Another character driven story that is my cup of tea. This book focuses on a brother/sister (Danny & Mauve) relationship and their house is definitely a character in this book. I was drawn to their story and was rooting for their relationship to persevere. They suffered heavy losses that shaped their lives and those they loved. I had a hard time reconciling with their mother, but then again, not everything can be reconciled and sometimes you just have to forgive and move on.

I'm sending this to NancyNova to fill a wish for the USA & Canada Wishlist Tag Game 2021 . Happy reading!

this book came to my attention from a church book club member. Alas the bookclub folded with the pandemic (sorry to say as The Dutch House really does exist in Elkins Park, not too far from me and we were planning a book club on-location outing).
Checking the book in - thanks!

; chosen by book club because of the setting nearby, it's not really about the house. Described as a dark fairy tale, the first two children of Cyril Conroy just can't let go of the past and the pain of their mother deserting them. Danny finally gets enough spunk to "follow in his Dad's footsteps" by buying properties to fix up and rent, as those were the happiest times of his life. Maeve just seems to float along, trying to mother and direct Danny, but not doing anything significant for herself. The house is described so well, but alas, it doesn't really exists in Elkins Park, Pa. It would have been lovely to visit.

Happy reading!

What a wonderful surprise in my mailbox yesterday! Thank you for sharing this with me. I really enjoy this author’s books and can’t wait to read it. Happy dance 💃

The story of twins, Maeve and Danny. The story of their life, dysfunctional family and a house. Yup, the house. The story makes the house a character as it played a big role in the life story of the family dynamic. Family moves into the house, Mom leaves and Dad is involved with work. The twins have a stronger bond because of this. Lots of twists and turns. Story finished up nicely but I wished for a slightly different one. No spoilers. Ann Patchett is awesome, read it!

Now traveling to MmeClinton as a Wishlist Surprise. I hope you enjoy the read. Happy Reading and Happy BookCrossing!

Well! This is the surprise wishlist book I have been expecting, and I am SO excited to receive it!! I do admire Ann Patchett so much, so I am sure it will be a good read, soon! Thank you once again, dvg, for thinking to send this along to me! Reading gets me through the tough times! Dana

Review: The Dutch House (Ann Patchett). This will be our book up for discussion tomorrow night at my Rebels book group. Ann Patchett is such a beautiful writer, so character-driven and insightful, so I think there will be a lot to ponder together. There were times when I felt a bit impatient with this book, but the more I read, the more I was drawn in to the lives of the main characters. Our narrator is Danny, who was so young when his mother up and left him and his sister Maeve (quite a few years older than him) and his father. They lived together in a powerful house called the Dutch House, after the original owner who were Dutch. I say powerful, because the house represents so much to so many of the characters, the magnet which draws the story/stories together. Danny's father, who became a rather astute and successful real estate broker, almost surreptitiously bought this home from the bankrupted owners after their deaths, but his wife could never bear it. Her story is poignant but isn't fully revealed until the end. Maeve is the woman who raises and protects young Danny, especially after their father remarries the rapacious and strict Andrea. She moves in with her two young daughters whom Danny and Maeve learn to like. But when their father dies suddenly of a massive coronary, the two are unceremoniously chased out of their home which is no longer their home. The book covers the unusual and perhaps not very healthy arc of the lives of Maeve (a diabetic from early on, so physically fragile but emotionally steel) and the "little" brother whom she pushes to become a doctor. Danny meets his future wife Celeste, who morphs from a close friend of Maeve into her enemy. Is this all too confusing? Ann Patchett manages to make sense of it all while opening all kinds of cans of worms... whose emotions are understandable, and how far is is all right to go with them? Who grows, and who remains trapped in the past? How do you move forward when life throws you curve balls? It is a story which sticks with you.

on the bench near the entrances