Book · 2023 · nyt:combined-print-and-e-book-fiction=2023-08-20
Tom Lake
Why people recommend it
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is a poignant novel that explores family dynamics and personal history during the first year of the pandemic as an adult family gathers on a Michigan cherry orchard. On The Book Review podcast in July 2024, contributor MJ Franklin enthusiastically recommended Ann Patchett's novel, describing it as a heartfelt pandemic story. Later that same month, host Gilbert Cruz also discussed the book with the author on the same podcast, highlighting how the narrative beautifully evokes a sensory summer landscape featuring full-grown trees, wild fruit, and local theater troops. Cruz observed that the setting provides an apt backdrop for a family forced into close quarters on a cherry farm during lockdown, while the main character named Lara reflects on her past. Furthermore, Cruz returned to the novel in a mid-episode introduction and again during a year-end discussion in July 2026, where he remarked that he simply loved Tom Lake, the author's previous book, reflecting the strong and enduring critical praise the work received across multiple episodes of the podcast.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
- MJ Franklin Recommended
Gilbert Cruz — 5 mentions
“I'm thinking of Tom Lake, her last book as well. Loved Tom Lake.”
“we're into August now and this summer season stretches out before us for another month or so until Labor day arrives so it's appropriate that we're talking about Tom Lake the new novel from and patet which is full of trees in full bloom wild fruit Summer Stock theater troops and the great state of Michigan”
“I feel like that would also be an app title for this book which finds a family forced to live together again on their Michigan Cherry Farm during the first year of the pandemic as your main character Lara writes quote”
“welcome back to the book review podcast I'm Gilbert Cruz and I'm here with Anne patchet whose latest novel Tom lake is out now”
“and patchet thank you so much for coming on the book review podcast to talk about your book Tom Lake”
MJ Franklin — 1 mention
“which brings me to my book which is Tom Lake by Anne patchet which is a pandemic novel”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Meryl Streep reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, which only came out a few years ago.”
“one of which listeners of the book review podcast should already know about because it was written by a person I interviewed last week that was Tom Lake by an patchet”