What do you think?
Rate this book
Every Common Sight
“You’ve passed the test (for me) of great art. You’ve helped me meet and learn and care for people who are painted by your words on a piece of paper. I find that an extraordinary accomplishment, Tim, and I congratulate you. What an enormous piece of work, beautifully composed. I ‘explode’ with pride knowing how much of your ‘self’ you’ve shared with your reader.” children's television icon Fred Rogers
From the killing fields of the Battle of the Bulge, Wendell Smith brought home to small-town Texas horrible memories of the battlefield, emotional trauma, and a secret. It was the one thing about the war he could not share with the love of his life, his wife, Selma.
Late in life, when Wendell thought his secret was safe, a chance meeting with a troubled young woman named Claire brought forth the worst of Wendell's war. It turned out that Claire had a secret of her own. Theirs would become an unusual friendship of haunted survivors. But would their bond heal them, or destroy them both?
From the killing fields of the Battle of the Bulge, Wendell Smith brought home to small-town Texas horrible memories of the battlefield, emotional trauma, and a secret. It was the one thing about the war he could not share with the love of his life, his wife, Selma.
Late in life, when Wendell thought his secret was safe, a chance meeting with a troubled young woman named Claire brought forth the worst of Wendell's war. It turned out that Claire had a secret of her own. Theirs would become an unusual friendship of haunted survivors. But would their bond heal them, or destroy them both?
290 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2014
4 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Tim Madigan
31 books100 followersTim wrote his first book in 1968 when he was eleven years old. Every week in the autumn of that year, he scribbled down his account of the latest University of Minnesota football game in a notebook. Sales were modest.
But a love of books, words and writing never left released him, leading from his small-town Minnesota upbringing to a career writing newspaper stories and eventually books that were more formally published and found slightly larger audiences.
After college at the University of North Dakota, Tim worked as a sportswriter at a small paper in that state. Then came the cop beat in Odessa, Texas, and feature writing at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. By the mid-1990s, Tim had become one of the most decorated newspaper reporters in recent Texas history (three times named the state’s top reporter), while writing about everything from sick children, to serial killers, cowboy poets, to his own experiences as a husband and father.
His first book, See No Evil: Blind Devotion and Bloodshed in David Koresh’s Holy War was published in 1993, followed eight years later by The Burning: Massacre, Destruction and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. In its review, the New York Times called The Burning, published by St. Martins in New York, “A powerful book, a harrowing case study made all the more so by Madigan’s skillful, clear-eyed telling of it.”
Tim’s 2006 book, I’m Proud of You: My Friendship With Fred Rogers, (Gotham/Penguin) reveals his life-altering friendship with Fred Rogers, which began in 1995 when he profiled the children’s icon for the Star-Telegram. In 2012, Tim published a second edition of I’m Proud of You under his own imprint, Ubuntu Books. The book continues to sell steadily, and inspire readers around the world. Tim also tells the story of his friendship with Mister Rogers in lectures around the country.
Fred Rogers was one of the first readers of Tim’s first novel, Every Common Sight, which was published by Ubuntu in February. It is the story of Wendell Smith, a hero of the Battle of the Bulge who came home to Texas with horrible memories of the battlefield, debilitating emotional trauma, and a secret, the one thing about the war he could not confide to the love of his life. The beautiful young woman Claire had a secret of her own. After a chance meeting, the two developed an unusual friendship of haunted survivors. But would the bond heal them, or destroy them both? The book has resonated deeply with early readers.
When not writing books or newspaper stories, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife, Catherine, being a dad, playing the guitar, coaching and playing ice hockey, and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies.
But a love of books, words and writing never left released him, leading from his small-town Minnesota upbringing to a career writing newspaper stories and eventually books that were more formally published and found slightly larger audiences.
After college at the University of North Dakota, Tim worked as a sportswriter at a small paper in that state. Then came the cop beat in Odessa, Texas, and feature writing at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. By the mid-1990s, Tim had become one of the most decorated newspaper reporters in recent Texas history (three times named the state’s top reporter), while writing about everything from sick children, to serial killers, cowboy poets, to his own experiences as a husband and father.
His first book, See No Evil: Blind Devotion and Bloodshed in David Koresh’s Holy War was published in 1993, followed eight years later by The Burning: Massacre, Destruction and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. In its review, the New York Times called The Burning, published by St. Martins in New York, “A powerful book, a harrowing case study made all the more so by Madigan’s skillful, clear-eyed telling of it.”
Tim’s 2006 book, I’m Proud of You: My Friendship With Fred Rogers, (Gotham/Penguin) reveals his life-altering friendship with Fred Rogers, which began in 1995 when he profiled the children’s icon for the Star-Telegram. In 2012, Tim published a second edition of I’m Proud of You under his own imprint, Ubuntu Books. The book continues to sell steadily, and inspire readers around the world. Tim also tells the story of his friendship with Mister Rogers in lectures around the country.
Fred Rogers was one of the first readers of Tim’s first novel, Every Common Sight, which was published by Ubuntu in February. It is the story of Wendell Smith, a hero of the Battle of the Bulge who came home to Texas with horrible memories of the battlefield, debilitating emotional trauma, and a secret, the one thing about the war he could not confide to the love of his life. The beautiful young woman Claire had a secret of her own. After a chance meeting, the two developed an unusual friendship of haunted survivors. But would the bond heal them, or destroy them both? The book has resonated deeply with early readers.
When not writing books or newspaper stories, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife, Catherine, being a dad, playing the guitar, coaching and playing ice hockey, and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 25, 2015
I love it, but I'm biased. I wrote it, over twenty years. Slow learner but I feel like I got it right. Hope you agree.
March 9, 2015
Every Common Sight was 20 years in the making, spanning my long apprenticeship as a writer. As such, my friend Fred Rogers, the children's television icon, was one of the novel's first readers. This is what he said.
“You’ve passed the test (for me) of great art. You’ve helped me meet and learn and care for people who are painted by your words on a piece of paper. I find that an extraordinary accomplishment, Tim, and I congratulate you. What an enormous piece of work, beautifully composed. I ‘explode’ with pride knowing how much of your ‘self’ you’ve shared with your reader.”
“You’ve passed the test (for me) of great art. You’ve helped me meet and learn and care for people who are painted by your words on a piece of paper. I find that an extraordinary accomplishment, Tim, and I congratulate you. What an enormous piece of work, beautifully composed. I ‘explode’ with pride knowing how much of your ‘self’ you’ve shared with your reader.”
July 9, 2015
Tim is a great writer. This is a powerful read. Not always easy or pleasant, but then horrific war experience rarely is. However, the way Tim intertwines the past with the present and the effects of the former on the latter is fascinating and poignant. Good on you Tim Madigan
April 1, 2015
I've been a fan of Tim Madigan's writing style and reporting for decades. In his debut novel, Every Common Sight, his characters reflect his ability to show how fragile and complicated we humans are as well as illustrating the gray areas in which we exist. In fact, I would have liked to learn even more about his two main characters' lives, the depth of their relationships with their spouses and how their two story lines intersected the way they did. Showing a stronger connection between those two may have given Madigan's story an even more emotional punch at the end. I look forward to reading his next novel!
March 25, 2015
I enjoyed this book very much. I'm not really into historical fiction, but Im taking several history classes and this seemed interesting and I was very pleased with the book.
It has so many good qualities that good book need and this book has it all. An excellent plot and characters that are easy to love.
Although the book was amazing it does depress me all our veteran go through in war. I know the story is fiction, but I can't imagine what really torments those people when they get back home and the dynamics with their family members.
It has so many good qualities that good book need and this book has it all. An excellent plot and characters that are easy to love.
Although the book was amazing it does depress me all our veteran go through in war. I know the story is fiction, but I can't imagine what really torments those people when they get back home and the dynamics with their family members.
Want to read
March 23, 2015Thanks for a great book. Keep writing. The story was wonderfully put together. The characters were very realistic. Their thoughts and emotions captured my interest. It is neat how you wove two people together with pains and hurts in their past by having each one involved and n the life of the other. I enjoyed the interactions of Wendell and Claire. Thanks again for the enjoyment of a great book.
March 5, 2015
Historical fiction is one of my favorites and this one definitely fit the bill. It even included a bit of suspense. Tim Madigan has gifted us with a well-written story of two people with long held secrets who find each other and the freedom of release.
December 9, 2015
Tim will absolutely make you fall in love with all of these characters. Their stories became so important to me so quickly. The story has so much movement and life to it. Love his ability to frame everyone by their vulnerability and their humanity.
March 17, 2016
Tim Madigan's first novel, Every Common Sight, is a bit mystery and a bit love story. Two unlikely characters both bearing horrible secrets forge a friendship and manage to find the means to unburden their souls. This book ranks as one of my five favorite books.
November 12, 2016
Such real characters and families and backstories in this book. Terrific story, and I like how it spirals as you learn & uncover more of the "why" - the motivations for these flawed but good people you get to know so well in the course of this book.
March 8, 2016
Pretty good, different than his amazing nonfiction title, of course.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews