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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Just a quiet, lovely ode to the small life. Like Everything Everywhere All at Once but if the mom knew the whole time she had made all the best decisions
Also, pro tip - audiobook is read by Meryl Streep
Also, pro tip - audiobook is read by Meryl Streep
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Five stars is simply not enough, I need to live in this book.
Tom Lake follows a woman as she reminisces on her season of summer stock theatre to her three daughters during the COVID-19 pandemic. This book gave me somewhere between Mamma Mia and Little Women vibes; it's family and woman-forward and is perfectly nostalgic and familiar. The story is told in flashbacks, interspersed with relevant interactions in the present that spur the story along. Meryl Streep narrates the audiobook, and she was an absolutely perfect embodiment of Lara's grounded-ness and nurturing motherly love.
Tom Lake follows a woman as she reminisces on her season of summer stock theatre to her three daughters during the COVID-19 pandemic. This book gave me somewhere between Mamma Mia and Little Women vibes; it's family and woman-forward and is perfectly nostalgic and familiar. The story is told in flashbacks, interspersed with relevant interactions in the present that spur the story along. Meryl Streep narrates the audiobook, and she was an absolutely perfect embodiment of Lara's grounded-ness and nurturing motherly love.
Content Warnings
Minor: Vomit
I think of the narrator was more relatable as my own mother I might have enjoyed the story more. It dragged. I’m not sure there was ever a plot. The author acknowledges that this book is an ode to Our Town and that really feels like it’s most of what it is. AP is talented but if anyone else tried to do this I might not have even made it through.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
is it superficial that i’m giving this read five stars because i loved hearing meryl streep say my name countless times in the audiobook? perhaps. am i going to do it anyway? YUP.
all jokes aside, i thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook! it was beautifully written and an easy read (or in my case, listen).
i think i’m going to have to look into more ann patchett books in the future!
all jokes aside, i thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook! it was beautifully written and an easy read (or in my case, listen).
i think i’m going to have to look into more ann patchett books in the future!
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes