Reviews

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Only show reviews with written explanations

jackieboss's review against another edition

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4.0

Read by Meryl Streep. She's so good!

chnh's review against another edition

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4.0

nostalgic, funny, thought-provoking, and relatable when you’re 24.

a novel about Lara, now 57, recounting her romance to Duke, a later famous actor, during the play they performed in Tom Lake. told to her 3 daughters whilst they sit around doing farm work. Joe, Lara’s partner is so pure and kind and we love him, especially when he chimes in during the stories.

explored ideas of what we keep to ourselves vs what we tell those closest to us, the decisions we make that we aren’t proud of, and how if you seek out love and it doesn’t work out, the universe probably has something better in mind.

also farm life sounds so peaceful.

…

“me, who loves love.”

“you look like an eighth grader when you smoke...it’s not attractive.”

“we all take our place in the food chain.”

“maybe because we remember the people we hurt so much more clearly than the people who hurt us.”

“that the trees were our life and how good they were to us and how they took care of us because we took care of them.”

anjanireads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Reading this book was so grounding and relaxing. So beautifully written, a masterpiece. I have a deep relationship with the play Our Town, which is a major through line of the story, so it may not resonate with everyone. I’ll cherish it forever though.

juliaehill's review against another edition

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4.0

Who couldn't love an audiobook narration by Meryl Streep? Ann Patchett always does first-person POV character development stunningly, in a way that makes even her privileged narrators seem quite relatable. Cherry on top of an epic year of surpassing reading goals.

madisonrose's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

elizabethbatte's review against another edition

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5.0

Listened to this one as well as read the physical copy because I couldn’t get enough. Ann’s writing and character development is always spot on. So wonderful.