68$ - °They N il y - Weekend O. MagaZineW Thypsday, MS.Ib=?3,2000. C 0 The Michigan Daily - eekend, etc. Ma S|IThree books offer life-changing wake-ups Family-runhideout is tops for downtown 1 By Nick Broughton Daily Arts Writer Great books can wake you up like a scarce few experiences outside the realm of real life. They work the same way as film or music but with a level of purity unmatched by other mediums. That's not to put down music and film, but they really don't even approach the level of genius springing forth from the individ- ual minds who write their way through the silence, utterly alone. Three books I recently read really demonstrate how much the human mind is capable of. Two of them are fiction and one is a self-help book of unparalleled insight, but all three can stretch readers to a new dimension of living. - "THE PASSION" BY JEANETTE WIRsoN This elegantly written romance novel is set in Napoleonic Europe, and its story centers around two unlikely souls: Henri, Napoleon's faithful cook, and Villanelle, a Venetian boatman's daughter. The two Courtesy of the Mooern Library James Joyce gets pensive, post-"Ulysses." of them take turns narrating the book in a style so simple and beautiful I could cry to know I didn't come up with it myself. As Napoleon works his way across Europe, Henri and Villanelle cross paths and are forever changed by each other. For his part, Henri falls in love complete- ly with Villanelle. He becomes lost in his vision of her, and ultimately must con- template the position he finds himself in of making a supreme sacrifice for her. Winterson puts so many layers into less than 200 pages of prose. She begins with the childhoods of two people and from there goes on to create two of mod- ern fiction's most memorable characters. The amount of historical depth she recreates - the wartime setting is bril- liantly researched - makes the reader wonder if such a story actually happened, despite its subtly integrated supernatural elements. Winterson's portrait of Napoleon himself, in a few short second- hand passages, is more immediate and personal than Tolstoy ever dreamed of. On top of all this, "The Passion" is a meditation on love, loss and human frailty comparable in stature to Nabokov's "Lolita." The greatest character, though, is the author's use of language. It is reminiscent of a fairy tale in its heart-aching beauty. Knowingly, Winterson muses, "To kiss well one must kiss solely. No groping hands or stammering hearts. The lips and the lips alone are the pleasure. Passion is sweeter split strand by strand." Formerly a preacher, Winterson pos- sesses a spiritual background which bleefs through every page of her opus. When Henri contemplates his love for Villanelle, he hints at a spiritual awaken- ing any reader might have in such a con- suming affair with this very book: "It is as though I wrote in a foreign language that I am suddenly able to read. Wordlessly, she explains me to myself. Like genius, she is ignorant of what she does." "ULYSSES" BY JAMES JOME Another book of unbelievable beauty, "Ulysses" suffers from what is by now the unlucky handicap of being consid- See RETRO BOOKS, Page 16B few Mexican and Cuban flags and a small fountain. Right away, I knew I'd be paying for quality food rather than the expensive and inauthentic decorations that are found at many commercialized Mexican restau- rants. I was then seated by a smiling waiter who brought me to a table where fresh, homemade chips and salsa awaited me. I'm a sucker for free appetizers. However, I do have to admit I was disappointed to find out that only the first basket of chips is free and each following basket costs an extra S I.25. But don't get me wrong, I bought two extra baskets and they were worth every penny. The sheer quality of the items made me consider my money well spent. I then opened the Sabor Latino menu and was pleased by the wide variety of selections, including a few I'd never before heard of, such as botanas and tortas. What really caught my eye on the menu were the inexpensive a la carte items. For example, tacos and enchilada respectively only $1.35 and apiece and can both be made either chicken, steak, pork or vegetables. I could easily walk]i myself up on chips and a few and leave with a full stomac only a $5 dent in my wallet. Nc I had to say. However, some might require mass from a meal. Those mdiv can feast their eyes on the "D section of the menu. All the entrees are priced at $8.25 and feature massive amounts of del Mexican food with rice, bean tuce, tomato and guacamole o side. My personal preference dinner entree that includes a b a taco and an enchilada with < of any meat. Overall, this restaurant is tas authentic in every aspect. I shows no restraint with its por The front of the menu even "Sabor Latino takes pride i authentic family recipes," and JesicaJo""n"n/ DAILY Tom Brantt, who works in the area, grabs a high-value lunch at Sabor Latina. By Darren Ringet For the Daily As a native of Arizona, rve been spoiled my entire life when it comes to Mexican food. Now that I reside in authentic Mexican restaurant at 211 N. Main called Sabor Latino. When I first stepped into this qual- ity eatery, I felt right at home. I was greeted by the smooth Latin sounds of a pair of musicians playing their craft on guitar and trumpet. The ambience in this restaurant is very cozy and casual - it only seats about 30 customers. The decorations are also not too elaborate, simply a How do you say "I Love You" for the first time, thirty years late? Ann Arbor, I realize I'm way too far from the border to expect my usual standard of Mexican food. However, { my outlook changed when I was given an inside tip about a quaint, *1 S'lichot (Forgiveness) A new play by Kim Yaged about the ties that bind when a family falls apart. Mar. 23 - 25, Mar. 30 -Apr.1 at 8pm Mar. 26 & Apr. 2 at 2pm Trueblood Theatre Tickets are $14 * Students $7 with ID League Ticket Office 734-764-0450 Music Department ofTheatre and Drama r in **ATTENTION SENIOR HISTORY CONCENTRATORS** COLLOQUIUM SIGN-UP FOR FALL TERM 2000 IS THURSDAY, MARCH 23,-9:00A.M. TO 1:00P.M. IN 1024 TISCH HALL. Forgiveness Friday, March 24, 8 p.m. Michigan Theater UM School of1 A contemporary multi-disciplinary theater production inspired by the turbulent and intertwining histories of Korea, Japan and Chi V Student Discounts Beaux Arts Trio Sunday, March 26, 4 pam. Rackham Auditorium V Professional Bartending Training V Tips on Finding a Top Paying Job ~ Become a Talented, Socially Conscious Bartender V National Restaurant Association Alcohol Awareness Program V Great Part-time or Summer Job "not PRO\fRAM: 16 00 CLASSES BEGIN APRIL 7TH -6:00 PM w OXFORD CONFERENCE CENTER SpaceisLimited! Beethoven Beethoven Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 5 ("Archduke") Variations on Miller's "Ich binc Schneider Kakadu," Op. 121a Piano Trio No. 2 in e minor, Op. Shostakovich I-800-U-CAN- IX rte., ti I _J (www.universitybarternding.com)) r® sr. ew r wn rwn iwieiiiir rr rrrrrrrrrasiwwr ... University Musical Society *764,25