The Dutch House

I really didn't want this book, [b:The Dutch House 44318414 The Dutch House Ann Patchett https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552334367l/44318414.SY75.jpg 68864841] to end. I grew fond of Danny, the narrator, and his sister Maeve. In many ways, it was more Maeve's story than Danny's, though the tale was told with his perceptions. [a:Ann Patchett 7136914 Ann Patchett https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1371838720p2/7136914.jpg] can tell a story like no other author. She only tells you what you need to know. She leaves the rest for the reader to fill in the blanks. Even though a house was at the center of this story, she didn't spend a huge amount of time describing it. She only stopped occasionally to give the reader the gist of what it looked like and, trust me, I was able to build a fantastic, three-story house around those details. After all, what house has a Delft mantle on the fireplace or blue sky painted on the dining room ceiling?I love that she followed Danny (and Maeve) from childhood through adulthood, skipping the unimportant bits and dwelling on the points that made me ache for their losses and celebrate their wins. It struck me that house that Maeve and Danny lived in as children could have such an overarching effect on their lives, even after they were no longer living there. And there can't be another villain as horrible as Andrea, or one who got her comeuppance better. Even then, I couldn't quite celebrate her fate. Yes, Patchett even made me like the bad guy. If you are hungry for some new friends, read [b:The Dutch House 44318414 The Dutch House Ann Patchett https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552334367l/44318414.SY75.jpg 68864841]. But I warn you, you'll be sad to see it end.