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emjay2021's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I read Tom Lake a few weeks ago, I was so taken by it. So, I thought I’d try another Ann Patchett. The audiobook of The Dutch House became available and my cousin had recommended it on the strength of Tom Hanks’ narration. Well, she was not wrong! I loved it. The story was fascinating and sucked me in immediately; the characters were all so well rounded the felt like real people. Everyone was flawed, some more than others. It’s such a sad story and yet Patchett has a deceptively light touch.
I found it very hard to empathize with Danny and Maeve’s mother for abandoning her children, particularly given how horribly Andrea treated them. And their father was not much better, allowing Andrea to dominate them and eventually cut them off from their inheritance. And yet, at the end of the story, both Elna and Andrea, the two mothers who have failed their children so miserably, are locked in a relationship with each other (Andrea unknowingly, Elna deliberately). What a strange ending. It surprised me, and yet at the same time, I was not that surprised.
I loved Maeve. She was flawed but fierce. Danny, the narrator, is not particularly self-aware until the very end, but that’s not really too surprising. I enjoyed his wry observations and his always admiring, loving descriptions of his sister. This is really a story of siblings, a fairy tale like Hansel and Gretel. If you liked Tom Lake I would totally recommend this. And alhough I loved Tom Lake, I feel like this is an even better book.
I loved Maeve. She was flawed but fierce. Danny, the narrator, is not particularly self-aware until the very end, but that’s not really too surprising. I enjoyed his wry observations and his always admiring, loving descriptions of his sister. This is really a story of siblings, a fairy tale like Hansel and Gretel. If you liked Tom Lake I would totally recommend this. And alhough I loved Tom Lake, I feel like this is an even better book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Dementia, Grief, Medical content, and Death of parent
futuretreeman's review
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Drug use, Medical trauma, Grief, Death, Bullying, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
missbear's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I decided to read this book because I happened to stumble upon a free copy - that and my Kindle app recommended it to me in one of those "based on what you've been reading" lists and every other book in the list was one I either wanted to read already or had already read and enjoyed, so I figured that was a good sign. Interestingly, though, I still went into it with some serious reservations. I genuinely thought I was not really going to like this book and I'm not really sure why that was. Perhaps it's because contemporary (I know this is technically historical, but it really has a contemporary feel) literary fiction is not my typical genre and it turns out I'm a little bit prejudiced against it?
It turned out I really, really enjoyed it, though. And honestly, I'm a little baffled about that, too. This book does not really have a plot - instead, it wanders along with this particular family as the children grow up and become adults and continue their lives. The characters are quite prickly and difficult to like, all of them. I would have absolutely no idea how to pitch this book to someone I thought might be interested in it, except to say, I was utterly compelled by it and didn't want to stop reading.
I think perhaps what it came down to for me was that I love books about close friendships and Danny and Maeve's sibling relationship is the real heart of this book. They are genuinely friends and even though they each had borderline infuriating character flaws, I was truly touched by their friendship and love for each other, and that made this book beautiful and meaningful for me. Not to mention that Ann Patchett is a superb writer and could probably compel me to be interested in anything.
It turned out I really, really enjoyed it, though. And honestly, I'm a little baffled about that, too. This book does not really have a plot - instead, it wanders along with this particular family as the children grow up and become adults and continue their lives. The characters are quite prickly and difficult to like, all of them. I would have absolutely no idea how to pitch this book to someone I thought might be interested in it, except to say, I was utterly compelled by it and didn't want to stop reading.
I think perhaps what it came down to for me was that I love books about close friendships and Danny and Maeve's sibling relationship is the real heart of this book. They are genuinely friends and even though they each had borderline infuriating character flaws, I was truly touched by their friendship and love for each other, and that made this book beautiful and meaningful for me. Not to mention that Ann Patchett is a superb writer and could probably compel me to be interested in anything.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Medical content
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