Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

16 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

k_vira's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Child death

Minor: Drug use

rachthecreator's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts

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

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

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Content Warnings

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

theblushbookworm's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes for neat, happy endings in their books. In this way, Ann Patchett’s work challenges me as a reader, but her ambiguous endings and imperfect characters always stay with me much longer. This novel is a testament to the complexity of family. Ten members in all, four adult, six children, and two plus broken marriages this family is certainly complicated. There were certain plot lines I wanted explored more, which I won’t share because of spoilers, and the chronology of the novel was interesting but not to my taste. But this novel remains solidly four stars for the way it stays with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Infidelity

Moderate: Death of parent and Grief

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

julianotjuliana's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

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

brookefry's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, and Death of parent