The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

On the surface, The Dutch House is about siblings Danny and Maeve, who lived in a large, beautiful house as children. As adults, they frequently reminisce about their experiences in the house. Their mother left them while they were young, and servants raised them. They didn’t realize how wealthy they were until their father died and Andrea, their stepmother, proceeded to oust them from the family home. Becoming instantly impoverished made a profound impression on them. Maeve became Danny’s guardian while he was in high school. An attorney confirmed that Cyril, their father, had indeed left his business and resources to Andrea but had left a trust for Danny’s education.

At Maeve’s urging, Danny reluctantly attended medical school to maximize the benefit of the trust. Much of the story focuses on Danny’s lack of desire to practice medicine and how he sorts out and attains his personal goals. Danny marries and has two children. Maeve does not marry, nor does she pursue a career that is commensurate with her education. Career choices and cultural expectations about education and work emanate through the characters’ actions and memories. Patchett is superb at conveying how these choices align with social class and family mores. Materialism, money, and affluence are significant themes in this book. Additionally, Danny and Maeve continually unravel why their parents made decisions and attempt to understand themselves through childhood influences. The characters’ development, introspection, and life choices are the most riveting parts of the story.

I first read The Dutch House in 2020 and have just finished listening to it for an upcoming book club meeting. This year, 2024, I had a completely different reaction to the story. I almost always love Ann Patchett’s books. So, I liked it both times, but the first time, I read a story about sibling bonds and an attachment to a childhood home. I wondered at the time about the storyteller, Danny, his self-esteem, and his ability to love; it was also clear to me that Maeve suffered during childhood and the circumstances that profoundly affected her.

This reading left me with more universal thoughts about human nature and the everyday interactions and sentiments that define our personhood. Without providing spoilers, a significant theme that Patchett forces us to consider is forgiveness. We only realize how integral forgiveness is to Danny’s fabric when the story ends. Another essential concept is family dynamics and spousal communication. It is incredible how perceptively and astutely Patchett shows communication patterns repeating over generations. She subtly shows how human actions are sometimes automatic yet controlled by one’s upbringing.