Think about all the wicked stepmothers you’ve ever encountered in literature --Cinderella’s, Hansel and Gretel’s, Snow White’s, and on and on -- then prepare to meet Andrea Smith Conroy, wicked witch of Elkins Park, a suburb of Philadelphia. Although not a main character, certainly the action and the fallout were generated with her marriage to Cyril Conroy, an entrepreneur in the construction and real estate business. His two children, Maeve and Danny, had been left motherless by an initially unexplained exit of their mother to India.

The title The Dutch House refers not to a kind of house but to the VanHoebeeks who had it built in 1922. With the Depression and its aftermath, the house was lost to the bank until Cyril purchased it. When Danny was four and Maeve 11, gold-digger Andrea comes into the picture, attracted mostly to the house, or so Cyril once joked to Danny. Later, using the children’s education as a pretense – including her children by a previous marriage but leaving out college grad Maeve – Andrea lured Cyril to the lawyer’s office to establish a trust…and while there, managed to get her name added to all of Cyril’s assets.

A turn of events left Maeve and Danny totally without any inheritance, not even the construction business Danny was being groomed by Cyril to take over. For years after their departure from the home, Maeve and Danny drove to the Dutch House and sat and watched from the street. During these “visits,” the two commiserated about the evils of Andrea during the marriage, including giving her two daughters Maeve’s lovely bedroom when Maeve was in college. Andrea’s nastiness toward her step-children seemed to have no limit.

Though the once rich brother and sister are forced to make their own way into the world, Maeve comes up with a scheme to tap that education trust, forcing Danny to go away to boarding school to finish high school, to attend an expensive college, and finally on to medical school. This exact revenge of depleting the education trust incensed Andrea, much to the satisfaction of Maeve although Danny never wanted to be a doctor, instead wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps.

The nonlinear timeline works because it is in the hands of the talented Ann Patchett although some might be bothered by the bouncing back in forth in the timeline as the story followed the siblings throughout life. The resolution arrived a little to0 quickly and was a bit unsettling with the introduction of a character. Unexpectedly, the story of the Conroy family completed a full circle.

I highly recommend this book to readers, especially Patchett’s fans. I’d like to thank HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

I was so relieved to read this book. Many of the books I have read lately have been flat and very similar to one another. Ann Patchett does an amazing job with character development. Not one character lacked some traits that appealed to me. Besides the character, I lived reading about Philadelphia and New York City. Another plus for this book was that, even though the characterization was so vital, the plot was intriguing enough to make it a page turner.

I highly recommend The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.

Another great novel by Ann Patchett. I loved the sibling relationship and the role of the Dutch House. Highly recommend.

Patchett is one of my favorite authors and she doesn't disappoint in The Dutch House. Have you driven by a magnificent house and were curious about who lived there, when it was built, its history? Through the lens of two siblings the Dutch house becomes it own character in this book and the reader will want to know snuggle into their chair and learn more about the house and the family that has learn to live, love and obsess about it. Bravo!

Ann Patchett delivers another stunning novel about family and what it is to be haunted by the loss of all you hold dear. Warm and wise this is a treasure trove of a novel. Sublime.

I requested an advanced copy of this book and started reading it, without reading a synopsis. That's how much faith I have in Ann Patchett! Not knowing what to expect in the story was a little disorienting at first, then ultimately served me well because I had absolutely no preconceived notions, although I expected it to be excellent, which it was.

Patchett's characters are always complex, they remind me a lot of John Irving's, which I appreciate because they don't always do the right thing, and they suffer consequences of their actions. The beauty in these stories is that they are so very true to life: People screw up, they fight, they make up, they hold grudges, they love each other.

This particular story of The Dutch House is incredibly rich with detail. It's the story of two siblings whose mother leaves when they are young. It's their story, but also the story of this house they live in, which drove their mother to leave, and where they stay with their father.

It's difficult to sum up what this novel is about: Family, place, belonging, expectations, loyalty, obligation, forgiveness. It's ultimately a family drama, packed with history and geographic details. The writing is poetic and vivid. It spans time and family generations, going back and forth to tell the story in a way that can be confusing, though I can see why a traditional linear timeline wouldn't have as much emotion.

I highly recommend this for Ann Patchett fans, and any readers of literary fiction. Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

I was deeply moved by this story which revolves around the Dutch House, a stately mansion outside of Philadelphia. Through the years, this home has brought joy to some, pain to others, but all involved have stories to tell of its effect on their lives. Patchett’s writing is pure joy as she weaves this saga. Sentences should be reread and reviewed to enjoy their full beauty. She is a gifted writer, indeed.

Maeve and Danny, siblings with a symbiotic relationship, have especially tough memories of growing up in this house with a dispassionate father and absent mother. The readers see Maeve and Danny help each other move from childhood through adulthood. They often return to the scene of their discontent to let us in on the missing pieces of their angst. You will envy their love for each other.

Five stars for this novel of richly drawn characters which will be loved by established Patchett fans and which will undoubtedly create new ones.

I've heard it said that holding onto anger is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. "The Dutch House," Ann Patchett's latest novel, explores that idea with some embellishments. What if the people you're mad at are related to you? What if your anger is justified? The story, set in the Philadelphia suburbs as well as New York City in the 1960s and '70s, centers on a sister and brother whose mother walks out on their family. Life in the "Dutch House," an eccentric mansion, has become too much for her. The siblings later are exiled from this life of extreme privilege by a real-life wicked stepmother. They focus on regaining the wealth and status they've lost, not realizing that no amount of money will make up for the love they've been starved of in their youth.

This is a book that is seemingly timeless with the apparent time frame revealed by date in the college years--1968. It would be an enhancement to the narrative to know this earlier, or not at all. The narration starts with Danny, a young motherless boy who relies on his older sister throughout his life. They live in the mansion, the Dutch House, which becomes its own entity. We follow the kids and the house through adulthood. A good, solid work from a favorite author.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

Ann Patchett does not disappoint--her writing is beautiful and it carried me quickly through this story of two siblings, Maeve and Danny, written from the first person of Danny. Patchett writing in a male voice rings true. A lyrical exploration of a family-a messy and dysfunctional family but one that has at its core an unbreakable sibling bond. The book addresses blended families, abandoned children, marriage, motherhood, nurturing, finding one's path in life. At all times it rang true. The story covers their time in the Dutch House, the magnificent yet flea ridden and overwhelming mansion their father bought and their eviction. The siblings spend decades watching Dutch House, but never approaching it. Maeve and Danny have been abandoned and forgotten by crucial adults in their lives, yet at the same time other adults have fierce attachment to them. Their connection is paramount. Knowing that Patchett is married to a physician, I found the sub-plot of the son who becomes a physician but never practices it, interesting. Although the story comes full circle, it did feel contrived in any way, as the characters have grown and revealed themselves. I found it a book that resonated and the characters are fully explored. And a pleasure to read.

This luminous family story is everything a novel should be. Spanning five decades and narrated by the family's son. Danny, it tells a story of life, love, loss, and redemption. The pacing, the details, the narrator, the characters and everything about this book are perfect. I couldn't put it down, but didn't want it to end.
After the second World War, Cyril Conroy makes a great deal of money following several real estate deals and buys the house of his dreams. Unfortunately, it's not the house of his wife's dreams. He moves his young family, to the house and his wife quickly abandons the family. Cyril marries a second time to the cold calculating Andrea, who promptly throws Danny and his older sister Maeve out the the house. Danny and Maeve navigate life together with loss, devotion, revenge, regret, and love. When the story comes full circle, can Danny and Maeve forgive the mother who abandoned them the the stepmother who disinherited them? The little details, the bits of humor, the full-developed fascinating primary and secondary characters, the novel succeeds on every level.

4.5 Stars

This is the third book of Patchett’s that I’ve read, the first being State of Wonder, the second, Commonwealth, and this is one adds to the proof that she was born to write these complex family dramas where each character equally shares the wounds of all involved.

A little like a fairy tale flipped upside-down, this story includes an imposing, castle-like house, which seems to affect each character differently, as though abiding inside these walls seems to create an entirely different relationship between the house and each character. It begins as World War II is ending, and this then poor young family who have been living in base housing, living a happy, if simple life find their world upended when the father, Cyril, buys a house – unbeknownst to his young wife and young daughter, Maeve. The wife, Elna, is… well, impressed by the house, but the impression isn’t a good one, and she can’t imagine how this house could be theirs when they are poor. Something must be wrong beyond her feeling that this is far too ostentatious for her to ever feel comfortable living in.

As the story moves along, the house becomes more and more like another character, creating tension as time passes, and representing the failures of the past as well as the shattered hopes and dreams for the members of this family, as well. As time passes, it continues to pull both Danny and his sister Maeve back time and again to confront their feelings of anger and their regrets over the past.

Narrated by the son, Danny, it seemed as though these were stories shared by and about real people, and imparted with the grace and dignity offered to cherished loved ones.



Pub Date: 24 Sep 2019


Many thanks to HarperCollins Publishers, Harper

The Dutch House, once owned by the VanHoebeeks, is now home to the Conroy family. Cyril wanted to surprise his wife Elna, with a large home that seemed well beyond their means. The house was staffed by Sandra, Jocelyn, and Fluffy.
“Fluffy was the only person in the house who had known the VanHoebeeks...though we slept in their beds and ate our meals off their Deltware...it was their house...built on what was then farmland outside of [Elkins Park] Pennsylvania.”

When the Conroy family moved into the Dutch House they didn’t know it was going to change everything. Elna Conroy left, walking out on her husband and two young children, Danny and Maeve, and nothing would ever be the same. Soon Cyril Conroy brought Andrea Smith home and it wasn’t long before she became the next Mrs Conroy and never left.

Danny Conroy is the voice of this story and we learn the details of his life and Maeve’s through his eyes. Even though they have moved out of the house it still holds sway over them. Danny and Maeve have a strong bond and they have some of their best talks sitting in the car across the street from the Dutch House.

Ann Patchett fans should rejoice with the release of The Dutch House, the long awaited addition to her catalog.

Thank you to @harpercollinsus and @NetGalley for this #advancereaderscopy.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/emmamcanaw/under-20-big-big-difference?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bfsharecopy&sub=0_123089688#123089688https://www.buzzfeed.com/emmamcanaw/under-20-big-big-difference?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bfsharecopy&sub=0_123089688#123089688

Reading this book was a delight. It seems like most of the books I picked up lately fell short of expectations at best, or were so bad they angered up my blood at worst.

Then I opened The Dutch House, and suddenly the clouds parted and golden rays shone down on my Kindle. The reading slump was over!

This compelling novel tells the story of family and mistakes made, the bond between a brother and sister, and a past they can't shake. Overshadowing and influencing it all is the grand house of the title.

Danny is our narrator, the youngest son of the man who bought the Dutch House as a surprise for his wife. The domino effect starts there, setting in motion events that will impact all of their lives for decades.

Family bonds loom large, particularly between Danny and his older sister, Maeve, who in many ways is more like a mother to him. The sacrifices they make and, at times, ask of each other are part of the close ties they share.

The characters make bad decisions that greatly affect their lives and the lives of others, and you'll fantasize about grabbing them by the collar and giving them a good shake before it's over. And yet, as always with Ann Patchett, the characters are exceptionally well-drawn and the reader can always understand how they make the choices they do. We're all flawed, we mess up. We avoid dealing with things. When these characters do, you understand their motivations or shortcomings that led them down that road.

Through it all, the Dutch House itself is like a river running through the characters' lives. It's a constant presence, and while their relationship to it may change, it never changes, not really. It may sweep them up and carry them along, or cast them out on the rocks.

It's hard to discuss this book too closely without giving spoilers, and this beautifully rendered novel deserves to be read without knowing its secrets in advance, so I'll leave the description there in it's vagueness.

As always with Ann Patchett, her way with words and insightful character development are worth your time. The writing is beautiful, the story engaging, and the characters real and believable. Highly recommended.

At its core, this is a novel about the intense bond between siblings in the aftermath of their family's disintegration. Set in the late 1960s and beyond in Pennsylvania and New York, the story is told by the brother, Danny, and jumps around in time from his early childhood till late-middle age. He and his older sister, Maeve, have each other to work through their deep longing for lost family, symbolized by a house their father bought as an impetuous grand gesture.

Ann Patchett is a master of the nuanced, detailed storytelling that lets readers feel they are part of the story, in the room or the car or wherever hearts are exposed and broken.

This book is for readers who loved Patchett's previous novel, Commonwealth, and for anyone who loves a deep dive into a family's painful history.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars

"Disappointment comes from expectation, and in those days I had no expectation that Andrea would get and thing less than what she wanted."

Ann Patchett's novels are always a journey and this one is no exception. This story starts with two siblings Maeve and Danny who live in a giant house with their family and some help. The mother leaves and the dad ends up marrying another woman who has two younger daughters of her own. Everything in the story winds backwards and forwards in time from there.

This story told from the little boy, Danny's, perspective takes the characters from their child years all the way to old age. There is so much here to talk about, but there were three most resonant themes for me. One is about the strong bond between the two siblings. The way their lives were completely intertwined with each other. The way they would drop anything at the drop of a hat and be there for each other. The way their love and support for each other was 100% unwavering and unconditional. It was palpable in the whole story.

“Mothers were the measure of safety, which meant that I was safer than Maeve. After our mother left, Maeve took up the job on my behalf but no one did the same for her.”

The second theme was of sacrifice. The theme of saints. Is a parent leaving her kids but then out there saving the world a good parent or a bad parent? What does it mean if she is helping those who need help but abandoning her kids in the process? So many questions that are hard to answer here.

"In the city of constant stimulation, we had failed to give them the opportunity to develop strong inner lives for those occasions when they would find themselves sitting through the second act of <i>The Nutcracker</i>"

And finally, the theme that was most resonant for me: living your life in a particular way just out of spite. There's so much in this book done out of spite. Done out of resentment and anger. When we carry all this with us, it shapes our whole life and then these terrible things people did to us end up continuing long after they are not in our life. And this book has such strong examples of what it looks like to live with all that.

Every character in this book is 3-dimensional and you can feel them moving in the story. The house itself is definitely another character and looms over the story just like many of the paintings mentioned. It shapes everything. I loved every page of this book even if the ending wasn't all I wished it were.

Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

A story of memories and family dynamics and of two siblings, Danny and Maeve Conroy, who grew up in The Dutch House. The house itself is a metaphor for their lives, made of glass, you can see straight through it into the back yard, but can't see into every room in the house. So it is with the characters in the story, we see much about them, but not everything. And like you would imagine a glass house to be, there are cold spots in their personalities. You can't know everything about another person no matter how much you love them or how hard you try.

This is a dream of a story and I think, one of Ann Patchett's best. Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. #TheDutchHouse #NetGalley

Beautifully paced and unusual story of the way familial damage can breed the utmost love and support amongst its survivors. #thedutchhouse #netgalley

A couple of weeks ago I was thinking about all the books I’ve read in 2019. Which was the best book? Nothing sprang to life for me. Now, having read the “The Dutch House” I have my top pick for 2019. Patchett has created a story with interesting characters in an enchanted setting. It is almost like a fairy tale brought to life.

As children, siblings Danny and Maeve live with their parents in the large, expensively decorated Dutch House. Then one day their mother disappears. She’s gone to India according to their father. Several years later their father remarries. Upon his death the sibling’s step-mother banishes Danny, then 16, and Maeve, 22, from their home. An education trust provides Danny with the means to attend a private boarding school and then college. Maeve continues working at what she thought would be only a summer job. What happens to the pair as they make their way through life is told through Danny’s eyes. But, always in the background is The Dutch House.

Patchett writes about family as they deal with life’s challenges. While the story may seem rather ordinary the magnificent writing, pulled me in as if I was there, just behind Danny. “The Dutch House” is hauntingly magical, and truly magnificent work.