From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

Tom Lake

Ann Patchett

Start date: April 15, 2024

Finish date: May 15, 2024

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Barb

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Reading List

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
By Lynn · 1 post · 41 views

last updated Jun 20, 2025 08:37AM

Circe - discussion with spoilers
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last updated Sep 06, 2025 04:48PM

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What Members Thought

Oct 14, 2023 Linda rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2023, chcpl, fiction, hardback

Subtle and surprising. It seems a nice quiet story a mother is telling her three grown daughters about life when she was their age. Then, through the gentle telling, slowly several surprises are dropped - not all at once - but conservatively exposed several times to give the reader a "Wow! I didn't see that coming."
Brought back memories of my playing the Constable from Our Town when I was in high school (an all girl school).
I call the setting of this book "God's country." I love it so much, how ...more

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Aug 26, 2023 Abbey rated it it was amazing

A perfect end of summer read.

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Dec 21, 2023 Rosana rated it liked it

Shelves: audio-books, 2023

3.5 stars

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Aug 31, 2023 Holly rated it it was amazing

Charming. At least for a 50-ish, middle class, white woman who grew up in rural farm country, couldn't wait to get out, and has often wondered if she should have stayed. Also did drama club and still enjoys film and live theater. ...more

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May 13, 2024 Tensy (bookdoyen) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

The time of the Covid pandemic was both the worst of times and the best of times. Many families reunited and lived together as adults for a long period as they waited for a vaccine to emerge. Ann Patchett sets her novel in this time period, but it is not about the pandemic itself, but about a family moving in together in their farm surrounded by cherry orchards. Lara, her husband Joe and her three daughters are busy harvesting the cherries and the girls ask their mother to tell them the story of ...more

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Apr 26, 2024 Janet rated it really liked it

Because of COVID, Lara and her 3 daughters are back home on the family’s cherry orchard. To help pass the time while harvesting, they ask their mother to tell them of her romance with a famous actor whom she met at summer stock theater. Enjoyed this story of a summer love, and often find myself thinking back to the book now that I've finished. Would be a great beach read, imo. Patchett's writing skill seems effortless. ...more

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Dec 19, 2023 Connie rated it it was amazing

I have just started this book and as a friend suggested, I am not reading but listening to the audio version (not usually my preference). This book is not being read by the incomparable Meryl Streep, it is being ‘performed’ by her. Even a numskull like me can discern the difference. Not sure I’ll be able to rate the book vs. the performance. But plenty of time to determine!

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