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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
Tom Lake is one of those books that I enjoyed while reading but pondered more for weeks after I finished it. This is not an action-based book, but rather a character-based narrative which unfolds slowly, so it may not appeal to all readers. Lara, a former actress, now a cherry-farming mom of adult daughters, is prompted to tell the story of her acting career and romantic involvement with a huge movie star.
The novel takes place during the Covid pandemic, and the daughters have returned home to isolate with their parents. This setup reminded me of classics like Bocaccio's Decameron (where a group of people isolate at a country estate to escape the plague, and they pass the time telling stories). This novel is very much a story about telling stories, about the interaction between the narrator and the audience (who may or may not know parts of the story already), what the narrator chooses to disclose (or not) to the audience, and the power of storytelling to influence the listener. Even Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, which runs like a thread throughout the novel, underscores the storytelling motif and how the play influences and teaches Lara life lessons.
There is a deft contrast between the glamorous and superficial world of the actors and the very earthy, tenuous and sensual world of the farmers as the novel moves between these two worlds through Lara's eyes. Throughout, there is a deep appreciation for the love and bond of family and the strength in finding a life where you truly belong. This is a subtle novel, with many layers to explore, but it requires the reader to be willing to sit and savor the experience of the storytelling process.
A note about the audiobook: 5 stars. Meryl Streep is the perfect narrator for this novel. Her tone is the right balance of emotion and wry commentary, and her own life experience parallels Lara's life enough to lend an authenticity and warmth which made the listening experience very enjoyable.
The novel takes place during the Covid pandemic, and the daughters have returned home to isolate with their parents. This setup reminded me of classics like Bocaccio's Decameron (where a group of people isolate at a country estate to escape the plague, and they pass the time telling stories). This novel is very much a story about telling stories, about the interaction between the narrator and the audience (who may or may not know parts of the story already), what the narrator chooses to disclose (or not) to the audience, and the power of storytelling to influence the listener. Even Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, which runs like a thread throughout the novel, underscores the storytelling motif and how the play influences and teaches Lara life lessons.
There is a deft contrast between the glamorous and superficial world of the actors and the very earthy, tenuous and sensual world of the farmers as the novel moves between these two worlds through Lara's eyes. Throughout, there is a deep appreciation for the love and bond of family and the strength in finding a life where you truly belong. This is a subtle novel, with many layers to explore, but it requires the reader to be willing to sit and savor the experience of the storytelling process.
A note about the audiobook: 5 stars. Meryl Streep is the perfect narrator for this novel. Her tone is the right balance of emotion and wry commentary, and her own life experience parallels Lara's life enough to lend an authenticity and warmth which made the listening experience very enjoyable.
