Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

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

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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

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Child death, and Cancer

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Racism

agnesg's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Drug use

heybrownberry's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Child death

Minor: Terminal illness

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Infidelity

Moderate: Terminal illness and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug use, and Racism