Reviews with content warning for Addiction - Tom Lake

Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

8 reviews

laurenleigh's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

I mean Ann Patchett could write an Ikea instruction manual, and I’d read it. There’s something about her way of seeing the truth at the heart of things. And then she can actually communicate that! But her style is so accessible, not caught up in pretentiousness. I loved this book in particular because it was a bonding experience for my mom and I, just like the sisters and their mom in this story were connecting. State of Wonder is still my favorite of hers, but this is a close second! FYI, Our Town is a prerequisite for reading this.

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hyuniecrisp's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Ann Patchett owns me

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jaimc's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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jennabeck13's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

About 310 pages

In the throes of the COVID-19 lockdown, Lara’s daughters are going stir-crazy, which is how she ends up telling them the story of her summer at Tom Lake with the famous actor, Peter Duke. That summer in Tom Lake changed the course of Lara’s life forever, and if things had gone differently her daughters may not be where they are today. This story forces not only Lara, but also her husband and daughters, to re-evaluate their relationships with one another, the cherry farm, and what they want for the future.

As with many of Reese’s book club picks, this book was average to me. I enjoyed the first half of the book and was drawn in by Lara’s storytelling, but the second half fell flat. I think this was due to the change in tone. Additionally, I cared more about Lara’s story of coming up in the acting world than her relationship with Peter Duke which definitely impacted my feelings toward the second half of the book.

Favorite Quote: “There is no explaining this simple truth about life: you will forget much of it. The painful things you were certain you’d never be able to let go? Now you’re not entirely sure when they happened, while the thrilling parts, the heart-stopping joys, splintered and scattered and became something else. Memories are then replaced by different joys and larger sorrows, and unbelievably, those things get knocked aside as well.”

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