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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
shewritesinmargins's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
avasbookmark's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Child death, and Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism
stevefraye's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Antisemitism
ksedwards48's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
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.
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
rbynski's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
As far as racism goes, one of the characters shares his thoughts about "stereotypical Africans" and assumes that a white woman's black husband is cheating on her with their black nanny. It doesn't add anything to the story. I'm not even sure why it was in there?? It's only happens once, and is a short passage.v171's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm a sucker for multi-generational family dramas, and this one did not disappoint. I was really enamored with how charming each and every one of the characters were, complete with each of their flaws. Despite some characters getting far less attention than others, I still felt a deep connection to the full cast. That deep connection allowed me to really feel the emotions and pain the family went through over the years, from tragedy, to reconciliation, acceptance, and death. This is the story of a very modern family that I think we can all relate to in many ways. While I think some of the later chapters could have been shifted around for a more impactful message, I really enjoyed this book a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Terminal illness and Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug use, and Racism
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