Reviews

Tom Lake [Large Print] by Ann Patchett

lcweaverson's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

kurbanski's review against another edition

reflective

3.5

whatmarloesreads's review against another edition

4.0

(Audiobook). Such a lovely story. It is so different from what I normally read, since this book has no clear plot. But it works! It is a beautiful and slow telling of a personal history. It never felt boring to me and I could imagine myself swimming at Tom Lake or walking around in the cherry farm.

I think I would have given it 3 stars if I just had read it, but the audiobook narrated by Meryl Streep made the experience so wonderful that I have to give an extra star.

krispet's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jrjenkins's review against another edition

3.0

2.6

pagesofash's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It's a phenomenal story just not to my tastes, but well written and I'm glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Blood

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Sexism, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy

sooteydog's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

5.0

shayzard's review against another edition

5.0

I appreciated this novel about a mother telling her adult children stories about her time as an actress–when she dated the not-yet-famous Duke–during their time on a farm during the COVID19 pandemic. The subconscious search of who she is and who she wants to be while she works as an actress and the complications romance itself were the perfect mix for a novel in itself, let alone the additional of contemporary frame. The contemporary moments also help a great deal with the tension in who she ends up marrying, having children with, etc. The narrator also flat-out refuses to tell some things, which I admired. It's very interesting to see what she tells her kids and what doesn't, and try to piece together what she tells us and what she doesn't. I'm curious if this will be shortlisted for the Pulitzer next year.

isabelsophiex's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

janereaction's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0