Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Tom Lake

I picked up this book for a book club; it is not something I would typically pick up. But I was very much looking forward to it, mainly because Meryl Streep is the audiobook's narrator.
If I’m honest, I did not enjoy this book. I almost DNFed the book… But I pushed through and finished it. Actually, I had to completely restart it because I zoned out a little bit during about a quarter of the book.
This book is about a family who is back together again due to the pandemic. While back on their Cherry farm in Michigan, Lara, the mother, shares stories from her younger years that intertwine with a famous movie star. You follow as Lara shares these stories, some old and some new, with her husband and their three daughters.

Here are a few complaints I had with this book:
- The chapters in the audiobook are long. Like most are 30 minutes or more. There were easy places to break up the chapters, but they just kept going.
- One of the daughters is named Emily. That is also the name of the character Lara portrays twice in a play. The same names can get confusing, and it did a lot for me.
- Nothing happens throughout the whole book. Nothing happens!! I know that for a literary book, only a little happens sometimes. But nothing felt important to me throughout. It was all just a low note.
- The whole book felt like a period piece but was somehow based in 2020… It just didn’t fit.

What I liked:
- Meryl Streep as the narrator. Her voice is luxurious, and it fits the character well.

Content Warnings

readwithandreina's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

cibani's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

cnnr876's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-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? Yes

4.5

having never read any ann patchett before this, i now understand why readers are so taken with her work. this took me totally by surprise. it's quiet and comforting, soaked in nostalgia and memory. i found the characters deep and multifaceted, their motivations relatable, and their personalities engaging. patchett's way of knitting together a family story was very impressive, and i particularly liked how she played with time to bring the reader deeper into the story. i'll definitely be reading more of her work in the future.

Content Warnings

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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tabear's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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