The Dutch House - Ann Patchett

The Dutch House

By Ann Patchett

  • Release Date: 2019-09-24
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 5,506 Ratings

Description

Pulitzer Prize Finalist | New York Times Bestseller | A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick | A New York Times Book Review Notable Book | TIME Magazine's 100 Must-Read Books of the Year

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, The Washington Post; O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Vogue, Refinery29, and Buzzfeed

From Ann Patchett, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth, comes a powerful, richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go. The Dutch House is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and of who we really are.

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

Reviews

  • Family dynamics

    3
    By brock_zahler
    This book was a really interesting story about family dynamics and the way we view the past. The portions about time passing and patterns being established I really liked. That said, I found the ending less than what I hoped it’d be, and I think the book could’ve been maybe 30 pages shorter. All in all a good time!
  • Snoozeville

    2
    By dmbski11
    She is a good writer with good descriptions but this book never really hooked me. I stuck with it because I thought it would improve but it ended up never going anywhere.
  • Breathtaking, Heart-Rending, Powerful

    5
    By Eclectic Kim
    This novel is unlike any other I’ve read in that it conveys the depth of anger and unforgiveness and the violence those emotions wreak on humans and relationships, while also containing a gentle undercurrent of connections and love that last beyond the damage. It also positions the physical environment, the house, as an enduring character and driving force in the relationships and the lives of all the other characters, regardless of their relationship to it. I will be thinking about this book for a long, long time.
  • Loved it.

    5
    By Luv4 chico
    It’s a story of love and hate, joy and heartbreak, otherwise known as a family.
  • Engaging and Worth the Praise

    5
    By merechil
    I held off reading because it seemed almost mainstream but it’s anything but. Really engaging and not meandering, like I expected. Beautifully written. Loved it.
  • The Dutch House

    5
    By oalmar
    A lesson in forgiveness, letting go, and living life in the present. Powerful family drama.
  • Heart warming

    5
    By FlightReads
    It starts off slow but pick up within 15-20 pages. Just hold on.
  • Meh

    4
    By KarleNol
    Good but long winded. If you’re looking for action packed or the “psychological thriller” eye roll. This isn’t it. If you’re looking for slow, steady, and no excitement, you found it.
  • Not what I expected

    4
    By hometowngal
    Tom Hanks’ performance added an extra layer to this novel of two siblings journey through decades. While I expected the story to revolve around the house, I drove across country listening to smart and sassy characters develop. The family relationships made this a dynamic story and relatable. No such thing as a normal family, and she shows the brokenness and resilience of love. Patchett weaves a tale that puts her in my favorite authors list.
  • Boring

    1
    By hugbug19
    The characters are lackluster and feel flat and the story isn’t really exciting not sure how it got so many positive reviews.