In this post, we cover Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, a moving novel about love, family, and reflection. We will start with a brief summary of the story, recounting key moments from the plot. Next, we’ll explore the main characters and their roles in shaping the narrative. Finally, we conclude with a set of thoughtful book club questions to deepen your understanding and spark discussion.
Tom Lake Summary
In Tom Lake, Ann Patchett tells the story of Lara, a woman living with her husband Joe on their cherry farm in Northern Michigan. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds in the spring of 2020, their three adult daughters—Emily, Maisie, and Nell—return home to help with the harvest. During their time together, the daughters ask their mother to recount her youthful romance with a famous actor, Peter Duke, whom she met while they both performed at a summer theater called Tom Lake.
Lara begins to narrate her past, taking them back to the 1980s when she was a young actress with bright prospects. At Tom Lake, a small theater company, she played the role of Emily Webb in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. It was there that she met Peter Duke, a charismatic and ambitious actor, and the two became romantically involved. Although Duke was not yet a celebrity, his talent and drive were evident, and he would eventually rise to fame in the years that followed. Their relationship was passionate, but it eventually ended, leaving Lara to reevaluate her life and choices.
As Lara shares the details of this period in her life, the narrative shifts between the past and the present, revealing how her experiences shaped who she became. The daughters, in listening to their mother’s stories, begin to see their own lives differently, examining their relationships with each other and with their parents. Throughout the story, Lara reflects on the path her life took—why she left acting, her relationship with Duke, and how she ultimately chose to marry Joe and settle into a quieter, more grounded life on the family farm.
Through this reflective process, the daughters learn not only about their mother’s past but also about the complexities of love, career, and identity. While Lara’s story reveals the glamour and intensity of her younger years, it also leads her to consider the quieter satisfactions of her present life. The novel ends with the family continuing to work on the farm, while Lara’s recollections of her youth linger in the air, reshaping her daughters’ understanding of the woman they thought they knew.
Tom Lake Summary
Here are the key characters in Tom Lake:
Lara: The novel’s protagonist, Lara is a former actress now living on a Michigan cherry farm with her husband Joe and their three daughters. During the pandemic, she recounts her youthful romance with actor Peter Duke, reflecting on the choices that led her from acting to a quieter life of family and farming.
Peter Duke: Lara’s former lover, Duke is a charismatic actor who becomes famous after their relationship ends. In her flashbacks, he represents a path Lara didn’t take—a life of glamour and ambition compared to the simpler, more grounded life she ultimately chose.
Joe: Lara’s steady, dependable husband, Joe runs the family farm. He symbolizes the life of stability and enduring love that Lara now leads, in contrast to her passionate past with Duke.
Emily, Maisie, and Nell: Lara and Joe’s three daughters return home during the pandemic. As they listen to their mother’s story, they each respond differently, reflecting on their own lives and gaining a deeper understanding of who Lara was before she became their mother.
Emily Webb: A character from Our Town whom Lara portrayed during her time at Tom Lake. Emily symbolizes the choices Lara faced and serves as a reflective touchstone throughout the novel.
Tom Lake Book Club Questions
Here are some thought-provoking book club questions for Tom Lake by Ann Patchett:
- Lara’s Choices: Lara reflects on her decision to leave acting and pursue a quieter life on the farm. Do you think she ever regrets not continuing her career or relationship with Peter Duke? How does she reconcile her past and present choices?
- Themes of Contentment vs. Ambition: Throughout the novel, Lara compares her life with Joe to her younger, more glamorous days with Duke. How does the novel explore the tension between youthful ambition and adult contentment?
- Mother-Daughter Relationships: How do Lara’s daughters—Emily, Maisie, and Nell—respond to their mother’s stories about her past? In what ways does hearing about Lara’s younger years influence their views on their own lives and choices?
- Impact of the Pandemic: The novel is set during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the family isolated on the farm. How does this context affect the characters and the unfolding of the story? Would the dynamic between the family members be different in another setting?
- Memory and Storytelling: Lara decides which parts of her past to share with her daughters and which to withhold. How does the act of storytelling shape the novel? Do you think Lara’s selective storytelling affects her daughters’ understanding of her?
- Love and Different Stages of Life: The novel explores both youthful love (Lara and Duke) and mature, enduring love (Lara and Joe). How does the novel depict these different types of love? Do you think one is portrayed as more fulfilling than the other?
- Symbolism of Our Town: The play Our Town is central to Lara’s past. How does Patchett use the play’s themes to reflect Lara’s life and choices? What parallels do you see between the play and Lara’s own experiences?
- Peter Duke’s Role: Though Duke is mostly a figure from the past, his presence is central to the story. How do you think Duke’s fame and their former romance shape Lara’s perception of her life on the farm? Do you see him as a symbol of missed opportunities or something else?
- Family Legacy and the Farm: The cherry farm is a key setting and symbolizes tradition and stability. How does the farm influence the characters’ relationships with one another, especially between Lara, Joe, and their daughters?
- What Defines Success?: Lara seems content with her life, but her daughters may have different ideas of what success looks like. How does the novel challenge conventional definitions of success in both career and personal life?
For similar works like Tom Lake, check out our Literary Fiction section!
Final thoughts
I hope you found this overview of Tom Lake insightful and that it enriches your reading experience. If you have not yet read the book, I highly recommend picking it up—Ann Patchett’s exploration of love, memory, and family will leave a lasting impression. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and engage in a discussion with fellow readers!