The Dutch House

My favorite read of 2023. It was well written and kept my interest the entire way through.

Took me a little while to get into it but ended up really liking this one. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the many layers to the family dynamic.

After hearing so many good things about Ann Patchett, I was very excited to read this book, and with such a lovely cover, I had high hopes! This book was so boring, and the characters were insufferable, what an entitled and miserable bunch.

I guess I can understand the complaints of some of the readers, but if you are a reader who appreciates the development of rich characters and the randomness of fates and, in this case, the house as a symbol--you will more than likely LOVE this novel. Ann Patchett is a truly gifted author.

This book is totally overhyped. A huge "nothingburger." Read anything else...you'd be better entertained with one of those overseas assembly manuals.

Let's see - Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Best Book of the Year, 1 of Time's 100 must read books of the year? The basic story was interesting, I'm very used to books doing some time hopping from present day to the past. BUT the chapters usually have dates at the beginning of them & a full chapter concludes before you time jump again. You'll be reading this book & thrust back in time for a paragraph or two & then jumped forward for a few pages & over and over within in the same chapter. I found it to be a distracting & chopped up way to write a story. I felt the story dragged on & on & the stakeouts confusing. What was their purpose? Reading the praises for the book I'd be curious what the negative comments were. I'm surely not the only one with my reaction to the book & the author.

A good editor would have cut it by half, and maybe then it was somehow readable. As is, I had to flip through most of it, just to get an idea of where it's going. The story teller lacks any emotion, and the plot is pretty much the same. Not recommended!

Kinda cliché-evil step-mother, spineless dud for a father! Relationship between the sister and brother is OK. Read it for a book club-will be expressing my views in the discussion group.

Well written, interesting story.

I enjoyed this book. It was on my wish list for a year before I took the plunge to purchase the hardcover. Really enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Set in suburban Phila where I live currently. Quick reading, humor at times and very thought provoking.

I couldn’t put it down. Lovely Lovely story It was just like reading about family. This artist writes like artist paints. It’s just smooth and the words are luscious. I just didn’t want it to end. I’ll read it again in a few weeks.