Commonwealth

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett is a story that begins at a christening party in the 1960s where an uninvited guest, Bert Cousins, sets off a chain of events by kissing Beverly Keating, leading to the dissolution of two marriages and the blending of their families.

The novel follows the lives of the six children from these families as they spend summers together in Virginia, forging strong bonds despite their parents' dysfunction.

The story spans five decades, exploring themes of family, love, loss, and the ownership of stories, particularly when one of the children, Franny, shares their family history with a novelist, leading to a bestseller that exposes their personal stories to the world.

Patchett's writing is characterized by its balance of humor and heartbreak, vivid character descriptions, and poignant observations on relationships and life.