Ann Patchett’s writing is lovely, and she does not need a thriller of a plot to keep the reader engaged; it is simply a pleasure to read each page. I am a lifelong fan of “Our Town,” and the mention of this play in a review is the reason I chose to read this book. Having also spent one summer of my teen years in summer theatre, the novel offered a second appealing element.
The combination of cherry picking near Lake Michigan, mother and daughter relationships, and the endearing nostalgia of “Our Town” creates a sweet diversion. However, if you haven’t read or seen “Our Town,” I think you may have a hard time making it half-way through “Tom Lake.” In its early stages the plot is dependent upon the casting of the play and the matching of the characters. If you make it past all that you just may find yourself invested in the relationship of Duke and Lara, even though we know they cannot end up together since Lara is married to Joe and has the three daughters to whom she is telling her story of young summer love.
Patchett captures the fragrance, the humidity, and the pace of summer in “Tom Lake.” You may feel, as I did, that you are reading the story, seated on a glider on a shaded front porch with a glass of lemonade. I liked it, and it may stick with me a while, but I don’t think it is for everyone.
3.6-4ish
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