When I was young, we had family friends that were in a unique situation – two families, each with two girls. The couples then swapped partners (not in a tawdry way, it was just how it worked out…), and then both had two more girls each. My family was friends with both families (pre and post swap) – one family lived down the road, I went to school with the kids from the other. It was this bizarre, fascinating mix of sisters, half-sisters, step-children and parents.
Those that have read Ann Patchett’s brilliant new novel, Commonwealth, will understand why I started with that anecdote. For those that haven’t read it, know that the first line is one of the most appealing I’ve come across in a long time –
“The christening party took a turn when Albert Cousins arrived with gin.”
Hurrah! A story where gin is the protagonist in the first chapter.
It’s the story of the Keating and Cousins families over five decades, as their lives become intertwined and as tragedy strikes. I’m loathe to say much more about the plot because I went into it knowing little and I recommend you do the same – what unfolds is a mesmerising, rich story about ordinary families, set against the backdrop of 1960s California and Virginia.
Essentially, Commonwealth is a story about siblings. The Keating and Cousins children are thrown together – they share bedrooms, clothes, vacations, boredom and mischief, and treat each other with the particular blend of affection, disdain and irritation reserved for siblings.
“The six children held in common one overarching principle that cast their potential dislike for one another down to the bottom of the minor leagues: they disliked the parents. They hated them.”
Of one pair of stepsisters, Patchett writes –
“In that sense the two of them had been a team, albeit a team neither one of them wanted to be on.”
One chapter in this superb book rises above all others (and will be the part of the story that I re-read over and over). The blended family take a road trip, staying at a motel near a lake. The six children (aged from six to 12), wake on their first morning to find a note from their parents – ‘We’re sleeping late. Do not knock.’ Left to their own devices, the children eat breakfast at a diner, then gather supplies for the day – Cokes and chocolate bars. At the last moment, Cal, the eldest boy, wants something from the car and Caroline, the eldest girl, takes a coat hanger and breaks in. Cal collects a gun and a bottle of gin.
“Caroline was a bitch by any standard, but she was also the one who had organized all the subversive acts of their childhood summers. She hated them all, especially her own sister, but Caroline got things done. When he thought of her cracking open the station wagon with a coat hanger and getting the gun out of the glove compartment, he shook his head. He had never in his life adored anyone the way he adored Caroline.”
The six kids hike to the lake, where they spend several hours swimming, returning at the end of the day happy and exhausted.
Of course, the gun, the gin, and the unsupervised swimming are nothing short of alarming however all is well with the Cousins and Keating families (and the ‘commonwealth’ is formed) –
“They had done everything they had ever wanted to do, they had had the most wonderful day, and no one even knew they were gone. It was like that for the rest of summer. It was like that every summer the six of them were together. Not that the days were always fun, most of them weren’t, but they did things, real things, and they never got caught.”
What Patchett does in this beautifully atmospheric chapter is set the major themes for the remainder of the book – that even the smallest actions can have consequences (for the most part, unintended) and that we are all anchored to our family for better or worse –
“Franny…was unable to map out all the ways the future would unravel without the moorings of the past.”
Throughout this book Patchett applies the lightest touch – there is nothing melodramatic or excessive. Instead, it’s a wonderfully simple story about a complicated family. The tragedy, when delivered, is swift, brutal and shocking, and in an instant, so much of Patchett’s seemingly arbitrary detail falls into place. It’s engrossing from start to finish.
5/5 The perfect story about families.
Pair Commonwealth with gin and orange juice, as drunk at the christening.
I also thought that Commonwealth was a great read…Patchett rarely disappoints.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1642663674
To my great shame, I must admit it’s the first Patchett I’ve read. There will be more in my future although interested by the fact that many who loved Bel Canto weren’t so keen on this.
This is the best Patchett I have read (have read Bel Canto, Run and State of Wonder). It was brilliant – perfect tone, never over emotional or dramatic but so insightful. Bel Canto is not as strong as this – all the others in fact have had great heights but I have quibbled as I read. Commonwealth was so assured.
I’m very excited by your 5/5 rating – I really rate Patchett so I definitely need to read this!
This was my Patchett introduction (!). I think Bel Canto will be next (and perhaps will tick off a country for AW80B?).
I really loved Bel Canto. I think from memory she never says which country it’s set in – I read it a long time ago though, so may be wrong!
I have the impression it was set in Argentina but no idea why I would think that!
I absolutely adored this one too – and reading your review makes me want to re-read it. Glad to know she nailed the whole blended family dynamic. I am a child of divorce and have a stepmother and half sister, but I never lived with them and saw them once or twice a year for an hour or two, so it wasn’t quite the same. Plus, my half sister is 20 yrs younger than I am.
I thought that she wrote the sibling relationships wonderfully (whether they were step-siblings or not). In fact, I was so engrossed in the sibling stuff that I probably missed some of the broader themes (particularly examining the meaning of ‘commonwealth’ in the context of the story, and of course the whole ‘story-within-a-story’ element).
Just bought this book last week—I loved Bel Canto and Ann Patchett is one of my favourite authors. I also have A Little Life (Hanya Yanagihara) and Days Without End (Sebastian Barry) sitting on my bedside table—it’s the most inviting stack of books I’ve ever placed upon it!
You have some GREAT reading ahead!
Ive read only one book by her – Bel Canto – and loved it. Will be looking forward tor readign this new one at some point thanks to your excellent review
I haven’t read Bel Canto (yet) but will be interested to hear your thoughts on this book – some who loved Bel Canto haven’t been as keen on this one and vice versa.
I hadn’t noticed those varying views -they are of course vastly different novels in terms of scale/subject matter so maybe thats not so surprising
Great review! Absolutely loved this book, one of the best I read last year. It must have had quite a resonance for you given your family’s friends.
The funny thing is that when I was little (and spending lots of time with theses families) it never really occurred to me that their situation was unusual (kids are far more accepting, aren’t they?). It’s only now, when I look back, that I think “Gawd! How did they pull that off?!”
They certainly are – I wish we could all hang on to that in later life.
Oh, this does sound fab. I hated Bel Canto, do I’ve never really been interested in following her career but I have heard so many great things about this book I don’t think I can ignore it for much longer.
People I know that loved Bel Canto didn’t enjoy this so maybe Patchett’s style or focus is completely different in Commonwealth? I really, really love stories about families and relationships and this is about as perfect as they come. And the chapter when the kids go to the lake could almost be a short story – it’s complete and simply lovely.
I just finished this too and really liked it. Your pairing is spot on too!
I did like how gin kept popping up in the book! And I also liked that first scene with the guests raising a sweat as they squeezed pillowcases of oranges!
I haven’t read this but think I did request it for review last year (but must have missed out I gather). It’s on my ‘when I get more time’ list!
PS. Interesting I know two couples who did the couple swap thing. And not in a tawdry way.
I requested it as well and didn’t get a copy (they must have been tight handing them out – their loss, I would be raving!).
As a kid, it never really occurred to me that the couple/family swap situation was unusual – I just took it at face value and as long as I kept track of who belonged to who and who was at whose house that weekend, it didn’t matter. It’s only now, when I look back, that I think “Gawd! How did they pull that off?!”
I love the way you kicked off this review. There can’t be too many posts where that anecdote is completely apt to recount! I have seen this book about, but this is the first review I’ve read. I just put it on my TBR list. When I get to it, I’ll let you know how I get on.
It was my introduction to Patchett. I want more. Hope you enjoy it.
I’ve read most of her novels and have liked them all. Glad to hear you loved this one!
After reading your comments about Bel Canto versus Commonwealth, I’m even more curious to read it – I loved Bel Canto.
Bel Canto next on my list (I know someone who rates it as their most favourite book – high praise!).
What a great review! You even used some of my favorite quotes form the book. I especially love the one about Caroline being a bitch, but the one who always got things done. High praise!
Patchett did a great job of writing characters who weren’t particularly likable, but I cared about them anyway.
And the way she assigned roles to particular characters (like Caroline and Albie) – recognisable but never cliched.
So excited to read this one 😀
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