Ann Patchett describes the life of a brother and sister who spend many hours focused on how their journies might have been different if they and those they loved and despised had not lived in The Dutch House. Alternately loved and seen as a prison of sorts, the three-story house shapes the lives of the characters, turning them away and calling them back in turn. How can a house designed to bring in the light turn so dark?

There is no doubt that Ann Patchett is one of our greatest novelists. The Dutch House proves, once again, that Patchett can entrance and engage the reader as she invites us into the lives of her characters.

This novel is narrated by Danny, struggling under the weight of being deserted by his mother while living with his aloof father. His life is held intact by the devotion of his older sister Maeve and the house staff.

It is the marriage of their father to the very wicked Andrea that becomes the catalyst for much of what happens to Danny and Maeve in the novel. She is so well drawn that she is the wretched symbol of step-parenting. Essentially, Andrea’s actions cause Danny and Maeve to become a lifelong unit, and this co-dependence will impact every event in their lives.

I think the concept of blended families will certainly be questioned after reading this. Clearly, the Conroys did not become The Brady Bunch.

I was totally mesmerized by the novel and will highly recommend it to all my book clubs. I know that there is so much I want to share with others, that I cannot wait for the discussions.

Though this is a sophisticated and thought provoking novel, much like RUN (an earlier Patchett novel), that it can have a place in libraries and reading groups of High School students since there are so many who are members of challenging families, and will identify with the family situation.

I truly thank Netgalley for giving me the gift of reading this extraordinary novel. It’s certainly on my best books of the year list.