The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (dysfunction is us)

Title: The Dutch House
Author:  Ann Patchett

Publication:  HarperCollins Hardcover, 2019

Genre: Fiction

Plot: After World War II, when he was trying to establish his career Cyril Conway became obsessed with the Dutch House, an unusual residential house in the Philadelphia suburbs.  He purchased it to live in with his wife and daughter, Maeve, and soon they had added a son, Danny.  However, his wife was never happy in the house and abandons it (as well as her husband and children).  This results in a close bond between Danny and Maeve, which intensifies when their father marries someone unsuitable who resents his children.  When Cyril dies without a will, the stepmother inherits everything except an educational trust, which fortunately pays for Danny to go to Choate, Columbia, and medical school.  Over several decades, the story is told by Danny, who is only really comfortable when he is with his beloved sister.  All her ambitions are wrapped up in him but the fact that, when together, they seem constantly to be looking backward prevents them from completely moving forward.

My Impressions: This is a compulsively readable book full of flawed characters and as an eldest sister I naturally identified with Maeve, at least for most of the book.  I suppose you could say it is not only about the bond between Danny and Maeve, and their struggle to make sense of their lives, but about parenting in general.   Cyril is a remote character after his wife disappears, who does not seem to appreciate his daughter and can barely communicate with his son.  His decision to remarry is disastrous for his children, as is his failure to make a will.  The mother who disappears (Elna), the evil stepmother (Andrea), and the kind sisters who manage the house (Sandy and Jocelyn – why doesn’t Danny know they are sisters?), the au pair (Fluffy, a villain who turned out to be a victim) and Maeve all assume motherly roles at various points but no one fills the emptiness inside Danny.  The assembly of characters in The Dutch House at the end of the book seemed weird rather than humorous or quirky, and I am not sure what the author intended; perhaps she wanted to show that Danny is irreparably damaged?  His rage eventually ebbs away but too late to do him much good.  The last few chapters reminded me of Elinor Lipman’s books but without the humor.  So my verdict is I am glad to have read it and I liked it but not as much as some of the rest of you. 4/5.

My mother and I were big fans of Bel Canto.  When we saw that the book group my grandmother’s assisted living community was reading it, we were so pleased because we knew Granny would like it and maybe make some friends when it was discussed.  We were partly right – Granny did enjoy the book but said it would spoil it to discuss it with the other inmates.  Alas.  I guess she was just not born for a book group. The only other Patchett book I have read is State of Wonder which was another good read and very interesting in an outdoorsy way, and we had a great book group discussion.  I do think of Patchett as a kindred spirit, however, because she owns a bookstore in Nashville.   I have been to Nashville a couple of time but not since she opened it.

Source: Library.  The book is labeled “Lucky Day Collection, 14 Day Loan,” but my mother checked it out in March right before the pandemic and the due date was automatically extended to September 1.  My mother felt guilty she couldn't return it while all the Boston libraries were closed but I pointed out that the next reader who had it on reserve probably had a book checked out that other people wanted.

Question: Having brought myself up on Anne of Green Gables, I wonder if it upsets people named Ann not to have that e?   You'd think it would be upsetting for a writer!