Surprisingly simple and understated book . Portrait of the life of two kids iabandoned by their mother with their home " the Dutch house " as the central character . Dutch house is quite like Mandeely of "Rebecca "- enchanting , haunting and taking over the lives of people who live in it . The mother who abandoned her children came back and continued to live with her pathological desire to serve the needy . She evokes same feeling of disgust in readers as she did in her son . But there is no answer to the question Mave raised - many fathers have abandoned their children to conquer the world - why is it that it's so bad When the mother does it ? It's an easy read . Setting is uncluttered , characters very simple and relatable and there are no hero's or villains . A very human story of a brother , sister and their home .

Spend some time at The Dutch House. This book will find a permanent home in your heart.

Made me cry.

It is a simple story but woven beautifully. I was made to travel with the siblings and their Dutch house. It felt so nice finishing the book. The siblings esp Maeve stayed in my head for few more days. And yes, Tom hanks did his magic too.

So close to be a masterpiece, a dysfunctional family story starts in this humongous, grandiose mansion, where ex inhabitants had died and left their belongings including their portraits hanging on the walls and it ends there as we move back and forth between the timelines to read the story narrated by Danny, second child of the family. But please go and order an audiobook because TOM HANKS is fantastic, impeccable, meticulous narrator. (Yes, he is our Danny boy).

The voice was fit for the character ... an awesome read

I love how minutely every emotion was captured and each is relatable, understandable and thought provoking. A typical family drama that makes u feel u know the family in and out. There were moments where nothing big was happening, so not a page turner for me, especially around the mid. But i could hold till the end coz of great play and clarity of emotions, easy and soothing listen and tom hanks’ voice. Also it picked up in the last 1/3rd part, loved it.

Good one... makes you read and will touch every one in some way

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Beautiful writing ,wonderful narration