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.Įssentially, Commonwealth is a story about siblings. It’s the story of the Keating and Cousins families over five decades, as their lives become intertwined and as tragedy strikes. Hurrah! A story where gin is the protagonist in the first chapter. “The christening party took a turn when Albert Cousins arrived with gin.” 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 – Those that have read Ann Patchett’s brilliant new novel, Commonwealth, will understand why I started with that anecdote. It was this bizarre, fascinating mix of sisters, half-sisters, step-children and parents. 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. 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. When I was young, we had family friends that were in a unique situation – two families, each with two girls.
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