The Dutch House is a story of siblings, Danny and Maeve Conroy, their ongoing connection with their childhood home, their deep connection to each other and how their lives unfold. Family, loss, and deep love and perseverance. A true gem.

Danny Conroy knows well who the most important person in his life is. It's his older sister, Maeve. His father, Cyril, is a self-made man, someone who moved up from the poverty he was raised in to remake himself as a wealthy man dealing in real estate. His first big deal once he struck it rich was to buy Dutch House, a fabulous house in the Philadelphia suburbs, built by a magnate and on the market with everything inside, clothes, furniture, kitchen settings, photographs, etc. He buys this house and then surprises his wife with it.

She is definitely surprised. She had planned to become a nun until Cyril talked her out of it halfway through her novice time. She is appalled by the showy house and cannot get used to it. She only wants to help others and slowly she moves away from the family, going back to the convent and staying for longer and longer periods of time, working with the poor. Finally, when Maeve is a preteen and Danny around four, she leaves forever, running off to India. At that point, Maeve becomes even more of a mother figure for Danny and his life revolves around her.

Cyril decides to remarry. Andrea is younger than Cyril by several decades and she comes with two little girls. The war between her, Maeve and the household staff is immediate and unrelenting. Andrea is determined to remake everything in the house and their lives to suit herself and they all feel that they were doing just fine without her and her ideas. When Cyril dies unexpectedly, Andrea has her chance. She kicks out Danny who is fifteen at the time. He moves into Maeve's apartment and they soon realize that Andrea gets everything and that they have gone from wealth to poverty except for an educational trust that will pay for Danny's college.

Over the years, Danny and Maeve's lives seem stuck in the rut of this injustice. Although Danny marries and has children, Maeve seems stuck in the same place, same little house, same little job. They are the most important person to each other no matter what else happens. Marriages, children, jobs, careers, nothing outweighs the tie between the two and the horrible thing that happened to them.

Ann Patchett is an automatic read for me. She seems interested these days in family relationships as this book and her last, Commonwealth, explore the various ways that families exist and what they mean to the members inside them. Danny and Maeve are interesting characters and it is hard to see them stuck in the injustice that was done to them when they were just starting out. This book is recommended for literary fiction readers.

The Dutch House is an intense examination of the complicated family relationships in the Conroy family. The story is narrated by Danny Conroy unveiling the deep unbreakable bond between Danny and his overprotective and domineering, but loving, sister Maeve over the course of five decades. The Dutch House itself is a pivotal element of the story.
The relationships between parents and children, siblings and husbands and wives are all affected in some way by the house.
Elna,Danny and Maeve’s birth mother hated the house and the decadent opulence it represented. Andrea, their “wicked” stepmother has an ungodly obsession with the house and will stop at nothing to control and possess it. When her husband Cyril Conroy(Danny and Maeve’s father), unexpectedly dies, she gains sole ownership of the house and evicts the two from the home. Despite their exile, Danny and especially Maeve could not let go of their emotional attachment to the house that they grew up in as well as the loss of their previous lifestyle. As a result of their banishment, Maeve takes control of the direction of Danny’s life choices which he reluctantly accepts. A surprise twist in the story throws a curve into Danny and Maeve’s relationship. Their ability for forgiveness is tested. A reminder that nothing in life is a sure thing. A memorable read.

“The Dutch House” starts off slow but deepens and brightens in a long slow burn of Patchett’s genius. A natural for book clubs with its complex interrelationships, the book gets better and better right to the last page. Over decades, with first-person narrator Danny and his beloved sister Maeve Conroy at the center, connections are broken, shuffled, and reforged. Old scores get settled or fade into irrelevance with the passage of time. Characters, even Danny, evolve in surprising ways. The house itself could be counted as a character in the novel, and the opulent mansion is both embraced and rejected, by turns holding characters in its thrall and forgotten—almost.

{My Thoughts}
The Dutch House has cemented Ann Patchett at the very top of my favorite authors list. I have loved so many of her books including Bel Canto, State of Wonder and Commonwealth, but for me The Dutch House tops them ALL. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. This IS my number one Ann Patchett book, but I can’t tell you much about it because I refuse to rob anyone of the wonderful reading experience I had as her story unfolded before me. I had intended to savor the story, to stretch out my reading of it. I failed. The Dutch House was just too compelling, too immersive. I got lost in her story and nothing else mattered until I’d reached the end.

Make no mistake about it, The Dutch House is a love story, but a very different kind of love story. It’s the story of the lifelong bond between Danny and his older sister, Maeve. These are siblings who truly care about each other throughout their lives, often putting the other before all others in their decision-making. If there is any dysfunction between the two, it lies in that bond, but I found it very refreshing.

“…then she turned and went back inside, leaving me to stand in the swirl of leaves and think about what I owed her. By any calculation, it was everything.”

The other love story in the book is that of the relationship Danny and Maeve have with the house they grew up in, the Dutch House. To both that home means everything and they never can let go of their feelings for it, making the house itself a character in this novel. Herein lays the dysfunction in The Dutch House, some from Danny and Maeve and their joint obsession, but much more from the house itself, and the reasons for the siblings no longer being welcome there. That’s all I can say!

“My father said we would pick Maeve up and the three of us would have lunch, then he would drive back to Elkins Park without me. It sounded so nostalgic when he said it, the three of us, as if we had once been a unit instead of just a circumstance.”

Whether or not you’re a fan of Ann Patchett, I highly recommend you try The Dutch House. It’s honestly difficult for me to imagine anyone not loving this book. I already knew Patchett as a master storyteller, and this quiet, lovely story is further proof of that.
Grade: A

BONUS INFO: If you’re a fan of audiobooks, you might want to listen to this one. Danny tells the story in first person and the narrator is TOM HANKS. I can only imagine how great that’s going to be. I just may have to listen to The Dutch House, too!

How does she do it again and again?
Ann Patchett remains at the top of her game. Her writing and characters are brilliant - and her style contributes to how you come to know the players in this family saga.
The March House features an actual house as a character in this sibling story of loss, drifting, finding each other, choosing to see what we see, and choosing what to reveal - all at the same time in a fast moving, delightful read.
Fans of Patchett will enjoy this as much as her others - as will any readers who enjoy a good, entwined story that sweeps you away.
Bravo!

Relationships are explored between husbands & wives, siblings, parents & siblings, individuals & their homes. Real estate in general and one house in particular plays a huge role in shaping the lives of its inhabitants. Characters are exceptionally well developed so I ached for those trying to make a future by leaving the past behind. This novel also explores greed, anger, and responsibilities within families and communities.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

Every once in awhile I will pick up a book and immediately upon reading the very first page, I know it will be a winner!!! This was the feeling I had the entire time I read this wonderful and emotionally charged novel by Ann Patchett. When I read the last lines I knew that I was going to miss the characters! I especially bonded with Maeve as we shared the same “affliction”. The cast of characters are so vivid in my mind, I will have a difficult time jumping right into another book....

See my review at Splash Magazines webzine. The house is a main character, representing the family structure and its enmeshed relationships. What is love? For the two main characters, brother and sister, it's devotion arising from mutual emotional dependence. But in their relationship to the others, it's not affection. It's not animosity. It's endurance.

Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors and her new book, “The Dutch House”, fed my love of her stories and writings.

The Dutch House was a strong character in the book. Having grown up with physical places playing strong influence in my life, it was easy to relate to Maeve’s and Danny’s bond to their childhood home and the impact of the loss of that home. The home was a physical representation of what they really loss as children. Ann Patchett brilliantly ties together each character and their history to this physical place to tell a story that will resonate with readers.

Some books come out of the starting gate with a bang and just explode inside your brain as you read. Other books are like a slow ride down a lazy river, you take in every nuance along the way. This lovely book is the latter. I devoured it slowly and enjoyed every single morsel. I absolutely adore this book and I can’t stop thinking about it. Of course, the house is a big part of it. A house so big and loaded with things from the previous tenants that some people wanted nothing to do with it. Some people would give anything and anyone up to have it. The descriptions of it put you right inside it. I would love to walk through it. The heart of this novel though is really the love between a brother and a sister who were everything to each other. A sister who would do anything for her brother and a brother who would give up anything for his sister. There are so many emotions on display throughout the story. The heartbreak is heartbreaking. The disappointments, the triumphs, the struggles are all so real. It was hard to say goodbye to these characters and I love how it completely went full circle. One of the loveliest books I have read in quite a while.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this wonderful book. The review is my humble opinion.

After their father’s sudden death, siblings Maeve and Danny Conroy are quickly evicted from the Dutch House, their family mansion, by their vindictive stepmother. They aren’t even allowed to take the things that had belonged to their own mother who had abandoned the family when they were young children. Periodically, Maeve and Danny park across the street from the house and just watch, trying to catch sight of their stepmother or stepsisters. They are not sure why, since neither wants to enter the house or speak with the inhabitants. The obsession with the Dutch House continues throughout their lives, as does the mystery of their mother.

With its meaning for each family member, the house itself is actually the main character, the common thread in the book, the thing that keeps pulling them back. It’s like the house has some kind of magic, with glass walls (it’s noted several times that an outsider can see right through the house), a third floor ballroom, and a (hideous) dining room with a starry ceiling. When their father purchased it, the house came complete with the furnishings, down to the artwork on the walls and clothing in the closets. Another reviewer mentioned they were creeped out by the cover art, but the painting on the cover is actually part of the story.

The younger sibling Danny is the narrator, and Maeve is the center of the story of Danny’s life, since she stepped in to fill the role of their missing mother. Danny has a rather juvenile world view in that he has never questioned or considered many of the things about his life (Sandy and Jocelyn being sisters, why his mother deserted the family, his impact on Maeve’s life), long after he should have been mature enough to figure things out. There is a fairy tale aspect as well, with Maeve and Danny being a modern-day Hansel and Gretel, thrown out of their home by their wicked stepmother, spending their lives longing to find their way home, even having three fairy godmothers who look after them in the form of Sandy, Jocelyn, and Fluffy.

I greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Patchett does such a great job with characters and big family sagas. The Dutch House reminded me a lot of Commonwealth, Patchett’s previous novel, switching back and forth between time periods and locations, and also of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt in the wide scope of the story. In addition to the fairy tale theme, there is a lot of history repeating itself and things coming full circle. I think this would be a great book club selection, since there is so much to discuss. The only thing to be aware of is that the story is not told chronologically, so if your book group doesn’t like stories that jump around, this title is not for you.

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in return for a review.

I loved the characters in "The Dutch House" as much as I loved the characters in Patchett's earlier book, "Commonwealth." The sibling relationship at the core of this book was so beautifully and endearingly rendered. These people were real to me, and I think I will stay thinking about them for quite some time. This will be a bestseller, and it's a must-read for anyone who loves books about unruly families.

. Like the best of Ann Patchett's books, this was instantly absorbing and I found myself lost in its world. The house in the title cast a long shadow over the book and over the lives of Maeve and Danny. Even when they are cast out, they cannot escape its power over the course of their lives. The end is both expected and surprising, as well as ultimately satisfying.

This novel is certain to be one of the "big" novels of the fall. Its author Ann Patchett is well known for her thoughtful, literary style and moving story lines The Dutch House will be welcomed by Patchett's loyal readers and may well attract some new fans.

The book tells the story of siblings, Maeve and Danny, those around them and the home that resonates with them. The story moves back and forth in time as characters and their stories take center stage or temporarily recede.

This is a complex and sophisticated novel that makes readers think about relationships (parent/child, stepparent/child, husband/wife, siblings, step-siblings, those who work for families), finding a way in life, sacrifices and choices. Readers will not forget The Dutch House and those who lived there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Ann Patchett novel, and it’s probably not going to be a common starting point in her body of work, but I’m definitely a fan of her’s after completing it.

I don’t know if I could describe the plot to someone if they asked, so there’s not much of risk of spoilers here even if I wanted to give them. Patchett puts as much care and color into her characters as an artist puts into each brushstroke of a painting. If you told me she also created the portrait of Maeve on the cover, I would believe you.

There’s no great twists or action-packed plot, just wonderful writing about complicated family dynamics. So many times I was filled with anger or resentment that mirrored a character’s, and sometimes surpassing it. Only to, by the end of it all, have it evaporate away and leave me wondering why I felt so much. To those with your own familial tensions: expect to be confronted with them as well.

It’s not a sad book; it’s sad the way life is. Or beautiful the way life is. Or unfair the way life is. I really didn’t mean to write such a melancholic review, but I guess this is where I ended up. But in case there’s any confusion, I recommend picking up The Dutch House.

This was my first Ann Patchett book and I LOVED it!! It pulled me in right away and kept me turning pages. Ann Patchett has become a new favorite author and I’m wanting to read all her books!

Let me start by saying I am not a reviewer who gives you a synopsis of the book; you can read the inside cover for that. I have read two other books by Ann Patchett and this is by far my favorite. She does a fine job of exploring the human psyche while keeping the story moving along. My one criticism of this book seems to be a common problem with authors today; they realize they need to wrap the book up and so hurry the plot in the latter part. As a book lover, if the book is good I don’t care how long it is: Make it 500 pages if that’s what it takes to tell the story well. I would recommend this book as a book club read as there are many characters and situations that bear discussion.

Ann Patchett never disappoints and she didn't this time either. I LOVED this book and all the characters.

Thank you to HarperCollins / Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a character driven story about the Conroys—Elna (mother), Cyril (father), Danny (son), and Maeve (daughter). Cyril runs Conroy Real Estate and Construction, and his first order of business is to buy the Dutch House for his wife. The Dutch House is an estate, located just outside Philadelphia (Elkins Park), that was originally owned by the VanHoebeeks, who finished the house in 1922. It was made up of mostly windows, and at the time it didn't matter because it wasn't located near a road or neighbors. Now the Buchsbaums live across the street. Unfortunately, Elna ends up leaving because she hates the house. Cyril tells Danny that she was crazy and moved to India. In comes Andrea Smith, the kids' new step mother. She loves the house, and she eventually wants it to be hers. The saga continues from there.

I really enjoyed this at first. I loved learning about this dysfunctional family and their not so humble abode. The writing is your basic good fiction writing. There was nothing in the writing that I haven't seen done before. I've never really read a story like this one though. I have learned that stories about family drama is a favorite trope of mine. Even though this book wasn't my favorite, I would still recommend it to anyone who loves that same trope.

Andrea and her two daughters, Bright and Norma, were my least favorite characters out of all of them. Cyril probably comes in second place for most hated. Andrea didn't like Cyril's kids, but she put up with them until some events happen with Cyril. Kicking the kids out of the Dutch House broke my heart. Maeve pretty much saves them. She has a one bedroom place, and she lets Danny stay with her.

I didn't really have a favorite character. They all got on my nerves at some point, but they were very well developed. I could distinguish who was who, and they all had different personalities.

I love the bond that Maeve and Danny has. They can argue all they want, but in the end they will always look out for each other. That was the best part of the story.

The story became boring after the 60% mark. I wasn't interested in anything that was happening. I think it was just a little too long for what the story was. Overall, it wasn't a bad book. I wouldn't reread it, but I would recommend it. I think someone could become really invested in a story such as this one.