pomoevareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
What better time to reminisce about your mother having dated a movie star back in the day then during a season of cherry picking in an orchard during a pandemic when the whole family is sequestering themselves from the public.
My ninth book by this author, I can always count on Patchett to write with such careful prose and to create beautiful characters. Tom Lake is told from the perspective of Lara as she tells her three daughters about her summer playing Emily in the summer stock presentation of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Drawing out the story to begin with her first performance as Emily, a character who marries a neighbourhood boy in the play, and then through her foray into Hollywood and moving to New Hampshire to play Emily at the Tom Lake theatre and her summer in love there and then from there to how she ended up living at the orchard, Lara’s innermost thoughts and feelings are open to the reader.
This is a quiet novel with slow pacing and may not endear itself to those who wish some drama. This is a book for lovers of literary fiction.
I am most glad that I took the short time to read Wilder’s play before embarking on this book as it enriched the experience greatly.
I am giving this book a solid four stars. My only reason for it not being five stars is because I felt like a choice that Duke makes after seeing a place once didn’t make complete sense to me. As well, Lara’s choice of life partner seemed a matter of convenience rather than deep love. I am hoping I have given just enough away for those who have read the book to understand what I mean by that but no more.
Will I continue to work on completing the reading of all of Ann Patchett’s books? Certainly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
allisonstockslager's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Minor: Suicide, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
emilyexley's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Minor: Child death
sweetheart_ok's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book slowly unravels two storylines that converge at the end. The characters are likable yet flawed, and the narrator clearly regards herself poorly while revealing her uncanny ability to choose fateful interactions. The contrast between the two stories is stark but codependent. Pratchett skillfully develops complex characters and complicated relationships in this tale of heartache, family, and a search for peace
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Abortion
jamie_rich's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Drug use, Vomit, Sexual content, and Mental illness
jiscoo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
5.0
quietly heartbreaking. life is so unbearably beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, and Pregnancy
hyuniecrisp's review
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Abortion
atamano's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Drug use, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, and Blood
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started reading this but it felt like a gentle stream that was taking me on a reflective journey; what happens when your kids want to learn about the summer when you, or Lara our protagonist, an aspiring actress at the time dated a famous actor, at a time when he was not yet famous. The intricacies and complications of what used to be simple relationships and the impact people have on our lives and how they can influence on our future. This felt like a warm hug in places and by the end I was in tears, such heartfelt storytelling. My first of Ann Patchett and certainly not the last. I would definitely recommend to everyone. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an unedited and honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Alcoholism, Drug use, Abortion, Blood, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
deetabz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Infidelity, Confinement, Mental illness, Blood, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Medical content, Death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion and Racism