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Fixed on Fiction

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

In March, Fixed on Fiction met to discuss Commonwealth by Ann Patchett-

One Sunday afternoon in Southern California, Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating's christening party uninvited. Before evening falls, he has kissed Franny's mother, Beverly thus setting in motion the dissolution of their marriages and the joining of two families. Spanning five decades, Commonwealth explores how this chance encounter reverberates through the lives of the four parents and six children involved. Spending summers together in Virginia, the Keating and Cousins children forge a lasting bond that is based on a shared disillusionment with their parents and the strange and genuine affection that grows up between them. When, in her twenties, Franny begins an affair with the legendary author Leon Posen and tells him about her family, the story of her siblings is no longer hers to control. Their childhood becomes the basis for his wildly successful book, ultimately forcing them to come to terms with their losses, their guilt, and the deeply loyal connection they feel for one another. Told with equal measures of humor and heartbreak, Commonwealth is a meditation on inspiration, interpretation, and the ownership of stories. It is a brilliant and tender tale of the far-reaching ties of love and responsibility that bind us together.

-Summary courtesy of Goodreads.

We had a lovely and lively discussion! Commonwealth received six thumbs up votes, three so-so votes, and one thumbs down. Here are some of the comments readers made while discussing their reaction to this month’s selection:

  • I hated Bert from the get-go. The middle of the book felt like one big run-on sentence. But I did end up liking it by the end.
  • It was just too long. She (Patchett) did surprise me a lot which kept me interested. A lot of character choices just bothered me.
  • Horrible! It didn’t have the writing chops to save it. Tepid writing. Felt like a complete waste of time.
  • I thought the family dysfunction was fascinating. Made me feel quite superior.
  • I didn’t love the writing. Also the time jumps made the novel feel like a series of short stories. This was all very believable if you consider what life was like in the 60’s.
  • It didn’t grab me at the beginning but I knew I liked it because I was sad that it ended.
  • I liked it so much I’m re-reading it now. Catching things that I missed the first time around. I felt so sorry for Albie.
  • This is my least favorite Patchett novel, but I still liked it. I’m re-reading it as well because it jumped around so much that I was a bit confused during the first read.
  • I thought it was very well-written. I just didn’t care enough about these characters to stay invested in the story.
  • I liked it enough to finish. I will stop reading if I really dislike a book. I appreciated that the kids ended up banding together.

These are simply some of the highlights from our discussion. Feel free to leave additional thoughts on Commonwealth in the comments section below.

 

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