Bookclub Bean Dip.

Ladies, thanks for coming over and making me not be such an Edward and for not making me hate Miss Flo so much, and for providing lots of awesome conversation about a mediocre (at best) book! Since there were compliments on the dip, I thought I'd share the recipe.

White Bean Dip a la Hearn:

Ingredients
2 cans of white beans
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of chopped parsley leaves
1 tablespoon of chopped thyme leaves
kosher salt
ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil (to taste)
1 tablespoon of chopped chives

Directions
Rinse the white beans, chop the chop-ables, add olive oil (~ 4 tablespoons) to mixture and blend in your Cuisinart (or blender), add more olive oil if things seem a little dry. Add chives to the top of the dip after it's been blended and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Book Review: The Glass Castle

A painful, chilling tale of childhood as told by MSNBC contributor Jeanette Walls is a story about kids braving the world almost alone. The parents in this memoir are almost out of a story book or movie. Mom, the artist, the free-spirit, wanted her children to tough-it and learn lessons the hard way even letting her family starve all while focusing on her non-profitable artist career. Dad, the brilliant, scientist, alcoholic nomad of a dude was in and out of the house, drunk, abusive, and manipulative to a fault. Memoirs told by children of troubled households are equally troubling to read because you find yourself constantly wanting to shake the shit out of the kids and say, "run!", "leave!", "move away!" but then you ask yourself whether it's an easy thing to do - moving away from one's parents.

Often throughout my reading experience, I was annoyed and frustrated by both the story and the characters in The Glass Castle and I often mistook the feeling as disgust for the book itself. Upon reflection, the book is depressing and amazing, an unbelievable account of growing up with a screwed up family in the most horrifying and at the same time loving of situations. From molestation to starvation, running from bill collectors to fighting neighborhood bullies, The Glass Castle is a harrowing tale of suffering and success, love and disappointment and I personally love to hate it.

Book Review: On Chesil Beach

This book was really well written but ultimately I was disappointed with the story. Basically, the entire book is based on the tragic fact that a couple (Edward and Florence) have married each other when there are majorly damaging issues they have yet to tackle. Physical intimacy is not Florence's forte and Edward would rather put off his disappointment than broach the subject with good ole Flo. Ian McEwan, of Atonement notoriety, knows how to weave a tale of anxiety, love, tenderness, and heartbreak well and I do not have a problem with his writing style, in fact, I say "bravo" to him. However, I say "poo-poo" to the plot line as I was disappointed that after Florence suggests that they can be BFF instead of luvahs, Edward says "Hellz No" but then years later agonizes over his decision to fly the coop. While I understand you may only have one true love of a lifetime, the fact that Edwards came with such a hefty price tag was unfair and a little unrealistic. Also, if I'm not mistaken, this book took place just before the sexual revolution and Florence's character seemed a little out of place in this wakening world of exploration. Fuddy-duddy is what I'd say she was. A fuddy-duddy who loved, loved classical music and leading on her boyfriend, turned fiance, turned husband of a short few hours. C'mon Edward, get back in the game in a serious way!