In the Old Testament, God repeatedly warns that the sins of the fathers will fall upon their children, “even to the third and fourth generation.” Ann Patchett explores this notion in Commonwealth. When an uninvited party guest makes a pass at the host’s wife, two families are ripped asunder, leaving the children to bear the consequences.

Commonwealth is a brilliant novel focusing largely upon six children forced to patch together a new family from the shreds of two tattered ones. I was particularly touched by Albie, whose budding symptoms of personality disorder fly so far out of control that his brother Cal repeatedly medicates the boy, eventually with disastrous results. Then there’s Franny, who settles for being a cocktail waitress and mistress to an author more than twice her age. And Caroline, whose strong personality devolves into a warped rage that she takes out on her sister.

In their individual ways, five of the children survive the events that have thrown them together and build lives for themselves. For the most part, they cope pretty well. But I couldn’t help wondering who they might have become if not for that illicit kiss all those years ago.

I'd have given Commonwealth a five-star review if not for its occasional foul language. A writer of Ann Patchett’s talents needn’t rely on such words.

Chevron Ross's novels include Weapons of Remorse, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and The Samaritan's Patient. Click here for more information.