Ann Patchett’s new novel, “Tom Lake,” is set in northern Michigan during the early days of pandemic lockdown, and centers on a mother telling her grown daughters about the summer fling she had in her youth with an actor who went on to become a big star. “If a person writes a book about a serial killer, no one ever comes back around and says, This isn’t realistic,” Patchett says. It’s — do you want me to put some zombies in my novel? I have been on the receiving end of endless kindness and love in my life. We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review’s podcast in general.

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Persons: Ann Patchett’s, Tom Lake, Alexandra Jacobs, Tom Lake ”, Gilbert Cruz, Patchett, It’s, ” Patchett, Thornton Wilder’s Organizations: Times, Parnassus Locations: Michigan, Nashville, Tenn