Scan barcode
A review by ashmagoffin
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
5.0
I have never read any of Patchett's writing before but let me tell you I am impressed. As a theatre person, this book had a premise I was totally enthralled by. Lara narrating the story of her brief relationship with Peter Duke, who went on to become a famous actor, while performing a season of summer stock theatre. She is telling this story to her three daughters, who have returned to help pick cherries during Covid lockdown.
This is a relatively slow-paced book, it is one you can pick up and put down, much like how the story is told to the three girls. I loved the chorus of the daughters and all their inputs, for characters who probably were designed to be the audience tie-in they are vivid with their own personalities, I enjoyed this immensely. I loved how there were details that Lara omits from her daughters but confessed to the reader later, this was a beautiful touch. For a story that is for the most part set in the past, it touches on a multitude of contemporary issues as well as a few timeless ones that really illustrate as humans we have not changed.
The tone of this novel was superb and it was effortless to read, the perfect summer read. It also gave me major Evelyn Hugo vibes which is always a plus!
This is a relatively slow-paced book, it is one you can pick up and put down, much like how the story is told to the three girls. I loved the chorus of the daughters and all their inputs, for characters who probably were designed to be the audience tie-in they are vivid with their own personalities, I enjoyed this immensely. I loved how there were details that Lara omits from her daughters but confessed to the reader later, this was a beautiful touch. For a story that is for the most part set in the past, it touches on a multitude of contemporary issues as well as a few timeless ones that really illustrate as humans we have not changed.
The tone of this novel was superb and it was effortless to read, the perfect summer read. It also gave me major Evelyn Hugo vibes which is always a plus!