The Dutch House

[wildalmond]

Just finished reading The Dutch House - would love to discuss if anyone else has read it?

I know there are a few other threads about this but I'm very wary about commenting on old threads no matter how relevant my comments. Earlier today I commented on some other old threads with some relevant and genuinely helpful comments, but unfortunately got banned by the mods because someone reported me. Every single one of my old threads and comments have been deleted so I've lost all my history and interactions on the forum. Yay.

I absolutely loved this book! I listened to the audio book, narrated by Tom Hanks. This just made it better

@TemptingTess

I loved it too! I didn't expect to feel so sad at the end of it.. I feel like I knew the characters personally so I felt all the losses quite deeply, even though they were glossed over quite quickly..

Ooh interesting, I didn't listen to the audiobook so now I feel like I missed out! If I ever do revisit it I'll make sure it's the audiobook version.

I read it a while ago and remember enjoying it but weirdly don't remember much about it now.

A bunch of slightly lost souls hanging around a house that they couldn't go inside any more.

A bit like us for different reasons really, my grandma died and her house is all sold up. I was looking at the lit up windows the other night thinking that I could never go inside ever again.

I'm going to go and dig it out, see if it jogs my memory.

@Newtoadhd

"I was looking at the lit up windows the other night thinking that I could never go inside ever again."

Wow this could easily have been a line from the book!

If you do re-read it come back and let me know what you think 😊

SPOILER ALERT

wildalmond I also loved this book!
I enjoyed reading about the unconventional characters.
I think what I liked the best was the fact that the main male character (the son) never forgave his mother for leaving them, that would have been too saccharine and predictable.
I think Tom Hanks is an excellent choice for the audiobook.
I still haven’t read any more Anne Patchett but I really must!

I read it and enjoyed it . Also can't remember that much of the detail like Newtoadhd.

Have read a few of hers , my favourite is Run which I thought was brilliant.

I loved it. The writing is so detailed but never boring.

Just finished this.

It was enjoyable in parts, but nothing memorable or new. In fact, it seemed a bit "tried and tested". The gold digger step mum, the forced-to-be a doctor, the fight over a family home... it's nothing I haven't seen before.

@TERFspice I felt differently. The idea that the brother had to keep studying and studying simply to squeeze as much money as possible out of Andrea was a new one to me. More interesting than a kid having to become a doctor just because his family thought it was an impressive career. Maeve didn't care whether he ever worked as a doctor or not - it was all done for revenge.
Also the complicated relationship between the step siblings was quite nuanced. And the love between Danny and Maeve was beautifully portrayed. He clearly thought Maeve should have done more with her life; quite ironic coming from someone who'd in a sense over-achieved. Maeve seemed happy with her lot apart from the huge hurt caused by her mother leaving, I presume she and Mr Otterson were in love too?
I have such a clear picture of the house in my head. And I loved the portrait of Maeve which is on the cover of my copy.
The only character I struggled with was the mother. Abandoning your kids like that - I didn't quite buy it.
I'm a big Ann Patchett fan. I think she writes beautifully. And opening a bookshop in your town because the last one closed and you don't want your town not to have a bookshop is a cool thing to do.