November 8, 2019
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Genre/Categories: Complicated Family Drama, Literary Fiction, Siblings
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
***Recommending the audio book performed by Tom Hanks for this read!
My Summary:
Siblings Danny and Maeve are living in The Dutch House when their mother abandons the family. Their father remarries, but after he dies, their (wicked) stepmother kicks Danny and Maeve out of her life and out of the house. Suddenly, all Danny and Maeve have is each other. This story explores their complicated lives and relationships.
Amazon Rating: 4.4 Stars
My Thoughts:
Writing: If you love Ann Patchett and her heavily character-driven stories and beautifully written literary fiction, you will likely love The Dutch House. If you’re looking for a page-turning plot, you might like to look elsewhere. If you love complicated family drama with a great deal of reflection, stick around! Danny and Maeve analyze every aspect of their childhood experiences including the domestic help, their father, the (wicked!) stepmother and her children, and, of course, the Dutch House.
Characters: Danny is the matter-of-fact narrator and Maeve is the overprotective and, at times, controlling older sister. We feel a great deal of compassion for these siblings as we learn more about their abandonment in various ways by mom, dad, and stepmother. One character I had difficulty connecting with was the mom….her actions were not believable to me. May I recommend the audio version where Tom Hanks BECOMES Danny!
Themes: Thoughtful themes in The Dutch House include an incredibly close sibling relationship, the effects of abandonment on children, wealth and privilege, materialism, family loyalty, expectations, revenge, greed, compassion, childhood, and memories. If my book club reads this, one topic I’d like to discuss is the house as a symbol or metaphor for childhood. The most fascinating part of the story for me is when Danny and Maeve return to the house (parking out front) over and over again throughout their lives to reminisce about their childhood and to work through their various viewpoints and feelings. It seems to me that this “therapy” is the real heart of the story.
Audio: I listened to the audio of The Dutch House because I couldn’t resist Tom Hanks as the narrator! He is magnificent as Danny! Honestly, this story might have been a DNF for me except for the performance of Tom Hanks. I highly recommend the audio version!
Content Warning: Medical issues related to diabetes
Recommended: I recommend The Dutch House for fans of Ann Patchett, for those who appreciate literary fiction, and for readers who love character-driven stories and beautiful writing.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded to 4 stars on Goodreads)
The Dutch House Information (affiliate link)
This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on LovelyAudiobooks.info
Meet the Author, Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett was born in Los Angeles in 1963 and raised in Nashville. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. In 1990, she won a residential fellowship to the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she wrote her first novel, The Patron Saint of Liars. Patchett is well known for Bel Canto. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Karl VanDevender.
QOTD!
Are you an Ann Pachett fan? If so, what is your favorite Ann Pachett book?
Is The Dutch House on your TBR?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
Let’s Get Social!
Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.
Find me at:
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
Pinterest
***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.
Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.
Fab review Carol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Nicki! 👍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
will have a look at this…I’ve run a book club for 15 years now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me know when you read it how it goes! Happy reading!👍😍
LikeLike
Thanks for confirming my decision to get this book on audio! Great review, Carol💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Jonetta! Definitely audio! TH is wonderful in the role of Danny! Happy reading Jonetta! 👍😍
LikeLike
COMPLICATED FAMILYYY DRAMAAA!! YAYYYYYY!! 😍😍😍❤️❤️😍 And I love literary fiction! Been wanting to read this one for some time! Saw this on Pinterest and added it to tbr asap but NOW AFTER READING YOUR REVIEWW…I GOTTAAA READ IT ASAPP!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 LOVELY REVIEW, Carol! ❤️❤️💕💕🤩☔️☔️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rain! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know! 😍👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I DEFINITELYY WILL! ❤️😍🌟☔️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey! I just…wanted to make sure you got my comment because…I just left one and it disappeared the next second! 🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! WordPress is weird sometimes! 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just finished reading this, this week. I really enjoyed this book! Typical Patchett, which I truly enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think readers that appreciate Pachett will love this one! Thanks for commenting!👍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! 😍👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 😇
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Fall 2019 TBR | Reading Ladies
Pingback: November 2019 Reading Wrap Up | Reading Ladies
I seen this book around Goodreads. I don’t mind slow reads and might consider picking this up.
Great review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It’s a fascinating character driven story……I recommend the audio! Enjoy! 👍😍
LikeLike
I have this book on my TBR list. I enjoyed your review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope you enjoy!👍
LikeLike
I found you through the Lovely Audiobooks Link-up. What a wonderful review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Im so happy we connected Gina! Welcome and thanks for your kind words and for commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: #6Degrees of Separation: From What I Loved to Learning to See | Reading Ladies
Pingback: The Dutch House [Book Review] #ThrowBackThursday | Reading Ladies
So… my husband read her book Bel Canto and wasn’t thrilled with it, so when we saw it on the shelves he decided against it. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It’s a dreary story but Tom Hanks brings it to life! Lots of layers to discuss! I think the print version might have been a DNF.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved this book. I agree with you though about the very strange behaviour of the mother. Thank you for this review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Children can never recover from abandonment I think….so sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: These Precious Days [Book Review] | Reading Ladies