Ann Patchett creates quite a moving story that is bound to touch the heart of those who have lost something precious in their lives. The story also gives a flavor of family love that is tested every now and then till the end. Dutch House the property of the Cyril family is not only a house where the family has spend many years it is also a place that possesses their memories.
Cyril Conroy the father of the two main characters bought the house as a surprise gift for her wife at the time when they were facing extreme poverty. Thus it served as a lucky charm for them when the family became rich and the real estate business proved to be a huge success for all. Years later when Danny and Maeve lost both of the parents and feel that the house is the only precious thing they are left with, face another tragedy.
They are kicked out of the house by their step-mother and once again face the poverty from which they were saved long ago by their parents. They struggle and try to regain the fortune and reach a respectable status as well but the Dutch House never goes out of their minds. It is the house that they still can take any step and do anything to possess it once again.
They family love along with the relation of a brother and sister really come to a test at the climax. The story is different as compared to Ann’s other books like Commonwealth and This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage as the relations and the relatives have a kind of strange feeling between them.
Tom Hanks goes slow and in a detailed style in narration that confuses the listener for sometime but then the rhythm is on and one can go on with the pattern.
