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Rachel Hanes's Reviews > Tom Lake
Tom Lake
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Well this book took me way longer to read than expected… This was another book that I had high hopes for as I loved Patchett’s “The Dutch House”. This book is also set in northern Michigan, and I am a true Michigander- I’ve lived in Michigan all my life, so I really thought that I would love this book even more. One of the characters even attended college at Michigan State, where my son is currently a freshman- so I thought I would really resonate with this book. Unfortunately, this book fell very flat for me. I almost gave up on “Tom Lake” several times. However, the last 100 pages or so redeemed themselves and I stuck with it.
This story takes place in the Spring of 2020 during the pandemic. Lara’s three daughters have come back home to the family farm/cherry orchard. During this time Lara begins to tell her daughters about the time she spent a summer with a famous actor named Peter Duke, at a theater called Tom Lake. During this summer Lara was only 24 years old, never married and her daughters had not yet been born.
During this summer between Lara and Peter Duke, they were in a play called Our Town and Lara played Emily. Lara and Duke were a hot item, and then a sudden turn of events happened and they went their separate ways. Lara decided not to continue with acting, but Duke rose to stardom. Lara’s three daughters are infatuated with Peter Duke, especially her oldest daughter Emily.
So yeah… this was a decent enough story, but I think that I was expecting so much more. I mean I think we could all write a book about some of our crazy, wild love affairs that we had when we were younger (and some would be way more entertaining than this story). If I’m being honest, this book was a bit of a snooze fest 😴- not my favorite by Patchett. Although, I will be watching for her next book!
This was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick for August, 2023. With that being said, I can see why there are so many high ratings…
(2.5 stars, rounded up)
This story takes place in the Spring of 2020 during the pandemic. Lara’s three daughters have come back home to the family farm/cherry orchard. During this time Lara begins to tell her daughters about the time she spent a summer with a famous actor named Peter Duke, at a theater called Tom Lake. During this summer Lara was only 24 years old, never married and her daughters had not yet been born.
During this summer between Lara and Peter Duke, they were in a play called Our Town and Lara played Emily. Lara and Duke were a hot item, and then a sudden turn of events happened and they went their separate ways. Lara decided not to continue with acting, but Duke rose to stardom. Lara’s three daughters are infatuated with Peter Duke, especially her oldest daughter Emily.
So yeah… this was a decent enough story, but I think that I was expecting so much more. I mean I think we could all write a book about some of our crazy, wild love affairs that we had when we were younger (and some would be way more entertaining than this story). If I’m being honest, this book was a bit of a snooze fest 😴- not my favorite by Patchett. Although, I will be watching for her next book!
This was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick for August, 2023. With that being said, I can see why there are so many high ratings…
(2.5 stars, rounded up)
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Reading Progress
April 12, 2023
– Shelved
April 12, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 17, 2024
–
Started Reading
February 25, 2024
– Shelved as:
libby
February 25, 2024
– Shelved as:
library
February 25, 2024
– Shelved as:
reese-witherspoon-book-club-pick
February 25, 2024
–
Finished Reading
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Tina
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Feb 25, 2024 09:55AM
I can see how the expectations would be really high for this per the ratings! Thanks for your insight!
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Tina wrote: "I can see how the expectations would be really high for this per the ratings! Thanks for your insight!"You’re welcome, Tina! I think I’m going to quit reading reviews beforehand, because that’s really ruining books for me lately…
Rachel wrote: "Tina wrote: "I can see how the expectations would be really high for this per the ratings! Thanks for your insight!"You’re welcome, Tina! I think I’m going to quit reading reviews beforehand, bec..."
I understand. If it's a book I'm planning on reading I usually just skip the reviews until I've read it but I'll glance at the star rating 🤷🏻♀️
Tina wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Tina wrote: "I can see how the expectations would be really high for this per the ratings! Thanks for your insight!"You’re welcome, Tina! I think I’m going to quit reading reviews ..."
Tina, that’s a very good idea! 🤗
Wonderful review Rachel. I just bought this too. I wish I’d have read your review first 😁💖
Great review, Rachel! Sorry this didn't live up to prior expectations. Hope your next read is a winner.
Margaret M - Back properly in Feb - wrote: "Wonderful review Rachel. I just bought this too. I wish I’d have read your review first 😁💖"Thank you, Margaret! 💗 I hope you enjoy this book a bit more than I did. I will be watching for your thoughts. 🤗
Angela wrote: "Great review, Rachel! Sorry this didn't live up to prior expectations. Hope your next read is a winner."Thank you so much, Angela! :)
Bummer the Michiganderism fell so flat here. Shame on you Patchett! And you Witherspoon! Glad in the end this snooze fest was decent enough though lol. Honest review Rachel <3
Federico wrote: "Bummer the Michiganderism fell so flat here. Shame on you Patchett! And you Witherspoon! Glad in the end this snooze fest was decent enough though lol. Honest review Rachel <3"Thank you, Federico <3 You really hope that a book set in your home state will be a winner, but that unfortunately wasn’t the case with this book. I’m glad the ending did lift this book up some, just wish the whole book could have been like that…
Excellent honest review, Rachel! 💖 It is so disappointing when a highly anticipated read turns out like this, especially when the setting also was in your state of residence. I wasn't a big fan of 'Dutch House' as well, possibly because I couldn't get into the audio version. So I'll take your opinion into account and stay away from this one. Wishing you much better luck with the next read!
Rosh (is busy; will catch up soon!) wrote: "Excellent honest review, Rachel! 💖 It is so disappointing when a highly anticipated read turns out like this, especially when the setting also was in your state of residence. I wasn't a big fan of ..."Thank you so much, Rosh!! 💗 It is disappointing when I had such high hopes for this one, especially since the setting was in my state of residence. This book seemed very long considering there was hardly any dialogue in it.
Good honest review Rachel. I really liked it so I’m sorry it didnt meet your expectations. I know what you mean about reading reviews before the book. Sometimes I pass on things with low reviews I might like if I read it. Then other times I read something with very high reviews and I wonder what’s wrong with me that I didn’t enjoy it! I will say tho with GR I can find so many reviews that I try to read some of the highest and some of the lowest ratings and then decide about a book I may be curious about. Hope your next read is an excellent one! 😊😊
Susan wrote: "Good honest review Rachel. I really liked it so I’m sorry it didnt meet your expectations. I know what you mean about reading reviews before the book. Sometimes I pass on things with low reviews I ..."Thank you very much, Susan!! 🤗 I’m not sure why this book missed the mark for me. In fact, I have been thinking about it more and might move it to a solid three stars. I think the slow start really did me in. It’s funny how we both feel the same way about reviews, as I often wonder what’s wrong with me when I don’t like a book that everyone else enjoys as well. I also hope your next read is excellent too!! 💗
I am bummed you didn't enjoy it more as I have it sitting on my TBR. Wonderful review explaining things, Rachel. I hope you love your next book. 🤗💕
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "I am bummed you didn't enjoy it more as I have it sitting on my TBR. Wonderful review explaining things, Rachel. I hope you love your next book. 🤗💕"Thank you, Shelley!! 💗 There’s lots of five star reviews for this book, so hopefully you enjoy it more than I did. I will be watching for your thoughts on this one. 🤗
This was definitely a slow paced book and I’m not sure I would have enjoyed reading it. For me, listening to Meryl Streep narrate the audiobook heightened the experience.
Keri wrote: "This was definitely a slow paced book and I’m not sure I would have enjoyed reading it. For me, listening to Meryl Streep narrate the audiobook heightened the experience."Keri, I definitely think this is one of those books that would be better listened to (especially narrated by Meryl Streep). I can see how the audiobook heightened the experience as this was a very slow paced book. So glad you were able to enjoy this! :)
Mary Beth wrote: "Wonderful review! 💕💜💕"Thank you, Mary Beth!! 💗🤗
Holly wrote: "Wonderful review Rachel! 🩷"Thank you, Holly! 💗
This author goes hot/cold with me, too. So sorry that this was "decent" but not great. Fabulous honest review. I hope that your next book is a winner.
Cara wrote: "Wonderful review, Rachel💕!!!!!!!!"Thank you, Cara!! 💗
Jayne wrote: "This author goes hot/cold with me, too. So sorry that this was "decent" but not great. Fabulous honest review. I hope that your next book is a winner."Thank you, Jayne!! That is a great way to put it- this author may be hot/cold with me as well. I did like this book, I just didn’t love it.
Carol wrote: "Great honest review, Rachel ❤️!!!! I am so sorry it wasn’t better and a snooze fest 😴 is never good. Hope your next read is amazing!! 🫶"Thank you, Carol!! 💗 It’s always disappointing when you’re hoping to love a book more than you do. But that’s okay, there’s always more books to read! 🤗
Rachel wrote: "Jayne wrote: "This author goes hot/cold with me, too. So sorry that this was "decent" but not great. Fabulous honest review. I hope that your next book is a winner."Thank you, Jayne!! That is a g..." So many of my go-to authors have disappointed me this year....so I know where you are coming from!
Great review, Rachel! Too bad this didn't wow ya.
Heather Adores Books wrote: "Great review, Rachel! Too bad this didn't wow ya."Thank you, Heather! I did try! :)
I appreciate your honest review Rachel. Even though I gave it more stars, there is a lot of truth to what you share in your review, and it would be easy for me to go back to re-evaluate my star rating. Thank you for sharing your truth about the book! 📕
Karen wrote: "I appreciate your honest review Rachel. Even though I gave it more stars, there is a lot of truth to what you share in your review, and it would be easy for me to go back to re-evaluate my star rat..."You’re welcome, Karen!! Thank you for taking the time to read my review/opinion of this book, and possibly even re-evaluate your rating. However, I am glad that you did enjoy this book more than I did. 🤗
I listened to the audiobook - read by Meryl Streep. It was fantastic!
Teri wrote: "I listened to the audiobook - read by Meryl Streep. It was fantastic!"Teri, I’m guessing the audiobook was the way to go with this book. I love Meryl Streep, and I can only imagine how fantastic it was! :)
Sorry this wasn't as good as expected. An honest review, Rachel. Hope your current read is much better.
Srivalli wrote: "Sorry this wasn't as good as expected. An honest review, Rachel. Hope your current read is much better."Thank you, Srivalli!! From what I’m seeing in my comments, I believe the audiobook was the way to go with this book!
Terrific review, Rachel! I'm disappointed this fell so flat for you! I think I only considered this book because of Meryl Streep narrating it, but I think I'll let it remain a curiosity! 💗
Kat wrote: "Terrific review, Rachel! I'm disappointed this fell so flat for you! I think I only considered this book because of Meryl Streep narrating it, but I think I'll let it remain a curiosity! 💗"Thank you, Kat!! 💗 It seems that everyone who listened to this book as an audio with Meryl Streep narrating, loved this. So, I would say to give this a shot as you may enjoy this more than I did (especially if you listen to it rather than read it). :)
Oh shoot Rachel. I enjoyed this but I understand your thoughts. Wonderful review!
Barbara wrote: "Oh shoot Rachel. I enjoyed this but I understand your thoughts. Wonderful review!"Thank you, Barbara!! I’m definitely an outlier on this one. However, many that listened to the audiobook of this really seemed to enjoy it more than reading it.
I thought the plot was VERY slow moving and boring as well. Too much swimming and play rehearsals. Boring. And I'm a huge Patchett fan. I think The Dutch House and Bel Canto are my two all-time favorite books. This was not that type of book.
Lisa wrote: "I thought the plot was VERY slow moving and boring as well. Too much swimming and play rehearsals. Boring. And I'm a huge Patchett fan. I think The Dutch House and Bel Canto are my two all-time fav..."Lisa, I agree that the plot was very slow moving indeed! I was super bored throughout this book if I’m being honest. I rated “The Dutch House” five stars as I absolutely loved it! I never read “Bel Canto”, but I am going to move it up on my list. :)
I’ve been on the fence about this one, so now, because of this review, I can tip over to one side…the one that skips reading. Thank you👏🏼💖
Lisa wrote: "I’ve been on the fence about this one, so now, because of this review, I can tip over to one side…the one that skips reading. Thank you👏🏼💖"You’re welcome, Lisa! I’m glad this review helped. 🤗
