Overground Railroad by Candacy Taylor

I enjoyed this book immensely, and think it should be part of a high school curriculum for students learning American history. The subtitle is The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America, and it chronicles four decades of the role of the Green Book for black Americans traveling throughout the Jim Crow era South, as well as the nation as a whole. In my lifetime African Americans were not welcome many many places, and the Green Book allowed them to pick and choose where they ate, where they stayed, and to a great extent, where they could go. It unyoked them from the terror and humiliation that would otherwise be a part of travel away from home. The book is equal parts harrowing tales and positive stories about how the Green Book was successful. They got advertisers who welcomed black travelers, which was a win win that helped keep the Green Book financially viable and afloat. It is equal parts educational and horrifying, and well worth the read.

Mint Cucumber Salad

This has been the summer of endless cucumbers, where we could almost just turn around and the cucumber would go from too small for pickling to almost too big to eat--but not bitter, that was the one saving grace. So we had cucumber salad 3-4 times a week the whole time. This is a new one for me, so easy and very refreshing. 2 deseeded cucumbers 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup chopped red onions 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scrape out the seeds, then cut into thin slices. Toss the cucumbers with the salt in a colander. Let drain in the sink for at least 30 minutes, then tap the colander on the base of the sink to release any remaining water. Lay a clean dish towel flat on the counter, and then dump the cucumbers over top. Use the edges of the towel to blot the cucumbers dry. Meanwhile, soak the red onions in a small bowl of ice water for at least 10 minutes, then drain in a fine mesh strainer. In a medium bowl, combine the cucumbers, onions, white wine vinegar, olive oil, vegetable oil, sugar, pepper and mint. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Cover and let stand in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. Serve cold.

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro

This is a short, poweful, and compelling novel that chronicles several hours in the life of Elena, a frail old lady, on a quest through Buenos Aires. We meet her at home at the start of her day as she composes herself in readiness for a trip she’s planning to make. It merely involves a short walk, a train ride and a taxi trip, but as we’re to learn, Elena has a condition, severe Parkinson's disease, which makes even the simplest of actions a major endeavour. She is searching for the reason that her daughter, Rita, is dead. She was found hanging in a bell tower in a church, but Elena is sure that she did not do this to herself, and not in this place, so she is in search of answers. Elena knows that she hasn’t been told the whole truth, and her journey has as its goal a visit to someone she believes can help her reveal what really happened. The whole day builds towards this encounter, and we get ever closer to the moment when Elena will have her world turned upside down. The novella has many thoughts and questions about women's role in society, in the church, about autonomy and independence, and on family relations, illness, and death. It packs quite a punch into it's pages.

Riga Art Nouveau District, Latvia

Art Nouveau arrived in Riga at the very end of the 19th century but became a real force in the city from about 1901. The design movement was sweeping across Europe at exactly the same time that Riga was going through an economic boom, as industrialisation led much of the Latvian population to move into the city. During the late 19th-century, Riga experienced rapid economic development. It grew by 88% between 1897 and 1913. Between 1910 and 1913, almost 500 new buildings were built in Riga annually.

If there is one street you absolutely have to visit in Riga, is Alberta Street. Named after Bishop Albert who founded Riga more than 800 years ago, the street is a trademark thanks to its Eclectic Art Nouveau buildings. Most of them were designed by Mikhail Eisenstein, and some by Konstantīns Pēkšēns and Eižens Laube, a teacher, and his pupil. The buildings are decorated with sculptures, ornamented balconies, columns, and other Art Nouveau elements.

There are three general styles of art nouveau architecture to be found. Alberta Street harbors some of the finest samples of the Eclectic Art Nouveau Style in Riga, but there are three other styles you can uncover in the city: the Perpendicular Art Nouveau, National Romantic Art Nouveau, and the Neo-Classical Art Nouveau. For exploring the Perpendicular Art Nouveau category, which is commonly referred to as “department store style” or Warenhausstil (in German), head over to Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela (Krišjānis Valdemārs Street) number 37, which is home to a multi-story building designed by Eižens Laube. A good Neo-Classical example is the former Commercial Bank of Riga, which sits in the very center of the Old Riga, right opposite the Doms Cathedral.

Walking the Kiso Road by William Scott Wilson

The subtitle of this book was what intrigued me about it when I read a review of a few travel books that the author of the article thought might be under appreciated, or even unknown. It is a modern day exploration of Old Japan--which is what I would aspire to do when I get there myself. The author, who has had an academic career translating traditional Japanese texts on samurai culture into English, travels the ancient Kiso Road, a legendary route that remains much the same today as it was hundreds of years ago, and tells stories about what happens to him, as well as the significance of the places he stops. The Kisoji, which runs through the Kiso Valley in the Japanese Alps, has been in use since at least 701 C.E. In the seventeenth century, it was the route that the daimyo (warlords) used for their biennial trips—along with their samurai and porters—to the new capital of Edo (now Tokyo). The natural beauty of the route is renowned—and famously inspired the landscapes of Hiroshige, as well as the work of many other artists and writers. Wilson, esteemed translator of samurai philosophy, has walked the road several times and is an expert guide to this popular tourist destination; he shares its rich history and lore, literary and artistic significance, cuisine and architecture, as well as his own experiences.

Asian Cole Slaw

It has been another produce intensivce summer, and at a BBQ we were giving for a work event we oipted for the potato salad to be vegetarian (no bacon, but eggs and mayonaise) but needed the rest of the vegetable sides to be vegan friendly (it is always complicated, it turns out, to cook for relative strangfers). This used both cabbage and carrots, and was surprisingly delicious. 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce or fish sauce 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon sriracha sauce 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1 large garlic clove, minced For the Slaw: 1 small head shredded green or white cabbage (about 1 quart) 2 large carrots, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups) 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 cup cooked and shelled edamame 2 medium scallions, finely sliced on a sharp bias 1/2 cup chopped or whole salted peanuts 1/2 cup loosely packed chopped fresh cilantro Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir until the peanut butter is dissolved. Set aside. Combine all of the slaw ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss well. Let sit at least ten minutes so the vegetables have a chance to soak up the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or Sriracha sauce if necessary. Serve cold.

The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas

This is an action adventure revenge novel, written in 1844 by the prolific and incomparable Alexandre Dumas. The book creates a fantastic whirl-wind of unforgettable characters and interweaving story-lines that found me a bit dazzled, and also yearning for more, an even deeper glimpse into this world of treachery, romance, adventure, and mystery. It is deceptively witty and maybe a bit too much of the over-flowing charisma, but suffice it to say that there is every reason why it is on so many peoples Best Novels list. The novel starts out with a scenic over-look of an Italian waterway in Marseilles as it carries along a lofty ship named Pharaon with one passenger in particular who is unlike any other named Edmond Dantès. A dashing young and honest man with great potential who has just returned with news that will change the course of his life, and the lives of many others, forever. He is falsely accused of traitorous activity and is sentenced to life on a prison located on an island off the coasts of Marseilles forcing him to leave behind his family, his friends, and the love of his life Mercédès. This marvelous tale unfolds within the walls of this prison and among its outer-walls as Dantès attempts to make a dashing escape with a kind mannered Abbe, who teaches him quite a bit about life and leaves him a fortune when he dies. The rest of the novel follows not only the life of Edmond Dantès, but also the lives of his lover, best friend, family, and even his partners from his shipping company. Filled to the brim with treacherous plots, revenge, heartache, mystery, and pirating; it also contains young love, faith that knows no bounds, and families filled with the knowledge that blood truly is thicker than water.

Potter, Nebraska

We continue our search for the perfect overnight town in Nebraska for us to overnight in on our travels to and from the west. Spoiler alert, we have yet to find it, but this was a very pleasant stop for us on a recent return drive from the Tetons. The Village of Potter was established as the railroad progressing westward. The town was named after General Joseph S. Potter, a Union Pacific Railroad Director. In 1870, Union Pacific built a station house and it served as the post office, the schoolhouse and the land development office. It was the only building build for several years. Progress towards advancement began in 1885, when a hotel was built and shortly after stores began popping up, a newspaper called the Potter Review was created, and a church was built. In 1892 due to a big crop, grain bins were built to hold the oats and wheat the local farmers were growing. The railroad still runs through Potter, to the tune of one train an hour it seemed,but they have a branch of the Flyover Brewery, which has good beer and bar food. The Potter Sundry was a great early morning stop for breakfast--they open at 5 AM and have fresh baked items available.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I really liked this book and there were moments when I wanted very much to love it, but never quite got there. As a mental health professional, it deals with depression head on, and there are no false notes in the book in that respect. The book is part what-if, and part the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future, but with more choices and a multiverse of possibilities. Nora is a young woman who decides she isn’t cut out for life. She just lost her job and cat, has fallen out with her brother and best friend and generally assumes she’s a giant disappointment. So she decides to die. After attempting to end her life, instead of waking up dead, Nora wakes up in the Midnight Library: an immense space filled with shelves of books that stretch endlessly. She’s greeted by her school librarian, Mrs. Elm, who was always kind to her. While she’s in the Midnight Library, Mrs. Elm tells her, she’s preserved from death; this is an opportunity to decide how — and if — she wants to live. Everyone’s life could have gone an infinite number of ways, and each book in the library contains the story of that life. Nora can visit as many as she wants to find out what her life would have been like if she had made different decisions. There are a dizzying array of possibilities, and while all of this is fantastical, the ending is very much a reality.

Nearly Naked, Almost Famous

Loved this! I cannot believe it took me this long to really embrace Aperol, but I have! 3/4 oz Mezcal 3/4 oz Tequila 1 1/2 oz Yellow Chartreuse 1 1/2 oz Aperol 1 1/2 oz lime juice Shake and strain into chilled coupe Smoky, herbal, sweet and sour. Perfect summer even sipper.