This is the Book Review Podcast and I'm Gilbert Cruz, editor of the New York Times Book Review.

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 Ann Patchett,

which is full of trees and full bloom, wild fruit, summer stock theater troops, and the

great state of Michigan.

This is the ninth novel from Patchett, who are critic Alex Andrew Jacobs in her review

of Tom Lake described as such a decorated and beloved figure in American letters that

I sometimes think of her as Aunt Patchett.

On this episode, she speaks about her new novel, What It Means To Own A Bookstore in 2023,

the Enduring Power of Thornton Wilders, Our Town.

And Patchett, thank you for being here.

Welcome back to the Book Review Podcast.

Thank you.

Glad to be here.

Your previous book, a collection of essays, was called These Pressure Stays.

I feel like that would also be an apt 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, Laura writes, quote, I understand that joy is inappropriate these

days.

And still we feel what we feel.

Could you tell us a bit about what Tom Lake is about and why it was your next novel?

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