The Library Vault

Table for Two by Amor Towles

Imagine sitting across the table, having a conversation with a close friend. It is just the two of you, facing each other. It is the most fundamental level of human interaction that we possess. There are no cell phones. No screens blaring the bright lights of a latest football game. Technology is a distant memory of distraction. A time to transcend.

Amor Towles’ latest book is that transcendence. A collection of short stories that possess human-to-human interaction. It is a reminder to be present in the moment, which is a liberating experience. In today’s world, allowing ourselves to be present has become a luxury rather the norm. The body of work is rendered of six stories broken up in to two parts. The first compilation of short stories takes place in good ole New York City. The second part is a novella that takes place in Los Angeles with a familiar character — a character whose story was never officially finished.

I am not sure how many of you know of Amor Towles’ first novel, Rules of Civility. I think it is a wonderful novel that deserves more recognition. Towles creates captivating characters who hold a special place in your heart. One of those characters is Eve, whose essence is unforgettable. Towles leaves the reader guessing, what happened to Eve after she boarded the train. Did she make it to Chicago? Or did the train lead her in another direction? I will not spoil it, I can only tell you to read Towles’ new book.

Now, imagine Amor Towles is the person sitting opposite you, reading his latest bestseller. In an interview with NPR, Towles sees himself as that person, reminding us to be present in a day of distractions. What should you be drinking? A glass wine, a tumbler of whiskey, or maybe a dirty martini would do the trick. Towles loves the Golden Age of Hollywood. The thirties and forties are his “golden-age-thinking”: the idea that a different time period is better than the present day. In movies like Casablanca and Philadelphia Story, there is only one drink that would come to mind. What more could pair well with two people hashing out their lives while surrounding a small table, a dirty martini?

In the new year, we have hope for the future and are willing to make changes. Why not toast to something that will percolate your senses and remove yourself from the everyday distractions? Toast to turning back to a golden age of sitting without screens, looking someone in the eye and sipping a classic drink. Cheers to transcending distractions.

The Perfect Dirty Martini Recipe
Credit to Greg Tinti, Owner of Center Wine and Spirits

A classic martini is made with gin, vermouth, bitters, with a lemon twist or olives to taste. My martini is dirty and the dirty is the olive brine. I prefer vodka rather than a classic gin martini. As James Bond prefers, “shaken, not stirred.” The recipe below is how to make the perfect dirty martini.

2.5 oz of Ketel One Vodka
3/4 oz of Olive Brine
Shaken with ice and served straight up with 3 olives