Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake is a poignant exploration of memory, love, and the intersections of past and present. Set during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the novel unfolds as Lara, the narrator, recounts a transformative summer of her youth to her three grown daughters while they all work together on their Michigan family orchard.

The narrative shifts between Lara’s present-day family life and her youthful romance with a budding actor, Peter Duke, whose star later rises to Hollywood fame. The story draws parallels between Lara’s youthful idealism and her mature understanding of love and sacrifice. The daughters’ varying reactions to their mother’s stories underscore themes of how family lore shapes identity and relationships.

Our book club mostly enjoyed the novel. We loved the looking back at one’s younger self as Lara explains her life to her daughters. We especially liked how the daughters reacted (some different some identical). We discussed how our pasts effect us and how and why we make the choices we do. I specifically loved the beauty of ordinary lives that Patchett’s tells so well in this book. I listened to Meryl Streep on the audible and she is so outstanding bringing Lara to life. Some of the other book club ladies read the book and thought it dragged a bit. I told them they should have listen to the audible.

Rating: 8.5