The Dutch House

Locations
Call Number: Adult Book / Fiction / Historical / Patchett, Ann, Adult Book / Fiction / Historical / Patchett, Ann, Fiction / Patchett, Ann
On Shelf At: Pittsfield Branch, Traverwood Branch, Westgate Branch

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. Cyril's son Danny and his older sister 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.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Book submitted by Clown81 on August 31, 2019, 4:41pm House.

Beautiful writing submitted by 21621031390949 on June 15, 2020, 11:04am Patchett's writing is so good, her characters so real, so well developed, that there's a certain sadness in leaving them at the end of her books. For me, this book ran on a bit too long; however, I'll take some time to savor it before starting my next read.

Dutch house submitted by nmrhoads on August 9, 2021, 9:34pm I actually listened to the audio book which I would recommend because Tom hanks reads it. Great characters and development over the many years of their lives

Captivating story, amazing audiobook submitted by A2AE on July 31, 2022, 9:49am This is my favorite Patchett book; her characters are interesting and sympathetic, and it's a fast read that gets stuck in. your brain while away from the book, begging you to dip back into their world. I also recommend the audiobook. Tom Hanks makes a great story A+ with his performance.

kept me thinking submitted by Emily LB on June 11, 2023, 12:33pm Ann Patchett is one of my most favorite authors, and this was another excellent book by her. I have continued to think about the characters and the story for weeks after finishing, which is unusual for me. See now that the audiobook was read by Tom Hanks; wishing I had listened to it!

The Dutch House submitted by leighsprauer on August 11, 2023, 9:08pm This is a quick, lovely book. Danny and Maeve, siblings, are raised in a grand mansion, called the Dutch House, after its previous owners. Even though the house seems almost to be cursed with heartbreak and disaster, they are anchored to it, since it ties them to their past and the people they have loved and lost there. Patchett jumps around chronologically, as though Danny is trying to make sense of the confusing but interconnected events of his life: meeting his step-mother, Andrea, is the first event he describes, and probably the most pivotal for him, but he seems to be still processing its connection with the rest of his life. The characters are likeable (for the most part) and have depth and nuance. As is usually the case in life, there are no neat and easy resolutions, although most of the characters show a gradual growth and maturity that is (hopefully) recognizable to anyone past middle age.
Patchett's writing is simple but not childish, and the dialogue is believable. All in all just a very nice, thoughtful work.