Tom Lake: A Novel

Appreciating the little things in life, the joy of day-to-day existence, and the love for your family and your work is what Tom Lake meant to me. Tom Lake refers to a (fictional) summer stock theater in northern Michigan in the 1980s, close to the locale of the current 2020 timeline--- a cherry farm (and pears, and apples). The late eighties marked a luminous period for protagonist/narrator Lara, a time that she walked the fine line between adulting and adulthood, coming of age amid a torrent of drama that swept her up in its fury. And then there was Our Town, the play within the novel that portrayed Lara’s life on the stage (and backstage).Lara is telling her three twenty-something daughters about her short stint as an actress in her twenties, and the brief romantic affair with Peter Duke, a famous movie star before he was a famous movie star. The gorgeous cherry farm backdrop is like a staid but vivid character, with Lara, husband Joe, and the three girls all together for the first time in a while. Due to the pandemic, they don’t have the usual crew to help pick the fruit, so the storytelling unfolds as the family works the orchard during harvest time. Like the cherries, some parts are sweet, some tart, and all of it is juicy.I felt the air, inhaled the scents, the cherries, the land and the whole layout of the farm while reading. And there is the kindness, too, of this family, whose flaws are also part of their strengths. The chaos of Lara’s life as a young woman is juxtaposed with the serenity of her life now, and the two timelines fluidly alternate, sometimes gently, at other times with piercing intensity. And every storyline has at least two. So, when you read about Lara in the past, or present, you just can’t help sniffing around to see the connections, of what surprise is crouched in the corner or hidden behind the door. I verily slipped into Lara’s character and imagined what decisions I would make as her, given so many pressing options and dilemmas.Ann Patchett nails it every time, her characters are complex and her graceful pace is measured even when events are brutal. Lara is a radiant work-in-progress during her young years, many readers will see themselves in her. I was a local stage actor in Austin during my twenties, so I immersed myself in Tom Lake, pretending to be Lara acting as Emily Gibbs and then back to Lara again. The two timelines showed the difference between the fiery summer love of youth and the deep, tender, and mature love of family that you helped to create. The high points were explosive, even when they were pin-drop quiet. Lara’s low points stirred me almost to tears; I could feel her pulse against mine.If you’ve never seen a production or haven’t read Our Town, you’re about to get a spoiler’s worth in the novel. But I think Ms. Patchett has surmised that most of her readers are already familiar with Thornton Wilder’s play. She coalesced Our Town and Tom Lake together in a way that reveals her refined skill of integration. Tom Lake and Our Town were separate but conjoined. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it will when you read the book. She also quotes Chekhov at pique (and even peak) intervals; she shares the Russian writer’s work with spare but specific devotion.I recently learned that Patchett has never owned a smart phone, and doesn’t herself do social media (she talks to the camera and her staff completes the rest). She has never used Google, or researched on Wiki—she does it the old-fashioned way. And perhaps she’s that slightly eccentric but lovely gentlewoman you see carrying paper road maps!Tom Lake is thoughtful, deft, and life-affirming. (It isn’t a pandemic novel, even though it takes place during that time). There’s comedy, tragedy, drama—a look-back-at-your- own-life kind of book. It’s classic Ann Patchett.There’s this passage that really tickled me from the book. It’s toward the end but not a spoiler, it’s thematic with the rest of the narrative. Lara was so busy recounting the past for her daughters that she forgot to make lunch, which she said she should have been working on while talking. “The past need not be so all-encompassing that it renders us incapable of making egg salad.” Priorities!

I haven’t found a book by Ann Patchett that I haven’t found well written, beautifully character driven and totally engaging. This is one of her easiest and lightest written.It was also a totally believable story of one woman’s life, complete with mistakes, misadventures and the decency of a woman who finds herway without regrets. As read by Meryl Streep it was lovely.

Ann Patchett is a magnificent storyteller, and this is her at her best. The proof is in the unforgettable characters. You’ll fall in love with Lara’s three daughters, and it will be because you feel that you them. And the rest? A story that meets and beats your expectations and at times leaves you breathless, like a swim in a cool lake.

Well-written as one would expect from Ann Patchett. The story was just ok. I never thought about abandoning the book but there wasn't anything really exciting or any tension or plotline I was anxious to have revealed or relieved. A pleasant but not super memorable read.

Ann Patchett is one of my favorite writers and she has once again written a novel I love.The novel takes place at the beginning of the Covid epidemic. Lara, her husband, and her three young adult daughters are residing on the family orchard in Northern Michigan. The narrative is told from Lara's viewpoint and consists primarily of her daughters' wanting to know about her past life - especially her romantic involvement with the now famous actor, Peter Duke.Much of the story is about a summer stock stage production of 'Our Town' located in Michigan on Tom Lake. Lara is in her twenties and has been called upon to take the lead role after the original actress has decided to quit. On Lara's first day, she is greeted by a charismatic young man named Peter Duke. From their first meeting evolves a drawn-out romance and affair that leaves Lara much beholden to Peter's narcissistic view of himself. Lara is quite aware that her daughters want to know all the intimacies that she and Peter shared, but she is not ready to give out these details freely.It is understood that Lara once had a promising future in acting but she chose to give it up for what she considers her idyllic life as a mother and wife. Her daughters find this all hard to absorb and want to know every last bit about Laura's time with Peter and her involvement with the stage.The writing flows beautifully and the imagery is incandescent. I could see Lara and feel her emotions. Ann Patchett knows people and her empathic writing exudes from every page. There isn't one false note.I have never read Our Town but that didn't stop me from loving this novel, nor did it prevent me from understanding what was transpiring. I learned a lot about stage production, acting, and actors.I especially loved how the author provided each of her daughters with a distinct and inimitable personality, all beloved to her and each other. This is a book to savor and reflect on. It is as sweet as the smell of cherries in Lara's Michigan orchard.

Tom Lake is one of those books that I enjoyed while reading but pondered more for weeks after I finished it. This is not an action-based book, but rather a character-based narrative which unfolds slowly, so it may not appeal to all readers. Lara, a former actress, now a cherry-farming mom of adult daughters, is prompted to tell the story of her acting career and romantic involvement with a huge movie star.The novel takes place during the Covid pandemic, and the daughters have returned home to isolate with their parents. This setup reminded me of classics like Bocaccio's Decameron (where a group of people isolate at a country estate to escape the plague, and they pass the time telling stories). This novel is very much a story about telling stories, about the interaction between the narrator and the audience (who may or may not know parts of the story already), what the narrator chooses to disclose (or not) to the audience, and the power of storytelling to influence the listener. Even Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, which runs like a thread throughout the novel, underscores the storytelling motif and how the play influences and teaches Lara life lessons.There is a deft contrast between the glamorous and superficial world of the actors and the very earthy, tenuous and sensual world of the farmers as the novel moves between these two worlds through Lara's eyes. Throughout, there is a deep appreciation for the love and bond of family and the strength in finding a life where you truly belong. This is a subtle novel, with many layers to explore, but it requires the reader to be willing to sit and savor the experience of the storytelling process.A note about the audiobook: 5 stars. Meryl Streep is the perfect narrator for this novel. Her tone is the right balance of emotion and wry commentary, and her own life experience parallels Lara's life enough to lend an authenticity and warmth which made the listening experience very enjoyable.

**"Tom Lake"** by Ann Patchett is a beautifully crafted novel that intertwines themes of love, memory, and family dynamics against the backdrop of a cherry orchard in Northern Michigan. Set in the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return home to help with the harvest, prompting them to ask their mother to recount the captivating story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared a passionate romance during her time at a theater company called Tom Lake.As Lara reflects on her youthful love and the choices she made, her daughters begin to reevaluate their own lives and their relationship with her. Through these conversations, the novel explores the complexities of love—both the exhilarating thrill of early romance and the deeper, more intricate bonds of marriage and parenthood. Patchett's lyrical prose and keen insights make "Tom Lake" a meditation on what it means to find happiness in a world that feels increasingly fragile. With her trademark emotional depth and narrative artistry, Patchett delivers a rich, luminous story that showcases her status as one of contemporary literature's most celebrated authors.

To like Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake” you must be a patient, knowledgeable reader. It helps to be familiar with Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town”. Having seen Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” is also useful. Oh. And don’t forget that short story by Herman Melville, “Bartleby, the Scrivener.” The romantic entanglements of a cast of young people also should be recognized as important knowledge to keep in your back pocket. On the other hand, if you like intelligent literary fiction, there is still no reason not to read Patchett’s latest novel.Most of the narration is set on a cherry farm on the shores of Lake Michigan. The interaction is mostly between a mom and her three daughters. Since it is during the pandemic the family must pull together during the harvest. Lara, the mom, had a brief fling at acting and stardom when she played an important role in a Hollywood movie. She met Peter Duke who later achieves stardom and has a fling with him during summer stock at Tom Lake. Her daughters are curious and badger her to tell the story. Picking cherries during the harvest provides ample opportunity.If the set up seems a bit corny, well, it is. But, heck, it’s our Covid moment, and the story not only fascinates the daughters, but also (surprisingly) this reader. Falling in love and falling lust are different. In retrospect, the main character recognizes this fact. She also realizes the Svengali spell the later-to-be Hollywood actor weaves—wherever he goes and whomever he is with.The story is about choices made and choices not made. And how there is a big difference between them. It is also about truth and the decision how much to share with your own family. Even many years after the fact. The truth revealed to the reader is surprising. Although Patchett is not my favorite author, this read of “Tom Lake” was worth the effort.

Livro bom de ler ainda assim não tão bom quanto outros livros da mesma autora.

Está muy bonito. Llegó a tiempo pero algo golpeado y maltratado.

Beautiful family saga, I couldn't put it down

Interesante libro y esta escritora tiene una manera muy elegante de escribir

Reading Ann Patchett is always a delightful journey—both in terms of discovering the story itself and in marveling at her superb writing skill—and her novel Tom Lake is no exception. This yet another fascinating character study and examination of family dynamics that will resonate with readers far beyond the last page of the engrossing story. Patchett delivers the otherworldly excitement and magic of young love, coupled with the crushing disappointment and lingering pain that is so often part and parcel of that discovery. She also meditates on the more mature depth of family love in all its many forms … between a wife and husband, amongst and between children and parents, and between children and grandparents. The characters—from her protagonist, Lara, to her three daughters, husband Joe, Lara’s grandmother, and the characters who shared a summer together at the Tom Lake Theater in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—are superbly realized and sharply brought to life. At times funny, sad, exciting, and poignant, Patchett’s ability to assemble a profoundly touching family saga covering a long sweep of years is truly impressive. As with all good character studies, we’re sad to say goodbye to these folks as we turn the final page of a story that nonetheless feels satisfyingly complete. Ann Pratchett has delivered a superb read, one quite unlike anything she’s done before, yet one filled with all the familiar literary magic she consistently delivers.