Writers Bloc and The Ebell of Los Angeles Present Ann Patchett and Kathy Baker | November 30, 2023

www.writersblocpresents.com
Video: Karl Sonnenberg
The past can be a difficult place. It’s full of choices we might now regret. Or not. But in Ann Patchett’s hands, we understand the pain, and yet we marvel that it can also live in a beautiful place, worthy of nostalgia and longing.
In her novels, it’s the unexpected connections we make that change the course of our lives. It’s permitting these unexpected moments and human connection to blossom that enrich us, transforming us. Patchett’s new novel, Tom Lake, treats us to a panoply of literary delights, as a mother recounts to her adult daughters her brief relationship she had with a guy when she was young, who is now a world famous movie star. It’s a story of family love, of considering one’s destiny. Like so much of her work, it’s about finding peace and contentment as we come to terms with choices we’ve made.
Kathy Baker is an award-winning actor in television and film. She starred in the iconic show Picket Fences, and won acclaim in her significant film appearances. Baker made her film debut in the great film, The Right Stuff, and went on to appear in dozens more, including The Cider House Rules, Edward Scissorhands, and others.