In Ann Patchett's latest, a mother tells her daughters about a seminal summer

Summary

NPR's Book of the Day: A Deep Dive into Ann Patchett's "Tom Lake"

Episode Overview

In the July 14, 2025 episode of NPR's Book of the Day, host Mary Louise Kelly engages in an insightful conversation with acclaimed author Ann Patchett about her latest novel, Tom Lake. This episode delves into the intricate layers of maternal relationships, personal choices, and the creative process behind crafting a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of a summer stock theater season. Additionally, Patchett highlights the importance of supporting emerging writers by promoting a debut novel during her book tour.

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Exploring "Tom Lake": Themes and Inspirations

Setting the Scene

At [00:02], the episode opens with a vivid description by Andrew Limbong, setting the stage for Patchett's Tom Lake. He paints a picture of the intense environment of summer stock theater—characterized by long hours, rigorous schedules, and heightened emotions—all of which serve as a fertile ground for storytelling.

Maternal Love and Personal Choices

Mary Louise Kelly introduces Ann Patchett at [02:00], highlighting a personal aspect of the author's life: her deliberate choice not to have children. Patchett explains, “[...] part of not wanting children, she goes on, has always been the certainty that I didn't have the energy for it. And so I had to make a choice. The choice between having children and writing” ([02:00]).

This personal decision shapes the narrative of Tom Lake, where the protagonist, Laura, navigates her role as a mother to three daughters during a tumultuous summer. Kelly probes the choice to center mother-daughter relationships in the novel, to which Patchett responds:

“At the core, Laura is a mother. [...] She is many things, but at the core, a mother” ([02:00]).

Blending Reality and Fiction

The conversation shifts at [03:38] when Kelly references an essay by Patchett about her decision not to have children, noting parallels between real and fictional daughters. Patchett elaborates on the names and inspirations behind her characters:

“So I knew that there would be three daughters and I knew that the oldest one would have to be named Emily because the book circles the play Our Town, and when Laura was an actress, played Emily. [...] I wanted to name the youngest daughter Nell. So I thought, well, if I have an Emily and I have a Nell, then of course I'm going to have a Maisie” ([04:13]).

Despite these personal connections, Patchett clarifies that the cherry farm in the novel is a work of fiction, inspired by her visits to actual cherry farms in Traverse City, Michigan, conducted for research purposes:

“I was going to real cherry farms in Traverse City, Michigan, to do my research about cherry farms... That is very specifically a world like no other” ([05:03]).

The Allure of Cherry Farms

Patchett shares her unexpected affection for cherries, which began during a grueling book tour. Recalling her first encounter, she says:

“I sat in the airport and ate cherries and thought, this is the best thing that's ever happened” ([05:24]).

This newfound love for cherries seamlessly integrates into the novel’s setting, adding authenticity and charm to the story.

Character Dynamics and Secrets

Peter Duke: A Force of Nature

At [06:58], Kelly introduces Peter Duke, a pivotal character in Tom Lake. Patchett describes him as:

“Peter Duke is funny and charming, smart, ambitious, in every sense an actor. And he is going to make it” ([06:58]).

This characterization underscores Duke's dynamic presence and his impact on Laura's life, embodying the allure and uncertainty of early adulthood relationships.

Laura’s Secret: Private vs. Secret

The discussion deepens as Kelly touches on a significant revelation in the novel—the secret Laura has kept for years. Patchett distinguishes between what readers might perceive as a secret and what it truly represents:

“I don't think of that as a secret. I think of that as private. A secret is something that you are pointedly not telling someone. But something that's private is just yours” ([08:07]).

This distinction highlights Laura's personal journey and emphasizes the themes of privacy and autonomy within familial relationships.

Championing Emerging Writers: Lindsay Lynch's "Do Tell"

Elevator Pitch for "Do Tell"

In a heartfelt segment at [08:34], Patchett champions newcomer Lindsay Lynch and her debut novel, Do Tell. She offers a concise and compelling pitch:

“Do Tell is her first novel. It's about the golden age of Hollywood and follows the story of Edie O'Dare who was an actress second string. Not making it, but a very good gossip columnist and it's a bit of a thriller. It is wildly entertaining. It's the perfect book for summer and it shows us that all the progress that we think we have made, we are actually fighting the same fights” ([09:03]).

The Importance of Supporting First-Time Novelists

When asked why she chooses to promote another author’s work during her tour, Patchett passionately responds:

“It is so hard to be a first time novelist and you want somebody to just give you a hand. She's written this amazing book but if you can't get publicity for it, if you can't get reviews, if you can't get on the radio, no one's going to know. And so I've got that power. I can either use it for good or for evil and I'm going to use it for good” ([09:36]).

This endorsement not only spotlights Lynch’s promising talent but also underscores Patchett’s commitment to nurturing the literary community.

Closing Thoughts

As the conversation wraps up at [10:01], Kelly encapsulates the essence of the episode:

“That is the great Ann Patchett talking about a couple of summer reads, including her new novel. Tom Lake. Ann Patchett, so good to talk to you” ([10:01]).

Patchett responds warmly, wishing listeners a wonderful summer, reinforcing the seasonal themes interwoven in her work.

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Key Takeaways

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is a richly layered novel exploring motherhood, personal choices, and the complexities of relationships set against a summer stock theater backdrop.
• Patchett draws from personal experiences and authentic settings to create a believable and engaging narrative.
• The novel delves into themes of privacy, personal secrets, and the enduring nature of personal growth and relationships.
• Ann Patchett actively supports emerging writers, exemplified by her promotion of Lindsay Lynch’s Do Tell, highlighting the importance of mentorship and community in the literary world.

Notable Quotes

• “A secret is something that you are pointedly not telling someone. But something that's private is just yours” – Ann Patchett ([08:07])
• “She is many things, but at the core, a mother” – Ann Patchett ([02:00])
• “It is wildly entertaining. It's the perfect book for summer” – Ann Patchett on Do Tell ([09:03])

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For listeners seeking a meaningful summer read or an introduction to Ann Patchett’s latest work, this episode offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of Tom Lake, enriched by personal anecdotes and thoughtful discussions on supporting emerging voices in literature.

Transcript

[Andrew Limbong]

Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. It is the dog days of summer. It's hot and sticky and it's a time of year I associate with summer stock theater when a bunch of people, often young 20 somethings, spend the summer getting together somewhere relatively cool, maybe Vermont, maybe upstate New York and put on a bunch of plays. It's a grueling schedule. You're grinding out weeks of 14 hour days, if not more, and you're working with the same crew of people day in and day out. It's one of those pressure cooker environments that has a way of heightening everyone's emotions all of the time, which means it is the perfect setting for a novel. Ann Padgett's fabulous 2023 book Tom Lake is set in part during a summer stock theater season. And when she talked to NPR's Mary Louise Kelly when the book came out, Padgett talked about the kind of guys you meet in such places in your early 20s who may not be husband material but sure are a lot of fun. That's ahead.

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[Mary Louise Kelly]

The writer Ann Patchett does not have children. This is by choice. And being a writer, she has written about her reasons. I have just enough energy to write, patchett says. Keep up with the house. Be a decent friend, a decent daughter and sister and wife. Part of not wanting children, she goes on, has always been the certainty that I didn't have the energy for it. And so I had to make a choice. The choice between and writing. Patchett's new novel is about a woman named Laura who is many things, but at the core, a mother. The book is titled Tom Lake And Ann Patchett, I am so glad to speak with you again.

[Ann Patchett]

I am so glad to speak with you, Mary Louise.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

So this book, your book, unfolds during that surreal summer of 2020 when so many grown up kids were moving back home, moving back into their childhood bedrooms. And Laur, the mom and your narrator, she is loving having her three twenty something daughters back home. Why put that mother daughter relationship at the center of your story?

[Ann Patchett]

Well, I know it was true for so many of my friends that they were saying, ah, the pandemic. It's terrible. It's horrible. I'm so glad my kids are home. And even if you don't have kids, I was so glad to not be running all over the place. I was glad my husband wasn't going to work every day. And so it was very easy for me to make the leap to imagine something good that came out of something so bad.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Hmm. Well, I will share that. As I was rereading that essay, I quoted from the essay you wrote about why you decided you didn't want to have kids. I stumbled on something that made me do a double take. In that essay, you describe a real life farm that belonged to the editor of your first two books. And on that farm lived three daughters.

[Ann Patchett]

Named Emily, Maisie, and Nell.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Yeah. And for people who have not picked up your new book, the fictional daughters in Tom Lake are named Emily, Mazzie, and Nell.

[Ann Patchett]

So I knew that there would be three daughters and I knew that the oldest one would have to be named Emily because the book circles the play Our Town, and la, when she was an actress, played Emily. So they would definitely name the first girl Emily. And then there was a woman I greatly admired named Nell Gifford, who had something called the Gifford Circus, and she was a tremendous artist. And I wanted to name the youngest daughter Nell. So I thought, well, if I have an Emily and I have a Nell, then of course I'm going to have a Macy.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

You can't leave out Maisie of the real daughter.

[Ann Patchett]

Then the Todd sisters got their place. Yes.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And how much of the fictional cherry farm in this book draws on that old farmhouse in a wide field, as you describe it, that you've actually visited when you were going to see your editor?

[Ann Patchett]

Really? Not at all. Because I was going to real cherry farms in Traverse City, Michigan, to do my research about cherry farms in Traverse City, Michigan. I mean, the fruit belt, the cherry farms, the apple farms in northern Michigan. That is very specifically a world like no other.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And what got you into it? Why the interest in cherries?

[Ann Patchett]

Well, When I was on book tour for Bel Canto, my publicist told me that I had to go to a store in Petoskey, Michigan, called McLean and Eakin. I had to fly to Detroit in the morning, then fly to Traverse City on a tiny commuter plane, drive two hours to Petoskey, do an event, and then do the whole thing in reverse all in one day. I was like, this is cruelty. But it turns out that it was the best bookstore I'd ever been to. And I fell in love with the Norcross family. They own that bookstore. And I remember when I went back to the airport in Traverse City, Michigan, you could buy a cup full of fresh cherries. And I sat in the airport and ate cherries and thought, this is the best thing that's ever happened. I became friends with them. I went back to visit them all the time. And so suddenly I was hanging out with the cherry crowd.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

I can almost taste them. I can picture you in the airport gobbling them up. So we've established this is a book about a cherry farm. We've established it's a book about maternal love. It is also about romant. And about great sex between Laura. Oh, Mary Louise, I'm gonna go there. Here we go. This is Laura and a man she does not end up marrying and raising three daughters with. I want you to describe the force of nature that is Peter Duke.

[Ann Patchett]

Peter Duke is funny and charming, smart, ambitious, in every sense an actor. And he is going to make it. There's a line in the book she says about summer stock. We were all either on the way up or on the way out, and nobody really knew which way they were going. But Peter Duke was on the way up. And I don't know about you, but I dated some people in my 20s that I would never have wound up with, but they were a lot of fun.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

At the end of the book, the very end of the book, we learn that Laura has been keeping a secret, a big secret. She's been keeping it for many years from everyone she loves. And it is such a contrast with her quiet steadiness and with how close we see her to be with her husband, with her daughters. Why does she keep that secret?

[Ann Patchett]

Do you know? It's interesting. I don't think of that as a secret. I think of that as private.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

What's the difference?

[Ann Patchett]

A secret is something that you are pointedly not telling someone. But something that's private is just yours. It just belongs to you. And something happened to Laura, and it was her own business, she tells the reader. But she doesn't tell her husband and she doesn't tell her girls. And that's her right.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Ann Padgett, before I let you go, I want to ask about another book by another author because you have long made a point of helping to raise up other writers. And as you go out on book tour for this book, for your book, Tom Lake, you're bringing along a debut novelist. I want you to give us the 30 second elevator pitch for Lindsay lynch and her novel, Do Tell.

[Ann Patchett]

Lindsay lynch is the buyer at Parnassus Books.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Parnassus Books, that's your bookstore in Nashville. Go on.

[Ann Patchett]

Do Tell is her first novel. It's about the golden age of Hollywood and follows the story of Edie O'Dare who was an actress second string. Not making it, but a very good gossip columnist and it's a bit of a thriller. It is wildly entertaining. It's the perfect book for summer and it shows us that all the progress that we think we have made, we are actually fighting the same fights.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Why do this? Why promote another writer's book on your book tour?

[Ann Patchett]

It is so hard to be a first time novelist and you want somebody to just give you a hand. She's written this amazing book but if you can't get publicity for it, if you can't get reviews, if you can't get on the radio, no one's going to know. And and so I've got that power. I can either use it for good or for evil and I'm going to use it for good.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

That is the great Ann Patchett talking about a couple of summer reads, including her new novel. Tom Lake. Ann Patchett, so good to talk to you.

[Ann Patchett]

Thank you Mary Louise. Have a wonderful summer.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And you.

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