Dr. Terryl Hallquist

Dr. Terryl Hallquist, Thornton Wilder scholar and Ann Patchett fan, joins us to discuss Patchett's newest novel, Tom Lake. Tom Lake centers around a pivotal summer Lara spent in a summer stock theatre company where she performed her signature role of Emily in Thornton Wilder's OUR TOWN. There she meets two men who will change her life. She falls in love with the soon-to-be famous actor Peter Duke and meets the director/aspiring cherry farmer, Joe Nelson. Lara recalls the summer to her three grown daughters, home during the pandemic, who beg her to tell them about her glamorous life as a young actress, her romance with Peter Duke, and her blockbuster film. There are lots of layers to this novel and we explore many with Terryl. Linny is calling in from her American Red Cross deployment in Asheville, North Carolina and Nancy is fresh off her trip to see Linny followed by a trip to New York City to see six shows in five days.