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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.
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
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
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
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
miap09's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Cancer, and Fire/Fire injury
macyh3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the concept was phenomenal. the chapters individually were perfectly structured, almost like little short stories that tie together into a whole. i loved seeing the relationships between the characters develop and change, sometimes moving backwards in time. the sibling and familial relationships felt really raw and real. The authors voice was really cohesive and witty, and a lot of the language was brilliant— just a brilliant writing style, i’ve never read anything quite like it.
cons… it took me a second to get over the mid-book hump, but i really enjoyed this book. slower than i usually like, and the jumps between family and time confused me sometimes. i ended up having to draw out a family tree to keep track of who was related to who. I wish that there were fewer characters to get into the complexities of each one, i feel like more could’ve been done.
Here are some quotes that stood out to me, simply because of her brilliant and unique writing style.
“Eric was in ever sense a wiry man, a runner with a small frame who must have once been told that blue complemented his eyes. Franny had never seen Eric in anything other than blue.”
“His daughter from the first marriage always needed money because she needed so much more than money but money was the easiest way for her to express those needs.”
“At the airport, Teresa handed over the tickets Bert had sent and put her children on the plane to Virginia without suitcases… Let Bert hit the ground running, she thought. They needed everything: he could start with toothbrushes and pajamas and work his way up...Beverly Cousins wanted her family? Have at it.”
and my personal favourite…
“The two sisters were connected by neither love nor mutual affinity but by a very small bathroom that could be entered from the bedroom on either side.”
cons… it took me a second to get over the mid-book hump, but i really enjoyed this book. slower than i usually like, and the jumps between family and time confused me sometimes. i ended up having to draw out a family tree to keep track of who was related to who. I wish that there were fewer characters to get into the complexities of each one, i feel like more could’ve been done.
Here are some quotes that stood out to me, simply because of her brilliant and unique writing style.
“Eric was in ever sense a wiry man, a runner with a small frame who must have once been told that blue complemented his eyes. Franny had never seen Eric in anything other than blue.”
“His daughter from the first marriage always needed money because she needed so much more than money but money was the easiest way for her to express those needs.”
“At the airport, Teresa handed over the tickets Bert had sent and put her children on the plane to Virginia without suitcases… Let Bert hit the ground running, she thought. They needed everything: he could start with toothbrushes and pajamas and work his way up...Beverly Cousins wanted her family? Have at it.”
and my personal favourite…
“The two sisters were connected by neither love nor mutual affinity but by a very small bathroom that could be entered from the bedroom on either side.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Cancer
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Infidelity
Minor: Drug use
kglynch's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
language was so beautiful and the story was told in such a unique way - i loved the time-hopping and backwards story-telling; i wish there had been more character development/backstory for some of the characters but i really loved the way the family and all the dysfunction was written
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Minor: Alcohol
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