistress” does not always become the new wife. Asia Argento shows why in this sensual French film directed by cinema sex provocateur Catherine Breillat. Various times. Regular admission.

Friday: “Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!” presented by Wingspan Reel Pride continues to spoof the straight world of “Beach Blanket Bingo” and “The Brady Bunch.” That sweet quartet of college freshmen – Andy, Nico, Jarod and Griff – are back in school and headed for some sandy fun at the water’s edge. Various times. Regular admission.

Friday and Saturday: “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” became an Instant Cult Classic when it was released in 1984, great news for this film’s short attention span fans. Remember the roller-coaster mine chase? The feast of monkey brains? The chemistry between Harrison Ford and Kate Capshaw? See it all again for the first time. 10 p.m. $5.

Monday: “Trick or Treat” answers that perennial question, “Do all heavy metal bands worship the Devil?” Here’s a hint: Gene Simmons plays a radio DJ. Ozzy Osbourne is a sleazy televangelist (is that description redundant?). Play the movie’s soundtrack album backwards to become a headbanger forever. 8 p.m. $2.

Info: 322-5638, loftcinema.com

AT CINEMA LA PLACITA

Enjoy films under the stars Thursdays at Cinema La Placita, 260 S. Church Ave. Admission is free for the sunset screenings (about 7:30 p.m.) but a $3-$5 donation at the popcorn table keeps the films rolling through the end of October. Here’s what’s coming up:

Thursday: “The Candidate” (1972). Rounding out a slate of political films, this movie stars Robert Redford. It was directed by Michael Ritchie.

Oct. 30: “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948). With Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Glenn Strange as the monster, this, the first of the comedy team’s “Meet . . .” series, will make you laugh and scream.

Info: 326-5282, cinemalaplacita.com

OTHER FILM EVENTS

HALLOWEEN FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: In-store Halloween movie screenings, back to back: “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “Nightmare Before Christmas.” Free popcorn. When: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday Where: Bookmans, 1930 E. Grant Road Price: free Info: 325-5767 www.bookmans.com

TIME FOR THE 48-HOUR FILM SHOOTOUT: Adrenaline junkies with video cameras are drinking more coffee, getting ready to watch the latest short film competition among teams of like-minded adrenaline junkies who spent last weekend making their movies. This week the judges are tallying their scores. Next Thursday, Oct. 30, all the entries will be screened at the Loft Cinema and the winners will be announced. A $500 Grand Prize will go to the overall best film in the competition. If Cannes has the Palme d’Or, this would be the Cactus d’Or. The always vigorous applause-and-scream-a-thon to select the audience’s favorite film will follow. That winner gets a $250 cash prize. Merchandise prizes will be given out for Best Acting, Best in Genre, etc. What: Tucson 48 Hour Film Shootout When: 7 p.m. Thursday Where: Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Price: $5 Info: 795-0844, www.loftcinema.com

Citizen Staff Writer
Movies

Movie-related events in the Old Pueblo

AT CINEMA LA PLACITA

Enjoy films under the stars Thursdays at Cinema La Placita, 260 S. Church Ave. Admission is free for the sunset screenings (around 7:30 p.m.), but a $3-to-$5 donation at the popcorn table keeps the films rolling through the end of October. Here’s what’s coming up:

Thursday: “Lilies of the Field” (1963), starring Sidney Poitier and part of the “Shot in Tucson” film series.

July 31: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), with Gregory Peck and a component of the Tucson International Children’s Film Festival.

Info: 326-5282, cinemalaplacita.com

AT THE LOFT CINEMA

This week’s special events at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Thursday: The Silver Screen Slam features an open mic poetry slam and screenings of experimental short films. Proceeds from the event will help send the 2008 Tucson Slam Team to the National Poetry Slam in Madison, Wis., on Aug. 3-9. 7:30 p.m.; $5

Friday: “Mother of Tears: The Third Mother” continues director Dario Argento’s hard-core horror trilogy. In this over-the-top bloodfest, Argento’s daughter, actress Asia, has to navigate her way through a river of raw sewage and decomposing corpses. Ah, the price of nepotism. Various times; regular admission.

Friday: Based on Monica Ali’s 2003 novel, “Brick Lane” focuses on one woman’s journey of emotional growth and empowerment in the Bangladeshi Muslim community of London’s East End. Various times; regular admission.

Friday and Saturday: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” with the right-on Gene Wilder as the eccentric and somewhat demented candy baron, is this week’s Late Nite Cult Classic. 10 p.m.; $5

Saturday: The singalong version of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” kicks off the eight-day Tucson International Children’s Film Festival. In its second year, the event introduces youngsters to world cinema and mixes in good, old-fashioned fun (burping contests, costume parties, etc.) All movies at 10 a.m., with free admission. For complete schedule, see this week’s cover story.

Monday: Expect lots of big-hair pulling, skimpy loincloths and bad acting when the “Wild Women of Wongo” hit the screen during Mondo Monday. 8 p.m.; $2

Info: 322-5638, loftcinema.com

AT THE FOX THEATRE

The Summer Movie Series at the Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., includes:

Saturday: “Babe,” 11 a.m., “The Wolf Man,” 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 9: “Free Willy,” 11 a.m., “The Creature From The Black Lagoon,” 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 16: “The Blob,” 7:30 p.m.

Admission to morning shows is $5 general, $1 students. Evening screenings are $8 general, $6 for students and seniors.

Info: 624-1515, foxtucsontheatre.org

OTHER FILM EVENTS

LOEWS: Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features a romantic “under the stars” movie every Friday night. The event, designed for couples, offers a “Date Night Dinner Special” in the Flying V Bar & Grill, which includes shared ribs, guacamole and dessert for two for $38. Here’s the schedule: • July 25: “My Best Friend’s Wedding” • Aug. 1: “Some Like It Hot” • Aug. 8: “Ever After” • Aug. 15: “Father of the Bride” • Aug. 22: “Hope Floats” • Aug. 29: “The American President”

When: Movie begins after sunset Where: Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive Price: Movie admission is free Info: 299-2020

MONZOON SUMMER SERIES: Every Friday, during the summer months, the Tucson Zoological Society will present a series of live musical acts and screenings of popular movies. In addition, there will be animal encounters, photos with the costumed “Leo the Lion” and more. This week’s feature is “A Night at the Museum.” When: 6-9 p.m. Friday Where: Reid Park Zoo, 1100 S. Randolph Way Price: $10 Info: 881-4753 Ext. 1, tucsonzoo.org

“PILLAR OF FIRE”: This seven-hour documentary first appeared on Israeli television in 1986. It features rare documentary footage collected from more than 30 archives and private collections. It tells the story of the Jewish Arab struggle for Palestine and the founding of Israel through 1948 when Israel was officially established. When: 7-9:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E. Fifth St. Price: free Info: 745-5550, www.caiaz.org

Freelance
Summer fun

Whether you’re heading to the beach or need a distraction from the heat, put these on your summer reading list. All titles were selected by Tucson Citizen book reviewer Larry Cox.

FICTION

‘Netherland’

By Joseph O’Neill (Pantheon, $23.95)

In this story of heritage and home, friendship and love, a Europeaan man living in post-9/11 Manhattan is troubled by two loves, the one that he has for his wife and the other his adopted country. This is our country as seen from an outsider’s vantage point and the complicated relationship between the American dream and the particular dreamers.

‘Turning Tables’

By Heather MacDowell and Rose MacDowell (Dial Press, $24)

This smart, slick, wickedly observant novel takes readers behind the scenes for a glimpse into what really goes on at one of Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants. Inspired by their many years of waiting tables at some of the best – and worst – eateries in Manhattan, Nantucket and San Francisco, Erin, the main character, finds she is in hot water with both the egomaniacal celebrity chef and the restaurant owner’s outrageous wife.

‘Late Night Talking’

By Leslie Schnur (Washington Square Press, $14, paperback)

In this charming book about bad behavior, Jeannie Sterling, a 30-something late-night talk show host hell-bent on resurrecting civility in a world gone rude, discovers that her carefully constructed, disciplined life begins to unravel when her long-absent father shows up on her doorstep and a dreamboat from college days decides he’s in love with her.

‘The Maytrees’

By Annie Dillard (HarperPerennial, $13.95, paperback)

In her first novel in more than 15 years from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Annie Dillard serves up the story of Toby and Lou Maytree and their decades of loving and longing. The simplicity of her story contributes to both its power and grace. USA Today calls it a treasure.

NONFICTION

‘The Year of the Boat: Beauty, Imperfection, and the Art of Doing It Yourself ‘

By Lawrence W. Cheek (Sasquatch Books, $23.95)

Wooden sailboats are more than mere vessels; they inspire lust. The author, an architecture critic for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, discovers that building a boat is the perfect antidote for his chronic perfectionism. During his work he learns to discern the tidal waves of his project – cycles of fatigue and discouragement alternating with optimism and the joys of accomplishment. This wonderful, inspiring book tells the winning story of how one man built a wooden sailboat in spite of himself.

‘Cats in May’

By Doreen Tovey (St. Martin’s Press, $18.95)

Ever since it was first published some 40 years ago, the story of Tovey’s two incorrigible Siamese cats – Sheba and Solomon – have delighted readers throughout the world. Now in a new edition with 20 delightful black and white illustrations, the tales of these two felines are ready for rediscovery by a new generation of cat lovers.

‘The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming’

By Jeannie Ralston (Broadway Books, $23.95)

This is a true story of love and compromise. Jeannie Ralson, a New York-based writer, and her husband Robb, a busy National Geographic photographer, agree to leave the Big Apple and relocate to rural Texas so they can finally start a family. As she struggles to reconcile her life plans and goals with her husband’s without coming out a proverbial loser, she seems to be losing the battle but suddenly a little purple bloom changes everything.

‘The Call of the Weird: Encounters with Survivalists, Porn Stars, Alien Killers, and Ike Turner’

By Louis Theroux (Da Capo, $15.95 paperback)

Is there something particularly weird about Americans? Louis Theroux, the king of offbeat documentaries, searches for the answer while mixing it up with an assortment of some of our more colorful natives.

‘Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living’

By Doug Fine (Villard, $24)

Fine, a frequent contributor to NPR, lives in a remote valley in New Mexico. Even though he loves his creature comforts, he wonders if it is possible to keep his Netflix and his car, his Wi-Fi and his subwoofers, while still reducing his carbon footprint. Both a hilarious romp and an inspiring call to go green, this is perfect summer reading.

SPORTS

‘The 33-Year Old Rookie: How I Finally Made It to the Big Leagues After 11 Years in the Minors’

By Chris Coste (Ballantine, $25)

Coste dreamed of playing major-league baseball from the age of 7. After 11 grueling years in the minors, he refused to give up his dream. When the call from the Philadelphia Phillies came in 2006, Coste proved he was ready to head for the big time. This inspirational book takes readers through the 2006 spring training and offers an intimate look at the life of one of baseball’s most remarkable players.

SHORT STORIES

‘The O’Henry Prize Stories’

Edited by Laura Furman (Anchor, $14.95)

This outstanding collection of contemporary fiction features work by such writers as William Trevor, Richard McCann, Alice Munro and Rebecca Curtis. In short, 20 prize-winning stories judged to be among the best of the year.

‘I Was Told There Would Be Cake’

By Sloane Crosley (Riverhead Books, $14, paperback)

In this lively collection of essays, Crosley ignites the literary fun with her very first sentence. Hilarious, wry and knowing, the work of this writer rearranges the furniture in your head.

Juvenile fiction

‘Nick of Time: An Adventure Through Time’

By Ted Bell (St. Martin’s Griffin, $17.95)

Move over, Nancy Drew, Nick is the hero of the summer. Set in England in 1939, Nick and his younger sister, Kate, live in a lighthouse on the smallest of the Channel Islands. Nick and Kate discover an old sea chest and inside, a time machine. When he sets the machine to return to 1805, the adventure truly begins. This book is a rollicking tale that will have young readers guessing until the final pages.

‘Cruel Summer’

By Alyson Noel (St. Martin’s Press, $8.95, paperback)

In this novel geared for young adults, Colby is having a wretched summer. Her parents are in the middle of a messy divorce and they send her away to spend the season on a remote island in Greece. As she prepares to leave, she wonders if her new friends will forget her while she is away?

Citizen Staff Writer
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW

WXSW Music Festival, The Hut, Plush, Solar Culture, Club Congress (622-8848, ticketweb.com), March 10-11

Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Festival, Pima Community College-Northwest Campus (797-3959, govac.org), March 29-30

Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair, Fourth Avenue area (fourthavenue.org), April 4-6

Club Crawl, various downtown venues (740-1000, rialtotheatre.com), April 19

Arizona International Film Festival, various movie theaters (882-0204, www.azmac.org), April 18-27

Tucson Madonnari Chalk Festival, Joel D. Valdez Main Library (tucsonmadonnari.com), April 26

Folk Festival, downtown (tkma.org), May 3-4

Oro Valley’s First Ever BBQ and Blues Festival, details to be announced (797-3959, www.govac.org), Memorial Day weekend

Citizen Staff Writer
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW

BALLET TUCSON

903-1445, www.ballettucson.org Stevie Eller Dance Theatre in the School of Dance, University of Arizona, unless noted

“Roots of Choreography Showcase,” Feb. 25

“Dance & Dessert,” March 14-16

“Cinderella,” Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., May 10-11

DESERTVIEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

38759 S. Mountain View Blvd. (in SaddleBrooke)

520-818-1000, www.tickets.saddlebrookemv countryclub.com

New Dawn Singers and Dancers, Feb. 28

Ballet Tucson, April 5

FUNHOUSE MOVEMENT THEATER

749-1221, www.members.cox.net/newart/ dancetucson.htm Performances at Pima Community College Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road

“Dancing By Moonlight,” April 11-12

NEW ARTICULATIONS

250-4664, www.newarticulations.org

“We Are What We Eat,” spring show, details to be announced

O-T-O DANCE

624-3799, www.orts.org Stevie Eller Dance Theatre in the School of Dance, University of Arizona

“Flying, Films & Dance,” June 20-21

PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DANCE

206-6986, www.pima.edu/cfa Center for the Arts, West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road

“Dance Tales: Snow White and the Hip Hop Dwarfs,” May 8-10

THOM LEWIS DANCE

798-1113 Stevie Eller Dance Theatre in the School of Dance, University of Arizona

“Premier Concert,” March 7-8

TUCSON REGIONAL BALLET

882-0862, www.tucsonregionalballet.org Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave.

“The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” April 19-20 (three performances)

UA SCHOOL OF DANCE

621-4698, web.cfa.arizona.edu/dance Stevie Eller Dance Theatre in the School of Dance, University of Arizona, unless noted

“Premium Blend,” Feb. 21-24, Feb. 29, March 1, Centennial Hall

“Spring Collection,” April 24-25, May 2-4

“The Launch,” May 1, May 3

UAPRESENTS

621-3341, www.uapresents.org Performances in Centennial Hall at the University of Arizona

Moiseyev Dance Company, Feb. 4

“Giselle,” St. Petersburg Ballet, Feb. 9

Forever Tango, Feb. 19

“Premium Blend” by the School of Dance, University of Arizona, Feb. 21-24, Feb. 29, March 1

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Feb. 26

Evidence, A Dance Company, March 11

Parsons Dance, April 3

ZUZI DANCE

629-0237, www.zuzimoveit.org Performances at Zuzi’s Theatre, 738 N. Fifth Ave.

“Gotta Have HeART,” Feb. 15-16

“Best of ZUZI! 10th Anniversary Gala,” March 8

“ZUZI! Spring Concert,” April 25-26, May 2-3

CRITIC’S PICK

UApresents has always set the pace for Tucson’s lovers of dance, booking companies with imaginative and extreme choreography. Forever Tango will continue that tradition, but let’s also greet the spring with high expectations for Russia’s St. Petersburg Ballet bringing us the evergreen “Giselle.”

CHUCK GRAHAM

Citizen Staff Writer
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW

UA POETRY CENTER

626-3765, poetrycenter.arizona.edu The University of Arizona Poetry Center hosts its reading series at the Helen S. Schaefer Building, 1508 E. Helen St., unless noted otherwise.

Francisco X. Alarcón, lecture: “El Poder de la Palabra/ The Power of the Word,” Feb. 9

Peter Turchi, lecture: “Maps of the Imagination,” Feb. 19

Taha Muhammad Ali and Peter Cole, reading, March 27

W.S. Merwin, lecture: “On the Natural World,” with live video feed, April 17

Freelance
2007: Year in Review

LARRY COX

contactlarrycox@aol.com

During this past year, I received more than 1,500 books. Of those, almost 500 were featured in this column. Picking the best and worst of the year was not an easy task, but after several weeks of sifting through past reviews and revisiting some of the better books, I finally selected 10 of the best and a short list of others that merit special mention. The Laurels and Hardly Books of 2007 are listed in no particular order.

LAURELS

“The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press, $24.95)

Weisman, an award-winning journalist and University of Arizona professor, wrote one of the most discussed books of 2007. He poses a simple question: What would happen if human beings were removed from the planet? He draws on the expertise of engineers, atmospheric scientists, art conservators, zoologists, oil refiners, marine biologists, astrophysicists, religious readers and paleontologists to imagine a world without people. Highly entertaining, this remarkable book features some of the most imaginative reporting in years.

“1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina” by Chris Rose (Simon & Schuster, $15)

In this book, published on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist Rose chronicles the chaos, horror and unrelenting sorrow that consumed the city as it struggled to rebuild its neighborhoods and unique culture after one of the most destructive storms in United States history. The author details everything from his personal experiences of depression and addiction, to the dark, grim accounts of lost lives and dashed hopes.

“The Library of Congress World War II Companion” edited by David M. Kennedy (Simon & Schuster, $45)

The staff of the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library, joined forces with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Kennedy to produce an authoritative and uniquely engaging volume in 12 informative and highly readable chapters that cover almost every aspect of the great conflict. A treasure trove of facts, figures, anecdotes and unusual vignettes, this is an indispensible source for those who wish to better understand the seminal World War II era and its consequences that continue to reverberate throughout our world.

‘The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps: The Best Crime Stories from the Pulps During the Golden Age – the ’20s, ’30s & ’40s” edited by Otto Penzler (Vintage Crime, $25)

This bold, comprehensive collection is so unexpectedly good, it left skid marks across my brain. Weighing in at more than 1,000 pages and 3.8 pounds, it contains more than 50 stories and two novels, featuring top stories written by such talents as Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, Raymond Chandler and Cornell Woolrich. Lifted from the back issues of America’s most celebrated pulps, this nonstop collection packs all of the punch and surprise of a smoking revolver.

“The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible” by A.J. Jacobs (Simon & Schuster, $25)

Although we have more than an abundance of people in this country who love to thump the Bible and quote Scripture, how many of us would have the courage to actually follow the teachings literally? Jacobs, a secular Jew living in New York City, carefully read the Bible – several versions of it – and then made a list of 700 rules he would try to obey for one year. This fascinating book is the insightful, witty, heartfelt story of his experience.

“Yard Full of Sun: The Story of a Gardener’s Obsession that Got a Little Out of Hand” by Scott Calhoun (Rio Nuevo, $22.95)

Award-winning gardener Calhoun constructed an adobe home near the Rincon Mountains. After completing the structure, he looked at the beaten dirt in his back yard and was almost overwhelmed about how to proceed. After all, what do you do with a yard full of sun? Passionate, gritty, and wise, his book provides a guide to extreme gardening, along with extensive plant and resource lists. This is nothing less than a celebration of our region’s native plants and an inspiration even for those of us who are cursed with brown thumbs.

“Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” by Barbara Kingsolver with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver (HarperCollins, $26.95)

Several years ago, the Kingsolver clan left Tucson and set up housekeeping in Appalachia where they resolved to spend a year growing their own food. If that wasn’t possible, they’d at least buy from local producers. This wonderful account of their experience is written with such grace and wit, it has all of the comfort and warmth of a leisurely visit with a cherished friend on a shady front porch. Barbara Kingsolver is a national treasure and her book is an absolute joy.

“The Devil’s Gentleman: Privilege, Poison, and the Trial that Ushered in the Twentieth Century” by Harold Schechter (Ballantine Books, $27.95)

This was my favorite true crime book of the year. Gripping and atmospheric, this is the shocking story of a notorious double-murder that involved members of New York’s high society during the early years of the last century. Schechter brings to life this incredible case with such flair, one can almost hear the hissing of the gaslights in the elegant townhouses, bordellos, ritzy restaurants and shabby opium dens of early 20th-century New York. Meticulously researched and crisply written, this is an insightful, exciting book written by a historian at the top of his game.

“Clapton: The Autobiography” by Eric Clapton (Broadway Books, $26)

There is a simple explanation why Eric Clapton’s autobiography has soared to the top of the best-seller lists and remained there for more than two months. It is honest, wrenching and genuine. In fact, it might just be the best autobiography of its type ever written. Clapton pulls no punches as he reveals the intimate details of his life, including his addictions, his messy divorce from Patti Boyd and the tragic death of his 4-year-old son, Conor.

“Long Time Leaving: Dispatches from up South” by Roy Blount Jr. (Knopf, $25)

This is an almost perfect collection of essays, a satisfying blend that is scholarly, raunchy and biting. Blount, who has written more than 50 books, is a panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me,” a columnist for the Oxford American and a contributing editor to The Atlantic Monthly. He describes himself as a Southern Cracker but makes it quite clear that he is hardly typical. For example, he is pro-choice, favors gay marriage, and is against teaching creationism in public schools. He also opposes the carnage that is the war in Iraq. He writes with authority and wit. If you’ve never read him before, sprint to the nearest bookstore because it’s time you did.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“Sacco & Vanzetti: The Men, The Murders, and the Judgment of Mankind” by Bruce Watson (Viking, $29.95)

“The Gravedigger’s Daughter” by Joyce Carol Oates (ECCO, $26.95)

“The Big Book of Boy Stuff” by Bart King (Gibbs Smith, $19.95)

HARDLIES

Books continue to be published that are hateful and mean-spirited. Two I received, read, but not considered fit for review:

“If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d be Republicans” by Ann Coulter (Crown Forum, $24.95)

“An Inconvenient Book” by Glenn Beck and Kevin Balfe (Threshold Editions, $26)

Citizen Staff Writer
First look: CDs

“Dean and Dudley Evenson present Healing the Holy Land, A Musical Journey of Faith” (Soundings of the Planet)

Grade: A+

Genre: New Age

Remember when hippies believed if we just held hands around the planet for a few minutes and sang the same folk song we would finally have world peace? The married couple Dean and Dudley Evenson are equally idealistic musicians. They started this record label in Tucson in 1979, dedicated to the belief that music could heal the spirit. Soundings of the Planet has since moved to the Northwest, but their dedication remains strong.

In the spirit of this holiday season the Evensons have compiled from the three Abrahamic faiths of Jews, Christians and Muslims this collection of sacred chants and songs that share a common yearning for peace. For 2,000 years these “People of the Book” have claimed and counter-claimed the crescent of civilization we call the Holy Land.

So many centuries of difficult times have inspired a rich musical heritage reflected by these 12 tracks. Many contain the sadness implied by minor chords. Some ride on the loping rhythms we associate with camel caravans. A few reflect the serenity of contemplation in prayer.

To sit quietly and listen with thoughtfulness to all the tracks is to feel the significance of how much the three faiths really do share. And to wonder what has fed so many centuries of hatred and suspicion.

Surely what we have in common is so much greater than our differences.

CHUCK GRAHAM

Tucson Citizen