Printable Book Club Questions for Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

The book is set in spring of 2020. What are your thoughts about pandemic-era fiction?
While the world is in chaos, the family is home together and Lara is recounting the time she had a romance with a man named Duke, who would become a famous actor. Why is now the time Lara finally told the (almost) whole story about her and Duke?
The book really goes into detail about the Our Town play. Did you like learning about it or did you feel it went on too long?
Why was Emily the right part for Lara? How are the two similar?
Did you get the sense that Lara enjoyed acting? Or was she simply playing the part because she could relate to her?
In many ways, Lara just goes with the flow. She goes into acting because she can and even sees some success (including starring in a movie and appearing on the Tonight Show). But she never seems in love with it, or really show a passion for it. It’s a bit similar with her romantic relationships in some way. Overall, did you feel that Lara held an active voice in her own life? Or she was passive and simply coasting through?
What drew Lara to Duke? What was your impression of Duke overall? Was Lara in love with Duke or was it a prolonged crush?
We get glimpses of Lara’s relationships with her daughters. What did you think about the dynamic between Lara and daughters?
Her daughter Emily didn’t feel like she fit in with the family and at one point, was convinced Duke was her real father. But as an adult, she’s done a complete turnaround and seems to be the one who will inherit the farm—the very place she hoped to escape as a child. What were your thoughts about Emily? Why is she drawn to the farm now?
Duke’s brother Sebastian has a somewhat small role but Lara seemed quite fond of him and even hints at something more at play. What is your view of their relationship?
Duke eventually leaves Lara behind, and Lara is at a loss for a while. Why did Lara not stick with acting?
The somewhat inevitable happens, Duke becomes a famous actor but he also can’t escape his demons. When he’s in rehab, he reaches back out to Lara who comes to him immediately. But all he wants is a hook up and disregards her quick. How did this impact Lara going forward?
Do you feel marrying Joe and living on the farm was the right move for Lara? Is she truly happy there?
Even with all the fame and such, Duke holds a special memory of the farm. Why do you feel the farm represented such meaning for Duke?
The big twist of the novel is that when Lara saw Duke at the rehab center, she got pregnant. Do you think she got an abortion or did she keep the baby? And if she kept the baby, could it actually be Emily? Would the timeline match up with that?
Even though we are in Lara’s perspective the entire time, did you feel you truly got to know her? Or do you still have questions about her choices?