The Dutch House

 

Summary (from the publisher): At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

Review: Told over the course of five decades, this story centers on Danny Conroy and his older sister Maeve. When Danny's father Cyril's real estate dealings move the family from poverty to wealth, Cyril surprises his wife by buying the Dutch House, an ornate family home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, still filled on every floor with the Dutch belongings of its original founding family. Slowly the house is the family's undoing, as their mother leaves, an unfriendly stepmother moves in, and Danny and his sister are eventually ousted from their home. Time seems to fail to heal the wound and the two continue to visit the Dutch House and seem stuck in the past. 

At its heart, this is a story of dysfunctional family, overshadowed by a historic mansion that sets the tone and almost serves as a character itself. Perhaps more precisely, it is the story of a brother sister relationship. For Danny and Maeve, their early losses in childhood make them turn to each other, and their connection takes precedence over any other relationships in their life, even when Danny is married and has a family. 

I loved this book. The characterizations are sharp and well defined and the Dutch house itself so clearly described. The characters fail to always make the choices the reader may want and the ending is not a particularly happy one, but in these ways the novel felt particularly true to life. As always, Patchett's writing is thoughtful and illuminating and she pulls off a male narrator well. Tom Hanks as the audible narrator was another level of enjoyment in a well executed and compelling novel. 

Stars: 4.5

Related Titles: 

• This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
• Commonwealth by Ann Patchett