Commonwealth

There are multiple points of view telling this story, but Franny Keating has the central voice. How would the story’s themes change if another character was the central narrator?

Compare and contrast the two parties of the book: the California party at the beginning of the book celebrating Franny’s christening, and the Virginia Christmas party at the end of the book, both of which are hosted by Beverly. How do these events speak to the structure and themes of the book?

How do the six Keating and Cousins children adapt to the new realities of their families after Beverly and Bert marry?

Albie is described as living on the “edges” of the story. As a child, his step-siblings purposefully drugged him with Benadryl to keep him asleep so he couldn’t annoy them. However, by the end of the book, he has finally settled down, living with his wife and child. Their domestic happiness moves Teresa to tears. How is Albie able to transition from the periphery of the family to its center?

Stories are told and retold repeatedly and not just dramatic stories, like the story of Cal’s death, but also more mundane ones, such as how Fix and Marjorie ended up buying their retirement home by the ocean. What is the effect of this layering and repetition of stories from multiple points of view?

As the story flashes forward and backward, childhood selves are directly juxtaposed against adult selves, sometimes in the same chapter. Choose one character, and compare and contrast his or her childhood self with their adult self.

Despite the hurtful consequences that result from Leon Posen’s appropriation of Franny Keating’s life story, Franny still values her relationship with Leo as one of the best things in her life. Why?

Almost all of the Keating and Cousins children end up having children of their own except for Holly, who moves to Switzerland where she lives in a Zen Buddhist center, unmarried and without children. Yet Holly greatly loves her family and misses them, wanting to see them all around the kitchen table together. Why does she remain in Switzerland?