Tom Lake - Ann Patchett - Book Review

Youthful love, summer by the lake and melancholy discussions the consequences of the pandemic

This book was the break from reading I didn’t know I needed. Slow, lighthearted and full of summer imagery. But also realistic and melancholy in places. This book helped me to slow down and enjoy the act of reading. As well as enjoy the beauty of summer.

*Light spoliers below*

Summary 

Tom Lake takes place during the pandemic when Lara’s three adult children come home to the family farm. While picking cherries Lara tells the story of the summer she fell in love with Peter Duke - who went on to become a famous actor. This book is filled with summery scenery and young love.

What I loved

I loved that this book felt like summer. 

It is just getting into summer where I live so it was the perfect time to read this book. Tom Lake will make you embrace summer and enjoy everyday in the sun. With talks of cherry orchards, and swimming in a beautiful lake, this book is the definition of summer. 

This book will make you want to buy a cherry farm (until you realise how much hard work it will be). I loved how lighthearted the scenery of this book was, which was a nice contrast to the not so lighthearted plotline. 

I loved seeing the relationships between all the different character’s especially Lara’s relationship with each of her three daughters. Each relationship was well developed and individual. The daughters each found commonality and comfort in their mother which was nice to see. I also loved seeing Lara’s relationship with Sebastian develop. They were friends because they wanted to be (not because of any past grievances or expectations). 

What I didn’t love 

I wasn’t ready for the real world issues discussed in Tom Lake. 

This book had two plotlines, the summer at Tom Lake and the ‘real life’ plot of the family in the pandemic. Sometimes this book felt a bit too real. There were discussions of Lara’s three grown children not wanting to have children of their own. For them this decision could mean selling their family farm, which had been in the family for generations. I wasn’t ready for this subject matter, it felt too real and heavy for me. I read books to escape life. But here in the book I thought would be lighthearted was a dose of reality. 

I am noticing more and more the amount of young people who do not want to have kids. Whether it's due to the growing cost of living or the sacrifices needed to have children. Everyone has their own reason. Of course the pandemic has increased this desire.

The pandemic has also changed the future of small businesses. The book lightly discusses the necessity to sell the family farm if there is no one suitable to carry on the business. Which is heartbreaking as the farm has been in the family for many generations. However this is the reality of life and we can’t be sad for life happening. The contrast of the lighthearted summer with the melancholy pandemic can be jarring. It's not that I didn’t enjoy the addition of reality in this book, I just wasn’t ready for it. 

Why you should read it 

If you need something slow, this is a book for you. The main storyline only takes place over one summer. This book was the break from reading I didn’t know I needed. It caused me to slow down and enjoy the activity of reading. This book is full of summer imagery and youthful love. If you like the sound of that, be sure to pick up this book. I'm sure you will enjoy it.