A Must Listen for Patchett fans

Ann Patchett has written a gem of a book- a pared down family saga that will live in my imagination for a long time. Commonwealth delivers segments of an arc, some overlapping, mostly out of order. Patchett trusts the reader to fill in the blanks, to intuit the shape of the whole. This is a novel about the power of story and the gravitational pull of family, and it packs a punch.

I have loved everything I've read by Patchett, especially her nonfiction collection This is the Story of a Happy Marriage ( read it twice- it's that good) but this is definitely my new fave! Tremendous storytelling, wonderful characters, and some of the most well timed humor I've ever read in a novel. A must listen!

52 people found this helpful

Patchett and Me--In-sympatico

I have a thorny history with Patchett. The origin of my dislike of this good writer's books (many prestigious writing awards tell me so) began with me reading State of Wonder. I thought it repulsive and ridiculous--please don't hammer me for this honest opinion--I just found the visual of naked tribal octogenarians sucking sap from slits in the bark of trees grotesque, bizarre, highly nonsensical, and extremely off-putting. I'm midway between 80 and when I gave birth, and even if I had the desire to be pregnant and have an infant again, where would I get the energy? It wasn't my first Patchett novel; I'd read the very satisfying The Magician's Assistant and Bel Canto, before I got the glowing review that I just had to read SofW. That is where an OK relationship turned into UGH.

Patchett is a very good writer, even in my H opinion, and obviously can carry a story through--I finished every book of hers I started; continued on even when the arthritic, saggy breasted women of SofW started gnawing frenziedly on trees. After that, I swore off Patchett, but here I am again and all because I know Patchett can write beautifully. I was hoping for more early experiences with the author, and got them. Commonwealth immediately draws in the reader with an opening scene that feels choked with sensuality and brass. The next chapter begins to tell the consequences of that day when a Cousins stole a kiss from a Keating in the nursery

The story spans generations with a full cast that takes some skill to keep in order, especially because the story changes narrators, and with those changes, jumps times back then forward. This is a story of what if...how a single action can change the trajectory of lives and fortunes; in looking back what would we change and in the hopes of what kind of outcome.

Good meandering story that looks at lives through a modern and realistic lens, and poses moments that will be identifiable with any reader.

85 people found this helpful

Too hard to follow

This is a novel that moves back and forth in time, spanning different generations of an extended family. I found myself enjoying many of the scenes, but I got too confused about the many characters in different times, and so the pieces just did not come together for me. I listened to about three quarters of the novel, but did not care to finish it. I'm guessing that this is one book which I would have liked better had I read it instead of listened, as I could have reread more parts to avoid confusion. I can see why some people liked this, but it was my least favorite Anne Patchett novel.

15 people found this helpful

Patchett masters the modern family saga

Ann Patchett veers from her usual life in a far off place to weave a story of the blended family of modern America, connecting the lives of all six children whose pasts and futures become entangled when an uninvited guest finds his way to a christening party. Each character is fully developed to the point where you could recognize them at a cocktail party if you spent only a few minutes hearing about their lives. Hope Davis should be the only performer to make Patchett's words come alive - and could even play Franny if this books become a film. This book and the Audible version are Patchett's and Davis's best works yet.

20 people found this helpful

Soap opera with less drama

I'm rating this book a 4 start but feel it may be closer to a 3 for me. The writing is excellent, so well written that the story entraps you like a web. The problem for me was that the web was getting too long and drawn out. However, I loved the book within a book feel and the jumping around in time was done perfectly. I never got lost. The downside is that I'm not sure what this book is about. It's about how events (good and bad) change life's course but is where you end up that terrible after all? I wonder if the title is more than just the setting. And most important, I'll spend the next few days pondering the ending. In summary, it's a great book but at times a little slow and left me a bit unsettled. Maybe it is a 4+ rating after all of the above. Book club material without hesitation.

PS - The narration was superb.

9 people found this helpful

READ IT

Hmmmm...people seem reluctant to review Commonwealth. Day 2 and no reviews!

There's a reason for that.

One of my all time favorite audio productions is Ann Patchett's 'State of Wonder' read by Hope Davis. They are a the dream team of audio books. Both are the expected perfection in this production of Commonwealth but the story it simply not listening material- it is a far too intricately patterned novel. After listening to first two hours twice, I began to consider a trip to wiki it for a clue about what was going on. Before taking such a drastic step, I decided to read the text reviews on Amazon. They are, of course, raves. I was convinced to forego the wiki spoilers, return the audible version and buy a hard copy.

It's a nice effort, but some books are just meant to be read.

63 people found this helpful

More of a character study

A lot of authors have difficulty with ending a story, even Ann Patchett with all her awards and acclaim. Instead of a good wrap up or conclusion, this novel just stopped. I finally got used to the back and forth in time style of writing and I liked the character development, but I found it hard to identify with or even really like any of these characters. This was far from a great novel as other reviewers have stated. Sorry I can't rate it very high.

2 people found this helpful

I can’t relate

I started listening to this book and got into the second chapter and finally gave up. I just could not find a place to grab on with this story. I couldn’t relate to the plot line or any of the characters.

2 people found this helpful

Return to sender

I tried and tried to listen to this, but it was slow and just awful. Maybe it gets better deeper into the book but ... who can bear it that long? I am returning it for my credit back.

21 people found this helpful

Don't waste a credit

What would have made Commonwealth better?

My rule of thumb, is after reading or listening to half a book and I don't have any interest in the characters then I stop reading or listening. Because I like other books Ann Patchett has written, I continued on with this one hoping it would get better. It never did.

Has Commonwealth turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narration was OK, not good, not bad.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom

20 people found this helpful