Fran’s review of Tom Lake > Likes and Comments

Oh no! I was looking forward to reading this 😬.

So interesting Fran. I just put it on hold based on other reviews. I'd love to hear what disappointed you.

Christy wrote: "Oh no! I was looking forward to reading this 😬."

If you do, I hope you like it better than I did.
I know that my review is going counter to the majority opinion. I think it really depends on what you're looking for in a novel.

Carol wrote: "Bummer!! The synopsis sounded so good!! Hope your next read is much better, Fran❤️!!!!"

Thanks, Carol.
And I hope you find lots of books you love, too. (I know that this book got largely positive reviews.)

Loren wrote: "So interesting Fran. I just put it on hold based on other reviews. I'd love to hear what disappointed you."
Thank you for asking for my opinion.
I think most reviews focused on what they saw as the beauty and introspection of this book.
To me, the most important qualities of a good novel are:
1. Fully rounded characters, with both flaws and admirable traits
2. A plot with something important at stake
I felt this book lacked both.
The characters were too unbelievably loving and tolerant; they didn't have any negative emotions; they didn't change.
Since we know from the start that Lara marries Joe, not Duke, and that she, Joe, and their daughters are a strong, loving family (who already know about her past affair with Duke), there was basically no suspense, nothing at stake.
For that matter, I didn't see much introspection: The daughters learned a few small surprises, but nothing that shook up their happy, sheltered view of life.
But of course you may read it totally differently than I do, and more in line with most critics!

Oh my. I'm on the waiting list at the library for this one. I appreciate your assessment of this novel, and I'll try to keep my expectations appropriate going in. And I'm interested in how I will respond to this one.

I look forward to reading your review!

So sorry you had that experience. I am reading in now and just loving every word. Every book is not for every reader. Hope you find something that works better for you next.

THanks, Bonnie. I know that most reviewers liked this book for the language and the love within it, and I'm glad you're enjoying it.
I'm about to plunge into my next -- Alice McDermott's upcoming novel "Absolution," which I'll be reviewing for the New York Journal of Books. I've liked her work in the past, so I'm optimistic!

Oh, no! I’m surprised how much you disliked this, Fran. I loved all the cosy warmth that usually isn’t Patchett, and actually found the reason for the story being told so strong, I wrote that in my review, 😅. Oh, well. It’s good to get different perspectives. Glad you’re looking forward to the new McDermott, I hope you’ll post your review here…

Hi Jennifer— Oh I don’t like disagreeing so strongly with GR friends like you whose opinions I respect but it’s helpful to me to read reviews from all different points I’d view. The MCDermott book is terrific! I will post the review closer to the October pub date. I hope we’ll agree on that one!

No…I get it, Fran. I love Ann Patchett’s books and this missed. I kept waiting for it to get better. I liked the story and I love my home state of Michigan…but I just didn’t care about anyone! Not enough character development. I was disappointed.

Thanks, Janet. Let's look forward to Patchett's next novel and hope she's back in her groove!

I enjoyed the book because I am from Michigan and I have three daughters the same age as those in the book. But, it was just a pleasant story. There was none of the spark, insight or magic I usually love in a novel by Ann Patchett.

I'm grateful for your honest review. Based on so many rave reviews, I paid full price for this book so that I could read it during my end-of-summer staycation.

After several stops and starts, I finally committed to finishing it before vacation's end. I could not for the life of me understand what I was missing that absolutely everyone in the world was raving about.

I kept going waiting for the pieces to fall into place, until with about 50 pages to go and the story seemingly resolved, I decided to push on only to find myself thinking that everything in those 50-ish pages was intended to push the page count up to 300-ish.

It was a fine story, but not worth losing the last precious recreational reading time I will have for a while.
I feel duped by a magnificent marketing campaign and comforted that, while in a definite minority, I am not alone in my boredom.

Jennifer wrote: "I enjoyed the book because I am from Michigan and I have three daughters the same age as those in the books. But, it was just a pleasant story. There is was none of the spark, insight or magic I us..."

Yes, I think that sums up a lot of my reaction, too. "Pleasant" but there's no plot, no tension, no magic, as you said.

Karen wrote: "I'm grateful for your honest review. Based on so many rave reviews, I paid full price for this book so that I could read it during my end-of-summer staycation.

After several stops and starts, I f..."
Karen, thank you for your comments. (One of my book clubs will be discussing this novel on Friday; I suspect I'll be the only dissenting voice, so I'm really curious to see what the others say!)

I agree, this book was so slow and I was ready for it to be done.

Circling back now that I have read this novel. We can agree to disagree on this one. So my response to your review.

That pile of comfy pillows populated with loving characters and cherry pie can be a needed soft place to land for a while.

Lara hadn't told the story to her girls previously. They only knew that she once dated Duke.

What kept this story interesting for me is the evolution of Lara, how she changed over the years. I was interested in all of the characters and felt connected to them.

Yes this is a quiet novel for the most part. And there is drama in the theatrical life--(view spoiler)[The issues with Uncle Wallace, the passion between Duke and Lara, Lara's injury, the change from the foursome, and later on the incident of Duke during his admission--in the specter of COVID lurking in the background, and the drama of getting in the harvest before it spoils and in there everyday lives. (hide spoiler)]

There is also the question of story and what one tells v what one chooses to edit and the reasons behind it.

This may be more than you wanted to know, but it will give you a good idea of why this one works for me.

Lisa, thanks for your thoughtful comments.

I think you make a good point about "the question of story and what one tells v what one chooses to edit and the reasons behind it."

The rest -- friendly disagreement! :)

I'll be interested to see what you think if you read more!

Good review. I think I enjoyed it more than you, but agree that it lacks spark etc. I’m curious about the unbelievable plot point you refer to (perhaps the event is the rehab centre?)

Thank you, Alana.
Indeed, some reviews from Goodread friends, along with the discussion at my book club last week, have prompted me to see some good qualities in the book that I'd missed, such as its themes of "what do we tell and what do we edit?" and "what do we want out of life?" However, my overall criticism of the saccharine characters and boring plot hasn't changed! :)
And yes, that was the plot point I'd referred to -- shh!!

I was so terrified I was crazy for not falling in love with this book but your review echoes my sentiments exactly. I ended up DNF’ing the book. Not even listening to it on the long drives I take made it bearable to get through. Meryl Streep was the only redeeming thing about the audio.

Thanks, Kristen. I know exactly how you feel! My best friends on Goodreads and my book club liked the book much better than I did. The wonderful thing about exchanging reviews and opinions is that many of my fellow readers and I ended up moving a little closer in our views: Some of the fans agreed with my criticisms of the plot and characters, and I became aware of the themes in the book that were more important to them than the criticisms.

I'm still trying to figure out what all the hype is about this book!!! I gave it a 2 out of 5. it just wasn't that good. Ann Pachett must have a GREAT PR team!

Thanks for your comment, Sandi. Well, the wide world of readers never agrees on every book! And over the years, Ann Patchett has built up a huge fan base.
But still ....????

I agree 100% with your review. There's no stakes. There's no sexual tension in the flashback portion. There's no danger in the COVID portion. The whole book is kind of just flat and mellow. Everyone kind of is happy and gets along.

Agree! So bland! Much prefer her other novels.

THanks, Kerry. I loved "Commonwealth," for instance, and I hope to see that Ann Patchett writing future novels!

Jason wrote: "I agree 100% with your review. There's no stakes. There's no sexual tension in the flashback portion. There's no danger in the COVID portion. The whole book is kind of just flat and mellow. Everyon..."

Thanks, Jason. (A friend of mine said, "Well, I wanted that kind of comfy book right now," which is fair enough. It's just not what I look for in a good novel!)

Agree! I usually like her work. This is so boring!

I agree completely

Terri wrote: "Agree! I usually like her work. This is so boring!"

Thanks, Terri. Let's hope her next book is more like the ones you and I usually like. (For me, her best is "Commonwealth.")

Amy wrote: "I agree completely"

Thanks, Amy. Let's just hope this was---an aberration? an experiment? on her part

Love your review! This is my first book from her and it was very boring :(

THanks so much, Jessica. I'm sorry this is your introduction to Ann Patchett. I hope you'll try another of her novels. (I'd suggest "Commonwealth," which is my favorite but which some people find a bit confusing in its narrative, or "Dutch House," which has a lot more spice!)

Oh nice thanks so much! I definitely will give those two a try!

Totally agree. Thanks for your candor. I appreciate honest, critical reviews. This was not up to Patchett’s usual standard.

I agree…I’m on Chapter 15 and so bored. I need to go find out the plot twists so I can quit reading. 😂

100% agree!! This is my first Ann Patchett book, there was so much hype surrounding it. I also found it very boring. Others have recommended I try The Dutch House as well.

Informative review, Fran! This was a disappointing read and I continue to struggle with this author's writing style, so I wasn't at all surprised, but I went in hopeful. I did feel it was a strong story that suffered by unemotional writing. Bland, boring writing. Loved the ending and I wonder why the entire book couldn't read like that? Jeez...

I found the middle part a little slow, but overall really liked it. I listened to it on audiobook and maybe that made the difference. Have you read State of Wonder or Bel Canto? Those are my favorite books of hers I have read thus far.

Commonwealth was my favorite also. This book seemed very self indulgent to me. I just don’t believe the girls would be that interested in their mother’s past to hear the story again in such detail.

That's a good point, too, about the daughters. (Especially since one was about to make a major life change!) Thanks so much for your comment, Kathy.

Jessica wrote: "I found the middle part a little slow, but overall really liked it. I listened to it on audiobook and maybe that made the difference. Have you read State of Wonder or Bel Canto? Those are my favori..."

Thanks for your comment, Jessica. Most of my book club colleagues really like it, too -- which is what makes for a good discussion! And we can't expect every novel by a single author to be 5-stars... I don't think we can? Maybe Toni Morrison?

Terrie wrote: "Informative review, Fran! This was a disappointing read and I continue to struggle with this author's writing style, so I wasn't at all surprised, but I went in hopeful. I did feel it was a strong ..."

Thanks for your comment, Terrie. (It's interesting that we were disappointed in the book for different reasons -- and of course, then we completely disagree with those who loved the book!) I do agree with you that the ending was better than other portions.

Faith wrote: "I agree…I’m on Chapter 15 and so bored. I need to go find out the plot twists so I can quit reading. 😂"

LOL (about the plot twists)! Thanks for your comment, Faith. I do hope you find those plot twists.

Wendy wrote: "Totally agree. Thanks for your candor. I appreciate honest, critical reviews. This was not up to Patchett’s usual standard."

And thank you for your comment, Wendy. It's much harder to write a candid critical review than a candid 5-star... But it's a little easier when I can honestly point to other novels by the author that I really loved, like "Commonwealth."

I agree with your review. I've been listening to the book. Meryl Streep's voice is soothing ... but the plot is not interesting. I have an hour left before I finish the book. I don't like to abandon books, so I will hear it out to the very end.