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Paula K 's Reviews > Commonwealth
Commonwealth
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Paula K 's review
bookshelves: andrew-carnegie-nominee, published-2016, favorite-authors, literary-fiction, national-book-critics-nominee, book-club, e-book, read-in-2018
Oct 26, 2018
bookshelves: andrew-carnegie-nominee, published-2016, favorite-authors, literary-fiction, national-book-critics-nominee, book-club, e-book, read-in-2018
Nominated by the National Book Critics Circle in 2016, Commonwealth is a terrific family saga about two families that spans over fifty years of their lives.
Bert Cousins crashes a christening party at the Keating’s house and nothing is the same again for the two families. One kiss between Bert and Beverly Keating and a divorce is in the making. Lives are changed and the six combined children head off to Virginia each summer together where friends and enemies are made.
Fast forward and 20 year-old Franny Keating meets and has an affair with aging author, Leon Posen. Reminiscent of John Boyne’s brilliant A Ladder to the Sky, Posen steals Franny’s family story and ends up with a hugely successful novel.
Towards the end of the book both parents are elderly and sick. I found the aging of the parents and how things turn out to be very interesting and endearing.
The author, Ann Patchett, is a favorite of mine and I have read a few of her books. If you haven’t read State of Wonder, put it on your TBR list. It’s such great fun and filled with adventure.
4 out of 5 stars
Bert Cousins crashes a christening party at the Keating’s house and nothing is the same again for the two families. One kiss between Bert and Beverly Keating and a divorce is in the making. Lives are changed and the six combined children head off to Virginia each summer together where friends and enemies are made.
Fast forward and 20 year-old Franny Keating meets and has an affair with aging author, Leon Posen. Reminiscent of John Boyne’s brilliant A Ladder to the Sky, Posen steals Franny’s family story and ends up with a hugely successful novel.
Towards the end of the book both parents are elderly and sick. I found the aging of the parents and how things turn out to be very interesting and endearing.
The author, Ann Patchett, is a favorite of mine and I have read a few of her books. If you haven’t read State of Wonder, put it on your TBR list. It’s such great fun and filled with adventure.
4 out of 5 stars
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Reading Progress
April 11, 2016
– Shelved
October 17, 2018
–
Started Reading
October 26, 2018
–
Finished Reading
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by
da
(last edited Oct 30, 2018 03:00PM)
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 30, 2018 02:59PM
glad you liked though lol :-)
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da wrote: "glad you liked though lol :-)"Thanks, da. You just reminded me I need to write a review!
fabulous review, that looks really promising.
I'm a big Patchett fan. I enjoyed Commonwealth, but would recommend State of Wonder or Bel Canto to folks who haven't read one of her novels. The writing is beautiful as always but the story didn't grab me as much.
Susan wrote: "Great review Paula!!! I really enjoyed this one."Thank you, Susan! Glad to hear you enjoyed the book as well!
MischaS_ wrote: "fabulous review, that looks really promising."Thanks so much, Mischa!
Sam wrote: "I'm a big Patchett fan. I enjoyed Commonwealth, but would recommend State of Wonder or Bel Canto to folks who haven't read one of her novels. The writing is beautiful as always but the story didn't..."I agree with you, Sam. State of Wonder is my favorite by this author.
Your review makes me want to read this, Paula.
Terrific review, Paula!! I enjoyed this one too! 😊😊
Zoeytron wrote: "Your review makes me want to read this, Paula."Thanks kindly, Zoey, for your lovely comment!
Julie wrote: "Terrific review, Paula!! I enjoyed this one too! 😊😊"Thanks so much, Julie! I will look for your review!
JV wrote: "This is an amazing review, Paula! 😃"Thank you for your kind words, JV!
Terrific review, Paula! I haven’t read Patchett yet
Elyse wrote: "Love your review....And as for the conversation about State of Wonder ... I loved it until it got just too crazy for me at the end ... I thought it went off the cliff - bananas!!! Lol But at the s..."
Thanks for your kind comments, Elyse!
Besides State of Wonder, I also read Bel Canto but could not get into it as much as State of Wonder’s adventure. I guess I like adventure stories about the Amazon jungle. I read one about Teddie Roosevelt and a few others that were quite exciting. Something I could never do - exploring the Amazon - but I admire so the people that take this type of journey upon themselves!
Haven’t read Run. Will have to take a look...
📚💕🐾
Great review, Paula! This is one of my favorite stories and is my favorite Patchett book, though State of Wonder is a close second! :)
Fabulous review, Paula....enjoyed reading this as well! 💖🎄
Brandice wrote: "Great review, Paula! This is one of my favorite stories and is my favorite Patchett book, though State of Wonder is a close second! :)"Thank you, Brandice! Glad you enjoyed this book so much!
Paromjit wrote: "Fabulous review, Paula....enjoyed reading this as well! 💖🎄"Thanks so much for your kind words, Paromjit!💕📚
Kaceey - Traveling Sister wrote: "Terrific review Paula!🤗"Appreciate your kind comment, Kaceey!
Tammy wrote: "Terrific review, Paula! I haven’t read Patchett yet"Thank you, Tammy! If you do decide to read her, try State of Wonder first if you like adventure stories!
RedemptionDenied wrote: "Great review, Paula!"Thanks so much, RD!
My wife and I were in Nashville a while ago and we went to Ann Patchett's bookstore. She was there and we got and autographed copy and my wife got her picture taken with Ann. We live in Iowa, ans Ann Studied at the Writer's Workshop in Iowa City. Bel Canto is one of my all time favorites.
Fabulous review, Paula!
Meredith wrote: "Fabulous review, Paula!"Thanks so much, Meredith!
Tom Swift wrote: "My wife and I were in Nashville a while ago and we went to Ann Patchett's bookstore. She was there and we got and autographed copy and my wife got her picture taken with Ann. We live in Iowa, ans A..."How delightful, Tom. What a pleasure it must have been to meet her.
Bel Canto is a favorite of many GR friends. I’m still a hold out for State of Wonder! Thanks for commenting, Tom.
So glad you liked this, Paula! I love Patchett, too. Nice review!
Paula wrote: "Tom Swift wrote: "My wife and I were in Nashville a while ago and we went to Ann Patchett's bookstore. She was there and we got and autographed copy and my wife got her picture taken with Ann. We l..."State of Wonder is excellent.
So so happy to see that you loved this Paula! I am a happy girl! Great review my friend!
Dianne wrote: "So glad you liked this, Paula! I love Patchett, too. Nice review!"Thanks so much, Dianne! Glad to hear you are a Patchett fan!
Susanne wrote: "So so happy to see that you loved this Paula! I am a happy girl! Great review my friend!"Thanks so much, Susanne!
*TUDOR^QUEEN* wrote: "Wonderful review 💓🙌"Thanks for the kind comment, Tudor Queen!💕📚🐾
Deanna wrote: "Great review, Paula!"Thanks so much, Deanna!
Paula wrote: "da wrote: "glad you liked though lol :-)"Thanks, da. You just reminded me I need to write a review!"
very well done, Paula :)
da wrote: "Paula wrote: "da wrote: "glad you liked though lol :-)"Thanks, da. You just reminded me I need to write a review!"
very well done, Paula :)"
Thank you for your kind words, da!
