The Lake House Book Review
by James Patterson
2003, Paperback — Teen fantasy
Tagline: James Patterson laid an egg
Yes, I KNOW he’s the most popular writer in the whole entire world! If you count writers as people who sit and watch others write, and then attach their name to it, that is. (He seems to have a number of co-writers. Who does what work?!)
If this is a sample of how he writes…and he’s the only author listed on this book…we’re in for some bad reading. I kept checking the cover and title page: was this intended for adults? Those shortie 3 page chapters! Dick and Jane language! Shouldn’t there be a warning if The Lake House is for Young Adults?
It’s a sequel to When the Wind Blows, and I’m so happy I missed that one. 🙂
Once Upon a Time…
Plot: A cowardly vet and a spineless FBI man, who are apparently destined to marry with no sexual organs, are advisors to a family of orphaned kids who can fly. Something about bad genetic science?
And then one of these teen kids knocks up the other one. Flowers in the Attic copycat…a brother and sister have sex! Fun, illegitimate and unwanted teen pregnancy. But they can fly, so it’s all good. /sarcasm
Spoilers!
We learn early on that this family of kids has wings and can fly. We should all be so lucky! So far, so good…but the only outside, normal people these teenagers meet are not good enough. Too boring, I guess. So when the hormones kick in, they turn to each other.
I’m not very good at secrets. I mentioned the perv sex above.The oldest boy has to have sex with…his sister? Flowers in the Attic indeed!
As an author myself, no one likes copycats, Mr. Patterson! You can’t tell me you wasn’t capitalizing on or at least hugely influenced by, that popular incestual novel. Flowers in the Attic and the sequels. That came out in 1979, so it was quite a few years earlier, but still – a true original in its day.
But here’s a real spoiler: After that wonderful night in bed with her bro, Max…lays an egg.
Endpaper
I gave it 1.5 stars.
Actual Reader Reviews of The Lake House
Patterson’s sensibility dovetails perfectly with that of his prodigies, whose tender feelings and pitch-perfect teenage dialogue are the best things here.
I might need a translation for that. Also, it’s not important to try to please a publisher or famous author by writing suck-up reviews…is it? Just maybe the reviewer is trying to say it’s written in comic book dialog?
Publisher’s Weekly They don’t actually say this is a terrible book. They say: “Patterson can, and has, done far better than this.” They also describe it as “dumbed-down.”
Ok, that works!
PW describes the children as “siblings”, in quotes: that they were all genetically engineered, grew up together, but don’t have the same parents. And that one of the best parts is “a truly moving description of how Max and the oldest male bird-child mate.”
If you grow up in the same family…step children, for instance…you are relatives. It’s still incest, in my book.
Google: 88% Liked it. This tells us a lot about the general public.
So Disappointing. If you liked When the Wind Blows, you are going to be so disappointed with The Lake House. Starting with Chapter 87. the book stops making any sense; it’s as if Patterson ran out of ideas and just slapped together the rest of the book.
87 chapters…think about it!
I thought the book premise was OK, but also believed it was not one of his better books. I felt it had too many technical descriptions of items not important to the story, and many other writings that went into almost juvenile detail.
LOVE this book. This is one of my favorite books that I read for the first time when I was 14. The story line is so good. I love the winged children and the people that love them enough to protect them. This story always makes me cry. But it’s such a good story.
Enjoy with:
If you, like Publishers Weekly, thought the sex was the best part, enjoy the original brother-sister romance: Flowers in the Attic.
Birdwatching is a lifetime hobby! I have been doing it since I was 6, literally. You can do it for free, anywhere, anytime. But a couple of things make real-life birding much more fun.
- Binoculars. I’ve been happy with the old Navy binocs my father gave me when I was little! Of course, they are Leica…
Audubon has a rather daunting but comprehensive list here.
Amazon has picked out these especially for birdwatching. - The best field guide. Don’t be fooled by imitations! Roger Tory Peterson has the best illustrations and descriptions.
Field Guide East of the Rockies – my father gave me a signed copy of this one!
Where to find The Lake House
Your friendly local library. Free!
Best price hardcopy
Audiobook (How to join Audible Books)
KindleÂ
There’s some kind of Special Amazon deal going on this summer, if you’re under 25. It ends Sept. 30.
ISBN: 0316603287
Set painter in studio Art Depts. Member Scriptwriters Network, script reader.
Author of California Consumer Protection Law, 2026, signed by Gov Gavin Newsom!
Author, 2 hardcopy books, and Barnes & Noble Calendar.
- The Other Emily ~ Dean Koontz ~ Serial Killer - June 23, 2025
- Emma in the Night ~ Wendy Walker ~ Abduction Thriller - May 11, 2023
- Still Alice (2014) ~ Psychology Movie Review ~ Julianne Moore - January 25, 2023
