The Martian by Andy Weir

As far as I can see we skipped a few months - August, September and October. Please let me know if this is an error. November's book club was at Heather's lovely home. Even though she fretted the food was a disastrously overcooked and almost ordered a pizza, I thought the short ribs and kale potato mash were absolutely amazing! Her "failure" would be my masterpiece! The polenta cake dessert was totally delicious as well. Recipe below.
It was Dana, Liesel, AmyR, Bianca, Suzy and me. We were regaled by stories of Suzy's online dating adventures. Between the polenta cake and her titillating stories I went home and came all over the place.

Here’s the cake:

• 3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, softened
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 vanilla bean
• 4 large whole eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 cup cornmeal [NOTE I DO HALF CORNMEAL, HALF POLENTA FOR A LITTLE CRUNCH]

1. Preheat oven to 325° F. and butter and flour a 10-inch round springform cake pan.
2. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape seeds from pod and add to butter mixture. Beat in whole eggs and egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and fold in flour and cornmeal. Pour batter into pan and bake cake in middle of oven 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden. Remove side of springform pan and place cake on a rack and cool completely. 

For the compote: put a bag of your favorite frozen berries in a bowl, sprinkle with about 1/4 cup sugar and douse with grappa. Also that to sit for a couple of hours.

For whipped cream: I add a big dollop of mascarpone to heavy cream before whipping, which I find stabilizes the whipped cream and stands up to the berry compote better. 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Suzy hosted July's book club. It was a lovely summer evening of al fresco dining. It was me, Dana, Liesel and Amy R.

June Book Club at Amy's

Amy Mirich hosted June's book club. I was there! It was a small group of me, Liesel and Tamar. Amy broke the news of her pregnancy to those who didn't know. It was a fun, intimate group but I cannot remember what the book was! Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

I do know Ann hosted April's book club on Shep's bday - April 21st! I was not there again because we were in Eleuthera. I also know (from the emails) that Matt made killer guac, tacos and margaritas and that Abby, Tamar, Liesel and Suzy were there. Sounds like lots of fun!

What I don't know is what the book was! I'm just guessing it was Girl on the Train. Please comment to fill in the blanks.

The Children Act by Ian McEwan

Heather hosted February's book club. I had just moved out of our Valley house and we were on the road in the RV so I missed it. I'm sure the food was to die for and the talk was dirty. If anyone wants to comment on who was there and what you talked about and what you ate that'd be great!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The first book club of 2015 was at Abby's house. It was her last before having baby Mace and moving to Connecticut. I enjoyed the book but don't remember a whole lot of the discussion. I do remember the yummy taco salad! We miss you, Abby!

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Tamar hosted a fun October Book Club. It was me, Suzy, Bianca, Liesel and Dana. Tamar made a delicious salad, enchilada dish and chocolate chip cookies! The book was The Signature of All Things - a hit with everybody. I was only half way through and totally didn't see the twists coming even though you guys were hinting! Now I'm almost at the end and dreading it being over. I think it's Elizabeth Gilbert's best writing by far. I enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love very much but I had no idea she was capable of this level of writing. I was wondering how she knew so much about botany, then I read this on her Facebook feed. Very inspirational...

Dear Ones -

I found this picture today that my husband took of me in 2011, doing research for THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS. This photo captures exactly what I did for three straight years. I sat in a chair, reading books about botany, evolution, abolition, women's history, missionaries, Dutch 18th century commerce, and more...in order to fill my brains (and index cards) with enough information to write that novel.

There is no situation in which I could possibly be happier than this — submerged in the vocation that I love, vanishing for hours a day into my work.

Un-showered, greasy hair, eyes tired, totally falling down the rabbit hole of research...this is me, living my dream.

I was thinking today about all the other paths that I did not take in life, no matter how shiny and appealing they may have looked. I've had the possibility of living so many different kinds of life that could have been a dream for somebody else. I never choose those lives. I've never lived the dreams that other people wanted for themselves — nor have I lived the dreams that other people may have wanted for me. 

I never had children...because that's somebody else's dream.

I never took the opportunities that were offered to me after the success of EAT PRAY LOVE to have a TV show of my own...because that's somebody else's dream.

I never took a good steady job teaching writing at a nice college...because that's somebody else's dream.

I didn't remain in Bali or Rome, gorgeous as those places are...because that's somebody else's dream.

I turn down 99% of the invitations I get to attend to fancy parties and stellar gatherings...because that's somebody else's dream.

I sold my big beautiful house with its fabulous gardens and lovely library...because one day I looked around at that gorgeous home and realized: "This is somebody else's dream." (Happily, I sold the house to the family whose dream it actually was. So we all win.)

I never hired a team of personal assistants and staff and consultants to help me "grow my brand"...because that's somebody else's dream.

I know what makes me come to life — working on my books — and this picture tells the whole story. Knowing what makes me come to life has helped me to distinguish between my dreams and the dreams of others.

WHAT MAKES YOU COME TO LIFE?

Ask yourself this question, whenever you are given any choice or opportunity. Ask: "Will saying YES to this path bring me closer to the source that brings me to life? Or will it take me further away?"

No matter how alluring, no matter how beautiful, no matter how sparkling and fancy and delicious — do not say YES to other people's dreams.

Do your own thing. Live in your own waking dream. Stubbornly.

Even if it means not washing your hair for a week. (ESPECIALLY if it means that!)

ONWARD,
LG