Commonwealth

The intriguing book “Commonwealth” by Ann Patchett starts with an extramarital kiss that sparks an affair that ends two marriages and forges an unwillingly mixed family. The tale is told in fifty years of vignettes, with a particular emphasis on the six kids whose lives were upended and how their destinies crossed.

From Virginia to Chicago and Southern California in the 1960s, the novel tackles themes of love, accountability, and story ownership. Patchett skillfully blends sadness and comedy in her words, creating a poignant and witty story of profound connections in the “Commonwealth.”