Tom Lake Summary, Characters and Themes
Tom Lake is a novel by Ann Patchett set during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lara, a mother of three adult daughters, recounts her past romance with a famous actor to her daughters while they isolate at the family orchard. As Lara delves into her memories of young love and summer theater at Tom Lake, her daughters reflect on their own lives and relationships. The novel explores themes of family, love, memory, and the passage of time.
Summary
In the summer of 2020, as the world is upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lara Nelson finds herself sheltering in place on her family’s cherry farm in northern Michigan with her husband, Joe, and their three grown daughters—Emily, Maisie, and Nell.
With their usual seasonal labor unavailable due to the pandemic, the Nelsons must harvest their delicate sweet cherries by hand. As they work under the summer sun, Lara begins to share the story of her youthful romance with the late Peter Duke, a famed actor whose recent death has stirred memories long buried.
Decades earlier, Lara was a young aspiring actress. After early experiences in community theater and a brief, disillusioning stint in Los Angeles, she landed a role at Tom Lake, a summer stock theater in Michigan. There, she met Peter Duke—then a charismatic, unknown actor—and they fell into an intense summer romance.
Their affair unfolded backstage and on stage, but came to a sudden end when Lara was injured and had to leave the production. Her understudy, Pallace, stepped into the spotlight and soon became involved with both Duke and his troubled brother, Sebastian. After the injury, Lara lost contact with Duke and quietly exited the world of acting.
Years later, she reconnected with Joe, the director from Tom Lake. They married, settled on his family’s farm, and raised their daughters in the rhythm of seasons and harvests. Duke, though distant, resurfaced once—briefly visiting when the girls were young.
As the cherry harvest nears its end, Lara recounts one final, hidden chapter: years after their affair, Duke reached out from a rehab center. She visited him, and they shared a private moment before she left and unexpectedly encountered Sebastian. Not long after, Lara learned she was pregnant and made the difficult decision to have an abortion—an experience she never shared with anyone, not even Joe.
Meanwhile, life on the farm continues. Maisie, studying veterinary medicine, tends to local animals. Nell, an actress like her mother once was, struggles with the stillness and uncertainty of lockdown. Emily, newly engaged to her boyfriend Benny, surprises the family by revealing she doesn’t want children, citing climate change fears—a decision that unsettles Joe and Lara, who had quietly imagined grandchildren.
Then, a final surprise arrives with Sebastian, who appears on the farm carrying Peter Duke’s ashes. He reveals that Duke, for years, had tried to buy the farm—an unspoken longing for something simpler, perhaps. Eventually, he succeeded, paying an enormous sum to secure a resting place in the Nelson family cemetery.
The family buries Duke on the land he had longed for, and in an unexpected gesture of grace, Lara invites Sebastian to someday join his brother there. The past, with all its complications, finds a place alongside the present, as the Nelsons return to their life—weathered by grief, shaped by memory, and quietly moving forward.
Characters
Lara Nelson
Lara is the protagonist and narrator of the novel.
A former actress, she gave up her promising career to marry Joe and raise their family on the cherry orchard. Lara is a complex character, harboring secrets from her past, notably her affair with Peter Duke and the subsequent abortion.
She is a devoted mother, sharing her life story with her daughters, yet also grappling with the choices she made in her youth.
Lara’s character evolves as she reflects on her past and comes to terms with her decisions, ultimately finding peace in her present life.
Joe Nelson
Joe is Lara’s husband and the owner of the cherry orchard.
He is a hardworking and practical man, dedicated to his family and their farm. Joe’s character is somewhat reserved, as he remains in the background for much of the novel.
However, his love for Lara and their daughters is evident, and his steady presence provides a sense of stability amidst the family’s emotional turmoil.
Emily Nelson
Emily is Lara and Joe’s eldest daughter, poised to inherit the family farm. She is a pragmatic and responsible young woman, committed to the orchard and its future.
Emily’s decision not to have children due to concerns about climate change and the pandemic adds a layer of complexity to her character, highlighting the challenges faced by her generation.
Maisie Nelson
Maisie is the middle daughter, studying to become a veterinarian.
She is a compassionate and caring individual, drawn to helping animals and people alike.
Maisie’s burgeoning relationship with a local doctor adds a touch of romance to the novel, while her dedication to her studies showcases her ambition and drive.
Nell Nelson
Nell is the youngest daughter, an aspiring actress navigating the uncertain landscape of her chosen profession. She is the most affected by the pandemic’s isolation, struggling to find purpose and connection.
Nell’s character embodies the anxieties and aspirations of young artists, as she searches for her place in a changing world.
Peter Duke
Peter Duke is a famous actor and Lara’s former lover.
He is portrayed as a charismatic but troubled figure, battling addiction and personal demons.
Duke’s presence looms large over the novel, even after his death, as Lara and her daughters grapple with the impact he had on their lives.
His character serves as a catalyst for self-reflection and growth, prompting Lara to confront her past and make peace with her choices.
Themes
The Enduring Power of Memory
Memory serves as a central theme in “Tom Lake,” shaping the characters’ lives and relationships.
Lara’s recollection of her summer romance with Peter Duke becomes a shared experience with her daughters, bridging the gap between their past and present.
The narrative structure, moving between the present day on the cherry farm and Lara’s memories of Tom Lake, highlights the fluidity and interconnectedness of time. Memories are not static but evolve and take on new meanings as individuals mature and circumstances change.
The novel suggests that memories, whether joyful or painful, are an integral part of the human experience, shaping our identities and influencing our choices.
The Complexity of Family Relationships
Family dynamics play a crucial role in “Tom Lake,” exploring the intricate bonds between parents and children, siblings, and spouses.
The Nelson family’s isolation on the farm during the pandemic intensifies their interactions and forces them to confront unspoken truths and unresolved issues. Lara’s decision to share her past with her daughters fosters a deeper understanding and connection between them.
The novel delves into the complexities of parental love, the challenges of communication, and the enduring impact of family secrets.
The characters’ individual journeys of self-discovery are interwoven with their relationships, highlighting the profound influence that family has on personal growth and happiness.
The Inevitability of Change and Loss
In Tom Lake, the transient nature of life is a central thread, underscoring how change and loss are inevitable parts of the human journey. Lara’s reflections on her youthful romance with Peter Duke capture the bittersweet impermanence of youth and the relentless passage of time.
The cherry orchard, with its predictable cycle of blossoming, harvesting, and dormancy, mirrors life’s ongoing rhythm of growth and decay, renewal and letting go. The novel does not shy away from the sorrow that accompanies loss—be it the loss of people, dreams, or opportunities. Yet, it also gently suggests that with change comes the possibility of new beginnings and unforeseen paths.
The resilience shown by the characters in moments of uncertainty highlights the human capacity to adapt, emphasizing the quiet importance of finding meaning and presence in the current moment, even amidst grief and transformation.
The Interplay of Illusion and Reality
Theater, with its performances and carefully crafted illusions, becomes a powerful metaphor in Tom Lake for the blurred line between illusion and reality. Lara’s life as an actress complicates the distinction between who she is on stage and who she is in private, raising questions about authenticity and the different masks people wear to navigate societal expectations.
The novel suggests that life, much like the stage, often involves playing roles that shift depending on context. Yet, it also calls attention to the significance of embracing one’s true self, even when doing so challenges norms or exposes hidden vulnerabilities.
The characters’ journeys toward self-acceptance illuminate the transformative power of acknowledging and embracing the complexities of one’s identity, illustrating how the search for authenticity can lead to a richer, more honest existence.