Reviews

A Casa Holandesa by Ann Patchett

bricope1017's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

javafenn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow was this an excellent book and made even better listening to Tom Hanks read it! He did a great job at voicing each character and getting the real heart of this family. Danny and Maeve are very reliant on one another even when time and distance keep them apart. Maeve always looks out for Danny and Danny begrudgingly goes to medical school so his sister can stick it to their awful stepmother. The siblings go through so much in a lifetime that the last quarter of the book is so emotional. There was one death that happened so quick and you knew it would eventually but it just happened with no immediate lead up. It hit me like a gut punch and I had to stop for a minute to cry and catch my breath. I really wanted more from this family simply because it was so well written you felt like you knew them. Through loss and abandonment and heartache they remained a united force. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Chronic illness

Minor: Alcohol

pjt8pt's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

ereilly151's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

ignorantplebeian's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

natdoell's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dmoles845's review against another edition

5.0

This was my first Ann Patchett read and I really enjoyed it. From the very first page, I was hooked and didn’t want the story to end.

Danny’s single POV throughout the book was an interesting choice — I enjoyed it and the sporadic nature of the timeline. You felt like you were learning and understanding parts of their lives based on another experience, growing with Danny as the story progressed.

While all the characters had their faults, I liked them because they were so human. Danny and Maeve’s relationship was full of love even during life’s most difficult times.

A note on Patchett’s writing style (at least here): I could have read another 100 pages, even if they were about nothing! The descriptive nature of the language and the style in which she told this story was everything I love about books.

marissaren's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

playitasitlays's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

eshitamalik's review against another edition

4.0

4.5/5
Do yourself a favor and order the audiobook. The narration by Tom Hanks is impeccable.