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alyssavn's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
veskumelooni's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
jilljh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookoffimreading's review against another edition
4.0
What a talented writer!
Part one of ‘Common Ground’ is written from thirteen-year-old Stan’s point of view, he is struggling to fit in and bullied at his new school following the death of his father. Weighed down by grief at home, he often escapes to his safe space up on the common. Here he meets Charlie, a slightly older boy from a travelling family. Charlie is bright and cheeky and, from his own experiences, teaches Stan to stand up for himself and for his place in the world. The pair form a wonderful friendship, and Stan is finally starting to come out of his shell when something happens that makes the friends lose touch for nearly ten years.
Part Two is written from Charlie’s point of view, and as the friends are reacquainted in their twenties, this time it is Charlie who has lost his way. Faced with grief and prejudice because of his ethnicity, life has taken its toll on him, and he needs Stan to remind him of who he used to be, but it’s not easy when their lives have taken them on such different paths.
I really enjoy character driven novels and I thought Charlie was fascinating, he’s clever and curious and his thought processes and opinions were incredibly thought provoking. I really liked the switch in point of view because we get to see right inside the minds and personalities of both Stan and Charlie and they were both so engaging and endearing.
I thought this story was brilliantly observed; a beautifully and empathetically written tale of friendship, loyalty, grief, belonging, and the prejudice faced by the travelling community. Although there is a lot of sadness within these pages the ending was wonderfully uplifting and heartwarming.
If you enjoyed the friendship between Theo and Boris in ‘The Goldfinch’ then you’ll love this!
Part one of ‘Common Ground’ is written from thirteen-year-old Stan’s point of view, he is struggling to fit in and bullied at his new school following the death of his father. Weighed down by grief at home, he often escapes to his safe space up on the common. Here he meets Charlie, a slightly older boy from a travelling family. Charlie is bright and cheeky and, from his own experiences, teaches Stan to stand up for himself and for his place in the world. The pair form a wonderful friendship, and Stan is finally starting to come out of his shell when something happens that makes the friends lose touch for nearly ten years.
Part Two is written from Charlie’s point of view, and as the friends are reacquainted in their twenties, this time it is Charlie who has lost his way. Faced with grief and prejudice because of his ethnicity, life has taken its toll on him, and he needs Stan to remind him of who he used to be, but it’s not easy when their lives have taken them on such different paths.
I really enjoy character driven novels and I thought Charlie was fascinating, he’s clever and curious and his thought processes and opinions were incredibly thought provoking. I really liked the switch in point of view because we get to see right inside the minds and personalities of both Stan and Charlie and they were both so engaging and endearing.
I thought this story was brilliantly observed; a beautifully and empathetically written tale of friendship, loyalty, grief, belonging, and the prejudice faced by the travelling community. Although there is a lot of sadness within these pages the ending was wonderfully uplifting and heartwarming.
If you enjoyed the friendship between Theo and Boris in ‘The Goldfinch’ then you’ll love this!
lucyedwardes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eminadiscobra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
launb's review against another edition
4.0
Stan and Charlie meet on a small town Common. Thirteen year old Stan is sitting on the Common, frustrated, lonely and navigating grief and a new school when Charlie offers him help fixing his bike. This small gesture gives Stan hope and a chance at friendship. Stan is judged in his new school for being new and bookish, and this makes him an easy target. Charlie knows what it is like to be an outsider too - within and outside his own community. Charlie is having none of this and shows Stan how to believe in and stand up for himself.
They lose touch when Charlie and his family move on. They bump into each other 10 years later and Stan has really grown into himself and is thrilled to see Charlie. No it is his turn to support Charlie in finding his way again.
I enjoyed the poignant moments in this story. We are given insight into the internal struggles of the main characters and how they support each other to manage life's ups and downs.
They lose touch when Charlie and his family move on. They bump into each other 10 years later and Stan has really grown into himself and is thrilled to see Charlie. No it is his turn to support Charlie in finding his way again.
I enjoyed the poignant moments in this story. We are given insight into the internal struggles of the main characters and how they support each other to manage life's ups and downs.
catherinemorganowen's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
clairewilsonleeds's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't rate this. On a really basic level, I felt it was badly written/edited (basic sentence structure etc), but there was nothing there to make up for that. Didn't believe in the characters (it was a pain to read Charlie's inner monologue, jumping from one extreme emotion to the next with very little warning/explanation), the dialogue was quite cringey, and the plot followed a very worn, tired path that I am incredibly bored of. If it was done well, fair enough. But, unfortunately, it wasn't.