Tom Hanks narrates the audiobook edition of this novel and his voice draws you in, commanding your attention. I think the story would’ve benefited from having a proper name for the house rather than calling it “the Dutch House.” Patchett discusses an exclusive printed edition of her new novel in an interview. Maeve and Danny have a solid bond that keeps them close throughout school, college, careers, health issues and relationships, yet the house continues to lure them back to how their lives used to be and could have been. The house symbolizes the success of Maeve and Danny’s dad, the demise of their family and the betrayal of their stepmother. It is critical to note that the house takes on an important role in the book, almost as if it is a character. The sprinkling of fairytale influences, including “Cinderella,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “The Little Princess,” make this modern-day dark fairy tale a warning of the potential treachery when one encounters both wealth and poverty. Maeve and Danny are kicked out of the house and are left to fend for themselves as they navigate the world together.They regularly visit the Dutch House, parking on the street to gaze up at their former home –– a routine they follow for years. Andrea assumes the role of an evil stepmother to Maeve and Danny and gains control of Cyril’s assets upon his death years later. A few years later, Cyril meets and marries Andrea, who is nearly 20 years younger and more interested in the Dutch House than him. He purchases a mansion for his family in the mid-1940’s that was built by a Dutch couple in 1922 –– hence the title of the book –– and considers this purchase a reflection of his success. However, he paints a vivid description of their lives and makes it clear that his sister is his hero.Ĭyril Conroy, Maeve and Danny’s dad, is a self-made real estate mogul. This book follows the lives of two siblings, Maeve and Danny Conroy and is told from Danny’s perspective, who is sometimes oblivious to the world around him.

“The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett is a mash-up of fairy tales with a dark twist spanning over five decades. “The Dutch House” audiobook cover, narrated by Tom Hanks

Tom hanks the dutch house