Sunday, August 20, 2017

COMMONWEALTH- AUGUST 2017 BOOK SELECTION

One definition of commonwealth is, “Any group of persons united by some common interest or objective.” This meaning fits the plot of the novel literally but also paradoxically, can be viewed tongue-in cheek. Ann Patchett is one of my longtime favorite authors. Her novel, Bel Canto remains on the list of top ten all-time favorites. Needless to say, I picked up her latest novel, Commonwealth with anticipation. I have to say this one was a slower burn for me but ultimately satisfying. It’s hard not to be drawn in by her wonderful writing.

The book opens with a man attending a party he has not been invited to. He simply doesn’t want to go home to his children and expectant wife. That decision alters the fate of two families. These two families are uprooted and the life trajectory of all involved, changed.

As with all of Patchett’s work, the characters are well-drawn and fascinating. In spite of their missteps and flaws, you find yourself saddened by their circumstances and choices and rooting for their ultimate enlightenment. Perhaps the common objective here was to survive without too much damage. The bigger theme may be the concept that a seemingly random event can trigger intense, irreversible change of all within its radius.


Worth reading.

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