Et cetera : What We're Reading: Staff Book Chats: The Dutch House

In this author's unique perspective, the main character is actually the house itself! The premise is dark, but simple; a well-to-do landlord and property owner purchases an extremely odd house for his wife as a gift. He tells her that he is thinking of buying it as a rental, takes her to see it, and presents it to her! She is less than pleased.

Told in a series of flashbacks by narrator Danny Conroy, this story encompasses a period of nearly fifty years. Danny has an older sister, Maeve, who is more of a best friend, guardian, almost-mother figure. She and Danny take an "us against the world" stance, braving loneliness and heartbreak; always returning to the street outside the Dutch House, where they sit in Maeve's car and discuss their memories while smoking cigarettes.

Throughout this story of (mostly) tragedy, the reader also sees the many forms that love can take, and love in its many disguises. There is an odd, twisted ending, which may be obvious to others, but which took me by surprise. The book is available in the Libby app, in ebook and audiobook, as well as at the library in a hardcover book. Try it out!

~Connie