Tom Lake- persevere?

[Wallabyone]

I’ve just picked this up for the second time. I’m finding it incredibly hard to get into, despite the fact that I’m on holiday and this is my third book of the week.
I’ve never read Ann Patchett before; perhaps she’s not the author for me! Should I keep going with it?

I've given up too so interesting in other's views!

I liked it, but Ann Patchett is one of my favourite writers.

I’m going to keep going a little further and see if it improves for me…

I enjoyed it. Was one of those where not much really happens but it was a pleasant enough meander. Disclaimer: I listened to it as an audiobook read by Meryl Streep so not sure if that helped the enjoyment factor.

I read it recently and enjoyed it, despite the implausible story line, but then I do like her books generally

I liked it. I'd never heard of the play it featured but now keep seeing references to it.

I loved it but I loved it right from the start with the description of the gym and the auditions and what life was like for the teenage girls in small-town America, so if that’s not your sort of thing, I’m not sure it’ll grow on you.

Most of my book group thought it was boring.

The pace is slow but I'm glad I kept going. It's a great story.

Thank you all-lots of different opinions. I actually enjoy books set in the US, I just don’t know why it’s not grabbing me yet. I’m plodding along and I’ve reached page 100.

I loved it from the first page so can't advise if you will start to enjoy it later. I admire your perseverance though.

I recently finished it on audiobook. I found it hard going about 75% of the way through. I stuck with it but not sure it was really worth it.

Gosh! I absolutely loved it from the outset. As others have said, not much happens but I found it really cosy and heartwarming. I recommended it to my book club and several of them read it and enjoyed it.
I do find Ann Patchett a bit of a
mixed bag. I really enjoyed Bel Canto & Magician’s Assistant and then was disappointed with Run when it came out. I found The Dutch House a bit of a drag and so, when I started Tom
Lake, it felt a bit like I was giving her one last chance but then just felt as though it was the book equivalent of a warm hug.

I loved it, the best book I read last year.

Thanks for your replies-I have just finished it. I think if I’d been at home and not by the beach, I’d have given up.

It wasn’t for me unfortunately; I just didn’t really enjoy it, or look forward to picking it back up. I sort of liked the main character, but didn’t care about any of them really.

It’s so interesting and still often surprises me that reading can be so very subjective!

I like most Ann Patchett but didn’t like it much apart from Meryl Streep’s narration on audible! And the cherry orchard setting. like you didn’t care about the main characters.

Tom Lake was the first Ann Patchett I read - and doubt it will be my last! I really enjoyed it. A slow, gentle read but worth it.

Yes but for Meryl Streep I’d have ditched it. The main characters were pretty dull.
Id have liked to have known more about Palace and where she ended up.

I enjoyed it, didn’t love it. Meryl Streep reads it on Audible and she really brought it to life for me.

I gave up. I just didnt care enough about any of the characters. I wish I'd gone with the audiobook. I tend to stick at them longer because I can be doing other things at the same time. I wonder if it's on Spotify

Yes @Randomchat I listened via Spotify

I feel a bit embarrassed that I gave this book to a friend for her birthday. I’d previously loved The Dutch House and Commonwealth and assumed this would be another excellent book. Then I attempted to read it myself and gave up, it was so boring.

Mind you, the same friend gave me We are all completely beside ourselves, so maybe it was apt revenge.

😂😂

I think to enjoy Tom Lake you probably have to be in the mood to enjoy reading something for the writing rather than the plot? I can imagine at times I would have found it dull and not continued - in fact I did start and out down- but currently have a lot going on in my actual life so very much enjoyed sinking into a very well-described 'someone else's world' place every night.

Also as the story unfolded I was very much reminded of the slightly sealed and - ahem - torrid world of teenage drama camps I attended at the height of youthful hormone activity, so I found that element very easy to envisage, and somewhat nostalgic 😁

Her other books are much better!

Can you recommend any in particular please? Thanks