Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Dutch House - NOT one of her best :(


The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett
3/5 stars
⭐⭐⭐


The Dutch House is about a brother and sister, Danny and Maeve, and their relationship over the years, and how it is defined by the large ostentatious house they grew up in.

I have read several books by Ann Patchett, and read this based on the fact that I like her as an author in general, but this seemed very different. It was far less compelling for me, and much of the book was like literary masturbation if you will. It just went on and on and on. I left it for a bit and read an entirely different book in toto in the middle, and then I finally went back and finished it.

It got a bit better in the last third, and then very near the end, but it just wasn't that compelling to me. I simply don't have tons of sympathy for characters who have something hard to overcome and then perseverate on it all their life. I mean, "woe is me" we all have challenges, "suck it up buttercup"! But hey, maybe that's just me.
I'm more of a get busy living kind of person...

I really can't recommend this- I think your time is better spent reading something else.
Not one of her best IMHO.



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