The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Danny was a little boy when his mother left and his older sister, Maeve, became the most important person in his life.  He and Maeve lived with their father in a huge, renovated Art Nouveau mansion called The Dutch House.  Things went along well enough until their father remarried, and the new wife, Andrea, slowly pushed her two step-children out of their home and inheritance. Her act of callous cruilty haunts the two as they grow up and make lives for themselves.  Time and circumstance slowly heal wounds and bring acceptance, forgiveness and ultimately, compassion.

This book has been hugely successful since its release in 2019.  It is very literary, atmospheric, and richly layered.  The characters are completely authentic and the relationship between Danny and Maeve is super sweet. Like the other Patchett book I read, the Commonwealth, there isn't any action or adventure. The whole purpose of the story is to see a family evolve, mature and then mellow over time.  As an extra bonus, the audiobook is performed by Tom Hanks.  He does an amazing job and it is worth the effort of listening to the book just to hear his voice for 10 hours. I am trying to think of what this book is like.  It is like getting up way too early to take a long pre-dawn hike just to watch an amazing sunrise come up over the mountain tops. (353 p.)