I’ll pretty much watch anything that takes place in a whorehouse. I was pleasantly surprised by Working Girls, the 1987 film by writer/director Lizzie Borden. The whole tale takes place over the course of a single shift at an upscale Manhattan brothel. During the course of the film we meet old men who seem to be in love with the prostitutes, assholes who want to degrade them, strong men who want to be dominated and men who blur fantasy and reality. More than just a collage of sexual experiences, Working Girls allows us into the heads of the characters and challenges us to step back and ask, “Why?’ The beauty of Working Girls is that although there are tons of boobies, the story is very real and natural. In fact, I found myself squirming in my seat—not at the graphic nudity—but at the emotional vulnerability of the lead character as she strips down, layer by layer, until her soul is stark naked at the end of the film.
Favorite Quote: “I sell my body for a living. Why would I want to sell my mind too?”
Kapi`olani, Legacy Hula Vol. 2
Hula is not necessarily my thing. Yes, it’s undeniably beautiful and it’s a gorgeous and sacred part of our Hawaiian culture, but it’s never gotten me totally excited. That being said, when I received a review copy of Kapi‘olani I wasn’t particularly excited. But when I put it in the CD player, I couldn’t believe it. It was really awesome. And by awesome, I mean even if you don’t like hula or chanting. I listened to the whole thing and had chicken skin for a good portion of the performances. The mele that are performed on this album were originally written for Queen Kapi‘olani who was King Kalakaua’s wife. They were originally published in 19th century newspapers as tributes by her friends and familiy. Before each segment, the history of the mele is explained and if I do say so myself, the whole thing was very intriguing and all together a fantastic album. Seriously.
Favorite Track: “#3 Mele Lei No. 1: Aia i Haili ko lei nani.”
The Story of Lana`i
I’m a book fiend. I love them. I collect, hoard, read, buy, write and cherish them. I also smell them. What? Books smell great–fresh pages and ink. This book by George C. Munro feels and smells especially good. I want to say that it’s a gorgeous coffee table book, but in reality it’s a whole lot more. Munro was the Lanai Ranch manager from 1911-1930 and the book is filled with his tales, observations and amazing photographs. It is a truly fascinating read–I fell in love with Lanai during my honeymoon and have been searching for a book like this since then. Keep this one on your holiday shopping list. You definitely know at least one person who will love it.
Favorite thing about it: Hundreds of old time Lanai photographs. MTW
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