Reviews with content warning for Blood - Tom Lake

Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

32 reviews

iconicavocado's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

(read via book & audiobook)

Book 📖: 3.5/5 stars

Audiobook 🎙️: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don't think I have felt as conflicted about a book rating than this one. Ultimately I just going to come to terms that though this is a sweetly, nostalgically written book with a lovely audiobook (It's Meryl Streep for God sakes!): it just didn't land for me.

I got some quams with certain choices made but mainly I'm not the target audience for this. I feel if were more of a appreciate of theatre this would be my jam. I love the dynamic with the mom, Lara, and her family and the present day story. But I couldn't believe in the love Lara has with her ex boyfriend, Peter Duke. Which is what the book is centered around and it does not work for me.

Also I found 3 spelling/writing errors while reading off some of the digital book. Two were words swaps and one was a complete misspelling of the word "say" spelled "stay". At first I thought Meryl misspoke but the third time I realized it may be a publishing error. I'm getting really annoyed I keep finding misspellings and errors in new work nowadays. Seriously is it that hard to proof your work, publishers?

If you love plays, classical literature, and stories about family this is a book for you. And I have to say the audiobook is FANTASTIC. I loved how Meryl read the book and I wouldn't have liked it as much I have without her.

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dev921's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

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

1.0

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sholtie's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

Can't wait to tell my kids about the toxic situationship I had when I was 19

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elissec's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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delaneybarry's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

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cassiebartelme's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I initially thought I wasn’t going to like this novel- I had a slow start getting into it- but I did like it very much. The writing is excellent and Ann Patchett does a masterful job of telling a story of a family on a cherry farm in Michigan during the pandemic and the story of one summerstock theater season. Writing out the plot like that makes it seem like it shouldn’t work- that it will be odd or clunky or forced but it is not at all. Put it on your list.

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