Tom Lake by Ann Patchett / Review
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- This novel has been dismissed by some readers as cosy fiction but I think it's more daring than what's on the surface. I completely fell for this book. Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.
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Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
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I just finished reading Tom Lake and in these harsh times I found it was balm to my soul. I never thought it became banal. And while there was lots of love going around, I think there was depth and complexity in how Lara related differently to her three daughters, which made the present in the book interesting, too, and not just the past. I found it expertly done, and even more so considering that Ann Patchett does not have children herself.
I always enjoy your videos, but in this one you spoke my heart!
Thank you, I marked it as an audiobook. In my opinion most movie actors are not great narrators, but Meryl Streep is one exception and her daughter is alsovan excellent narrator. Call me a fussy audiobook fan, but a narrator can make or break the experience.
I loved Tom Kate for it gentle quiet mood. It was such a glorious happy read. A far cry from all the angst and dysfunctional themes of so many of the latest best sellers It soothed and calmed me Why not have more reads like this
I loved it. It came at the right time for me, when the heaviness of the reality, of my own life, was too much, and I needed a comfort place. I took it with me to a friend’s country house, read it on a veranda. Despite some tragic events mentioned in the book, it was less heavy than the real life…
Thanks, Eric!🌷I loved Tom Lake! I made a little project of it by listening to the audiobook narrated by Meryl Streep, after reading Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and watching the production of the play on you tube with Paul Newman in the role of the Stage Manager. I think that knowing the play made me appreciate the novel even more. For example Paul Duke says to Laura a couple of times “Where’s my girl? Where’s my birthday girl?” And this is a line his character in the play says to hers. Reflections on the passing of time and the meaning of life are also very much part of the play.
What a lovely thing to do, I want to watch the production with Paul Newman on RUclips too now - I wasn't sure whether Our Town was a real or fictional play when reading Tom Lake, how interesting
I’m reading Tom Lake right now. I bought it from Parnassus and Ms. Patchett kindly signed it to me. In my view, each of her books are gems, and this one is no exception. She is a national treasure.
I feel like people wrote it off as a fluffy movie star book. I also think that Our Town can feel overdone, though it taps into the meta element of the Stage Manager and what it means to tell your own story. I personally loved it. When I realized why there were daisies on the cover….yeah it hit me.
Eric, I'm so happy you loved Tom Lake. It was one of my favorite books last year, and I think it's one of her best books along with Bel Canto and Commonwealth. It was interesting that she said she felt there were enough books about all the difficulties in the world, so she wanted to write a kind book.
i think i would love it, too. this comforting book. ☺
I also went into this book with low expectations; as I DNF'd Dutch House, just couldn't get into it. However, I heard so much praise for this book, I had to check it out and I'm happy I did. Count me as someone who LOVED THIS BOOK! I found it had a couple characters I intensely disliked, which is always enjoyable to read for me and I also found it quietly impactful. For a book that doesn't have a lot of surprises plot-wise, I was surprised by how compulsively readable it was. I read this book in two days - couldn't put it down. I also learned more than I ever imagined I would learn about fruit farming. I am now looking forward to reading more from this author.
I finished listening to the wonderful audio book of Tom Lake last night, such a treat, Meryl Streep's narration is divine. I found the story so nuanced, moving and beautiful, and so lovely to listen to your review this morning with my porridge and tea when the book is still very much in my thoughts.
I am not a consistent reader. The librarian recommended this book to me while I was shopping for manga books for my daughter. I was on work trip in Africa and I managed to complete the book in the airport, flight and in between my other commitments. It helped me to deal with some physiological issues stemmed from my workplace. Maybe not like Eric, but the idea of reflecting on the past helps a lot. I put myself in the future and looked at the present to understand how to deal with the situation, as Lara narrates her story. I am a factual person who works in engineering research and I most of the time finds fiction is waste of time (no offence). This book played the right tune for me for the time being. Sorry for the long comment 😊
I really loved this book. So many layers and depth to the story and the way the story unfolds is this author at her best.
I absolutely loved this book. For many of the reasons you've outlined here. Thank you!
I actually listened to the audiobook and fell in love with it! After listening I looked up the play of Our Town and watched it and was deeply moved. I also listened to some interviews on Ann and her book just to get more knowledge of the story and Ann herself and how she went about writing it. I plan to purchase the book for my shelf. I see myself re-reading it again…and again…Well done on your review of this book, Eric. I am so happy it resonated with you.
Your comments were spot on. After reading it I immediately reread Our Town, and The Cherry Orchard and read Fool for Love for the first time. My daughter listened to Meryl Streep reading Tom Lake and announced it as perfection. We both loved the book for all the reasons you spoke of.
Eric, thank you for this thoughtful and moving review of one of my favorite reads of 2023. I like you read it at exactly the right time, during a very hot spell last summer. It felt magical to me, and transported me to that cherry farm and to the summer stock theater company. After months of reading bleak and dismally dark fiction, Tom Lake was a breath of fresh air. In fact, the book contains some very dark parts but always in the context of life’s rich pageant. I’ve read all of Patchett’s novels and this one was for me among the most resonant and impactful.
I loved Tom Lake. It was beautifully written. Such a gentle story
a 5-star & new favourite from last year! I loved this book, thank you for talking about it!✨
I'm half way through this book and I am absolutely loving it. It resonates with me on so many levels at this stage of my life.
I haven't read this book bit I absolutely adore the beautiful cover. So striking and gorgeous.
I love Ann Patchett’s writing. I haven’t read this or her last book, but Bel Canto remains a favorite along with her book, Truth and Beauty. I need to reread these and catch up on her later books. ❤️ I hope all is well with you. I love your channel although I don’t comment often. I love hearing your thoughts on all the books you bring to us.
I have read most of Ann Patchett's books. I like the the originality of her novels such as Bel Canto, State of Wonder and others. Her way of writing engages me right away.
Waiting for Tom Lake to come out in paperback.
Thank you for your always worthwhile review.
Thanks for your review and reading the comments of others here, too I'm really looking forward to diving in when it's available at my local library (I'm at #12 on the reserve list!) This will be my first Ann Patchett.
I ran out of library time with this book so have recently bought the audible version - who can resist anything read by Meryl Streep! I love quietly powerful stories these days - perhaps a feature of getting older? Anyway, I’m looking forward to finishing TL and then exploring some of AP’s other work. Thanks as always Eric and happy reading 🌸
I loved Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. The contemplative quiet mood of reflection really drew me into the story. Perhaps now as I am in my mid 50's I appreciate the message of looking back at the past in a contemplative way instead of beating yourself over mistakes, hard feelings etc. And omg the reveal as the novel approaches the ending....and the Our Town homage, especially Emily. So beautiful.
Thank you for such wonderful insights about this book! ❤️My book group found it bland too. Do we always need to have a reading experience full of anguish and drama? Reading for many provides escape from the sometimes unpleasantness of real life. Her reflections are poignant and meaningful about the strength and comfort of family. I identify with your comments about acting and my younger self as well! I appreciate that you addressed all these issues! Reflections help us grow?!
Completely agrees with your review. I loved it, and listened to the audio after. It is such a lovely book.
A beautifully crafted review. After I read it I moved on to another book without thinking about it a lot. Your review resonated with me and so I now appreciate Tom Lake more now because of your review. Thank you.
Thanks so much! That’s great to hear.
Thank you, Eric!!! Can't wait to read it👏👏👏
If I didn't already have 30 books on my TBR pile, I'd read this right now. I have been thinking about who we are in the present and how we think of ourselves in the past as still us, but actually that person no longer exists. I have been thinking about a story of a woman who is in her late 30's and hates her life, yet doesn't regret her choices. I've been playing around with writing it. It's so strange to end up in a place we're not happy with, yet know the choices we made at the time were the best choices available to us in a sense. This book sounds really cool. And I love acting, too. I have a degree in Dramaturgy.
I loved this book - it was one of my top 5 novels of 2023. So moving and authentic.
Agree with you! I hadn’t heard any negative reviews when I read it last summer (by read, I mean Meryl Streep read it to me ❤). It was a gentle, loving, beautiful story. I even checked out some Chekhov and Our Town from my library, but I didn’t get to them before they were due back. No matter, a big thumbs up read for me.
I love the idea of a kind book…. We can sure use it…..
I listened to the audio . I enjoyed the book and you are right, it is a study on reflection.
Thanks for the review right now. I am about 30% through it and your review is helping me set my context for completing it. 👍
I loved Tom Lake! It was in my top 12 last year. I thought it had beautiful, subtle layers. I had to go out and get a copy of Our Town to go along with it!
I plan reading but the size of the waiting list shows people must really enjoy it
The deftness and strength of Ann Patchett’s writing bowls me over. I preorder all of her books because I am buying them based on her writing, not the plot. Tom Lake was number six in my 2023 top 10. These Precious Days is my favorite book of hers.
Awesome narration my Meryl Streep.
I liked this book but I was left feeling like I missed something. I wasn't quite sure I understood the significance of the very end. The descriptions of the cherry farm will stay with me though and I do agree that there is almost something daring with portraying contentment.
Hi Eric, I'm sorry you're going through something, but I loved Tom Lake. It was my third Patchett novel and I look forward to her listening to her book recommendations. Take care.
Great review of Tom Lake - I waited forever for library to get to me, but worth the wait - just finished with audio, yes, in the madness of America at the moment, this escape was wonderful and I am old enough to watch “My Town” every year!!! Thx
Thank you and I’m so glad you enjoyed this novel so much!
I’ve ordered it from my local library so hope it’s not too long before my turn comes.
I do think you need to read (or know) Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' to enjoy a deeper understanding of the book.
I truly had no idea that people don't like this book. I adored it. I had read Our Town a million years ago in school. After reading Tom Lake I watched the production of Our Town with Paul Newman as the Stage Manager. I thought he was great but didn't think that rest of the cast measured up. A much better production as a whole is the version with Spaulding Gray as the Stage Manager (which is the production that Lara auditions for in Tom Lake, but doesn’t get the part). Both are available on RUclips.
You must, you absolutely must, read Our Town. It'll take no more than a couple of hours, buy it will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Ah Eric ❤I do apologise if my comment about Tom lake put a dampener on your joy of starting an anticipated book , I didn’t mean for it to have that affect on you if it did contribute to it. I love hearing your view on books and recommendations/reading a long with you. You have a wonderful way about you. maybe I’ll save commenting on something if I feel I wasn’t in love with it for after you finish reading it too and hear your thoughts too.
So why didn’t I love it ..good question .I really thought I would. I didn’t find it to be a bad book at all really, I did say I could see why many people do love it. It’s a nice book so I can appreciate the beautiful writing in it and as someone who is a mother who also has three children , I could relate to Ann patchetts character reminiscing and telling the story to her now grown up children but you might be right in that maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for that type of book. I found the name Emily because it’s used so many times in it grinding my gears a little 😂 and it wasn’t beautiful to the degree that I was just wow’d .. maybe i was just expecting it to be totally out of this world amazing from the amount of hype it got. 🤔
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been going through some hard stuff recently and am sending love your way and hope you feel a lot better soon. x
I wholeheartedly agree with you. At first I found it rather slow but it’s a great book for mulling over. Rather like Mrs S by K Patrick, more enjoyable after the fact.
Sounds like something right up my alley.
Excellent review, thank you!
I loved Tom Lake it was so well written the characters really came alive,I also received a copy of Our Town.Ive been recommendingTom Lake to my book friends.
Have you read Ann Patchett’s 1997 novel The Magician’s Assistant? About a woman who was the assistant of a gay magician she loved dearly, and who has recently died. It’s also one that isn’t that beloved while I absolutely loved it.
I liked Ann Patchett's The Magician's Assistant. She's great.
Oh I loved this book listened to the audio book and methyl Streep did an amazing job. I think this is the perfect type of book to read in the miserable month of January as it’s so cosy
i think i would love it, 'cause it's not a showy book.
I was disappointed with this book. I have loved all her other books and in particular Bel Canto stands out for me. I had not heard of the play the book was based around, which did not help…
Really great book
I loved loved Tom Lake! I started with the audio, but got so sucked in I finished reading it. Sorry Meryl 😂
I read “Bel Canto” and loved it. Later, I read “Run” and “The Magician’s Assistant,” and I was underwhelmed. As such, I am a bit wary of continuing with her.
I didn’t care for this book at all. I have read several of her novels and enjoyed them, but I found this really boring and the constant going-on about Our Town was annoying. Why did it take her so many days to tell a very boring story to her family? It could have been done over dinner. But I do appreciate hearing your point of view - thanks for this video.
I enjoyed the book very much but I could see someone not getting it if they haven’t read or saw Our Town.
I loved Tom Lake. A book that surprised me was Speech Team by Tim Murphy.
I didn't not enjoy it but did find it very vanilla and lacking tension. I also didn't like the structure where it seemed the story advanced when somebody said something along the lines of "I didn't know that" or "you didn't tell us that before". I also didn't know of the play Our Town beforehand so its significance to the plot was lost on me. As you say, this book could easily be loved if I needed a cosy book - my Mum really loved it.
Hi I came here because of 'Night Swimmers
by Roisin Maguire' and I am not a reader, but I do want to check this out! Cheers Thank you
I really enjoyed Tom Lake, but I would say I know my experience was heightened by Streep's interpretation on audio. Hope it gets better for you soon.
I love Anne Patchett but l really hated this book : my expectation were too high and the characters; well l just didn't care !! But k will keep trying g her books.😊
I loved Tom Lake. I didn't really rate my books last year, but this would have come inside the top ten. It was cosy in part, but also quite brutal in others. I wonder at people calling it bland when there is so much around toxic relationships with others and with fame and seeking one's fortune, especially as a woman. It is very layered.
I’m guessing it’s the people that value plot over a slice of life. I love heavy character development and a relationship plot of some sort.
Yes, that’s probably true!
one of 2023's best
I thought it was just alright, but not that great. Many people loved it. I gave it 3.5*
I loved it!!
It was a lovely book. ❤
I thought cozy fiction meant Jane Austen. Never heard of this writer but the book jacket makes me head for the exit. Who designs them? It's something I've noticed about contemporary fiction. Bland and boring covers, even classic literature has been infected by it. I was on a live stream earlier and I showed Spanish language books published by Alfaguraa and Tusquets. Now those covers are something to behold.
Unpopular opinion: This novel is overhyped. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters. A boring and uneventful read.
I’m sorry but this book really bored me 🙊
The older you get the more you appreciate quiet, simple, and boring. Especially when you know life will consistently throw shit at you like a monkey.
Did not care for book,.
So slooooow....