Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

6 reviews

katewhite77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Beautifully Written Family Saga 

I don't know what took me so long to read a second Ann Patchet. I must have read State of Wonder about 10 years ago and also loved it but have only now picked up Commonwealth. Don’t think it will be leaving it another ten years 

This novel is bookended by two parties 50 years apart, and we follow the Keatings and the Cousins' over those intervening years. 

This is a meditation on how the  briefist of moments can change the  course of life entirely and how differing parenting styles can affect each child differently, both as children and adults. 

I will say the plot does jump around somewhat without much signposting, but I think think this was intentional to make the reader route themselves in the story and encourage them to focus on character rather than plot. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Terminal illness, and Gun violence

inkandbooksforever's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This story was not big on action. It focuses mainly on human interaction and the possibilities of life, how small choices can push someone to have a completely different life had they done something different. I think there is beauty in those relationships and interactions. However, it was confusing to keep track of all the characters and their connections to the other characters. I wish there was more plot but overall a good and fast read. Not boring, entertaining but might not read again. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcoholism

deebee223's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Cancer, Child death, Abandonment, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

Minor: Antisemitism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia

cibani's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, and Gun violence

kashby's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol

literarypaiges's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I read this book shortly after finishing Patchett's The Dutch House. I loved both books, although The Dutch House does inch this one out for favorite Patchett so far. 

Commonwealth is an excellently written story. It suffers slightly for its large cast of characters -- tracking the lives of all four parents and all six children of the Keating and Cousins families left me feeling like I didn't get quite enough of any one story. The reader learns the least about Caroline Keating and the most about Franny Keating, with something of an in-between amount spent on the Cousins kids. 

Regardless, this is a slow burn story about two families that are broken and then blended, and then broken again. An excellent book for those who are fans of well-written family dysfunction and non-war historical fiction. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism

Minor: Gun violence