Reviews

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

maliyaellis's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

A moving, compassionate novel as much about unexpected kindnesses as about unintended cruelties. Beautifully ambiguous — Maeve and Danny’s misfortune is the foundation of their unique sibling bond, so who’s to say it was a tragedy? About sacrifices — Maeve’s childhood, given up for Danny’s innocence — and about forgiveness — how do you forgive a mother who abandoned you? At some level, you simply decide to. About the inevitability of incomplete understanding — Celeste can only see Danny and Maeve’s eternal return to the Dutch House as unhealthy obsession, when really it is a sacred place outside of time. About hope, too — that one house can mean so many things to so many people, that after decades of loneliness and cold, May can see it as a place for youth and laughter. And fundamentally, about the physical structures that pattern our lives, about memory landscapes and the fraught business of moving through them, the double edged sword of sweet, painful reminiscence in a place that stays the same even as its itinerant inhabitants grow and decay. 

lwy210's review against another edition

3.0

I didn’t love it, just a matter of personal preference. But it was extremely well written. As always.

cmfanning's review against another edition

5.0

I don't know whether I enjoyed the story or Tom Hanks' narration of the story more. Quite enjoyable and one of those you're sad has to end.

lhohnstadt's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

amengelking's review against another edition

4.0

I never realized that Tom Hanks’ (the audible narrator) voice shares so many similarities with Garrison Keillor. I listened to this book in one day, on my solo drive home from dropping my college student off. He did a fantastic job! The novel was a character study and I had a lot of mixed feelings about each of them. An enjoyable listen.

wee_eck_m's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jobot0's review against another edition

emotional relaxing sad fast-paced

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

2.5

moiraq14's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

homage to an extraordinary family home and complicated family bonds, mostly about inheritance

lilyantan's review against another edition

4.0

A saga about a seriously dysfunctional family and the house that undid them all.

First of all, Patchett's writing is SUPERB. She brings the whole scene to life through character dialogue without the need to overly describe actions. There's this one conversation where two characters are arguing that really stuck with me.

"Okay, first, Otterson's is a real business."
Celeste held up her hands. "Please don't lecture me about lima beans."
"Second, look at me, I'm serious. Second, Maeve is completely ethical, which is more than you could say about some accountants who deal with New York real estate."

I know it's so simple but with that little "look at me, I'm serious" thrown in , that whole scene unfolded for me. I saw Celeste holding up her hands in frustration, then as Danny started to rattle off his second point, she looks down and away, done with the conversation and he says "look at me" and which point she glances back at him, her anger evident in her eyes. Okay - I got all of that from "look at me" Patchet didn't need to describe the scene extensively because she inserts those little details in her dialogue that makes things so... real. I loved that. I loved the focus on dialogue and character interaction so much.

A missing star for the weak/lack off plot and that just comes down to preference. While I really appreciated the relationship and banter between the characters I like my books to have a solid plot and that's not really what the Dutch House is about. The last 20% felt very rushed with, what felt like forced and unrealistic resolutions

Spoiler

The mom coming back was weird. Maeve's reaction to her mom coming back, given she'd been portrayed as a grudge bearing individual the whole time was also weird, Andrea's Alzheimer's felt convenient and their mom deciding to take care of Andrea was the biggest wtf. Didn't love that.

Ending and strange character behaviour aside, all the love for Danny and Maeve <3

slawlereads's review against another edition

4.5

Will listen to anything narrated by Tom Hanks. Patchett is masterful in capturing real people in real world situations.