Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Dutch House: A Novel
    The Dutch House: A Novel
    The Dutch House: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Dutch House: A Novel

    Written by Ann Patchett

    Narrated by Tom Hanks

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Audiobook performed by Tom Hanks

    Pulitzer Prize Finalist | New York Times Bestseller | A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick | A New York Times Book Review Notable Book | TIME Magazine's 100 Must-Read Books of the Year

    Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, The Washington Post; O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Vogue, Refinery29, and Buzzfeed

    From Ann Patchett, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth, comes a powerful, richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go. The Dutch House is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and of who we really are.

    At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

    The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

    Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

    Editor's Note

    Modern fairytale…

    With two resilient siblings, an evil stepmother, and a house almost magical in its beauty, this novel feels like a modern fairytale. A story of emotional endurance and the beautiful relationship between a brother and sister as they navigate the journey to, and through, adulthood.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateSep 24, 2019
    ISBN9780062963703
    The Dutch House: A Novel
    Author

    Ann Patchett

    Ann Patchett is the author of novels, most recently the #1 New York Times bestselling Tom Lake, works of nonfiction, and children's books. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner, the Women's Prize in the UK, and the Book Sense Book of the Year. Her novel The Dutch House was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages, and Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. President Biden awarded her the National Humanities Medal in recognition of her contributions to American culture. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books. Visit her at annpatchett.com.

    More audiobooks from Ann Patchett

    Related to The Dutch House

    Related audiobooks

    Siblings For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Great Read

      Mar 23, 2022

      Great Read
      5 min read

    • Article

      Q&A with Erin Morgenstern, author of ‘The Starless Sea’

      Nov 5, 2019

      Erin Morgenstern, bestselling author of "The Night Circus," answers questions about her latest novel, including where she finds inspiration.

      3 min read

    • Article

      The 10 Best Novels

      Dec 19, 2016

      The 10 Best Novels
      3 min read

    • Article

      Fiction

      Jul 9, 2020

      Hilderbrand’s latest novel is perfect for cosy weekend reading. This time she focuses on former lovers who now lead separate lives but share an island idyll once a year. Captivating and bittersweet. (Available Jul. 23) Inseparable twins Stella and

      1 min read

    • Article

      Mirror Mirror On The Wall

      Oct 5, 2023

      Mirror Mirror On The Wall
      10 min read

    • Article

      Camouflage

      Jun 1, 2020

      Camouflage
      9 min read

    • Article

      Shanda

      Jan 1, 2024

      Shanda
      13 min read

    • Article

      A Southern Christmas

      Nov 1, 2023

      A Southern Christmas
      7 min read

    • Article

      Lineal Gaps

      Apr 6, 2021

      Lineal Gaps
      15 min read

    • Article

      Little House

      Jun 5, 2023

      On Monday nights our mother made popcorn and served it to us in mugs with milk poured over. My younger sister and I carried our mugs into the family room and ate the popcorn with spoons, like cereal. We were five and seven. Until we were allowed to s

      21 min read

    • Article

      Giving Up Paradise: Lies, high heels, and piety.

      Jun 13, 2013

      For millions of refugees, life is nothing if not uncertain. They come to a new world with two purposes: escaping one set of realities, and building a new set. This story is about a family who fled Somalia during the Civil War of the 1990s. They settl

      13 min read

    • Article

      In Dogs We Trust

      Jan 18, 2022

      In Dogs We Trust
      6 min read

    • Article

      Rag Doll

      May 3, 2018

      Rag Doll
      11 min read

    • Article

      Mummy, I Hardly Knew You

      Oct 20, 2021

      Mummy, I Hardly Knew You
      7 min read

    • Article

      Always Someone Leaving

      Jul 6, 2023

      Always Someone Leaving
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Letter To The Only Dad I Need

      Jun 13, 2023

      Dear Dave, Looking back now, it feels like you’ve been in my life forever. But actually, I was an outspoken, cheeky 14-year-old when you and my mum Carol first got together. You seemed nice enough and you certainly made Mum happy, but I never thoug

      4 min read

    • Article

      The DATING GAME

      Apr 2, 2024

      The DATING GAME
      8 min read

    • Article

      Hauntings

      Jul 5, 2023

      Hauntings
      11 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Dutch House

    4.5/5

    4,985 ratings377 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      Meh. A well written but just plain boring book. No drama for the way it's described. Just overly sentimental and uneventful. If you are looking for slice ofi life where nothing of interest happens then maybe this is the book for you. Clearly not for me. If it wasn't on audio I'd never finished it.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 3/5
      This is a book worth reading, though not required:) The character development is rich and causes one to think about how much out upbringings affect our choices on every level.
      Though I’m a fan of the actor Tom Hanks, I’m not a fan of him as a reader.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This book is the most interesting book about nothing. I mean that in the best way. It’s an in depth character study, and the author dies a fantastic job of making the characters seem like real people. But that’s it. Not a lot actually happens in the story. Yet I was always interested to hear admit the cheaters. Listening to Tom Hanks read it definitely made it very enjoyable. With a listen, just don’t expect much plot.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I loved Tom Hanks narration as well as the character development but the book was too slow-paced for me.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I've liked Ann Patchett books in the past, but I found this one depressing. I didn't feel that it explored the relationships of the people in a very meaningful way. The main characters were "stuck" throughout the book and I know that it's meaningful to watch characters face challenges and develop through those challenges. It's just that it didn't happen until the last chapter, and even that was a bit of a disappointment. Also, I didn't really care for Tom Hanks as a narrator. I LOVE him as an actor but, if anything, his voice and they way he read the character was more of a distraction. It was Tom Hanks reading a book, not the main character Danny telling his story.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Excellent, one of Ann Tyler's best. Reminiscent of dinner at the heartbreak restaurant. Beautifully read by tom hanks.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I Loved how Tom Hanks read this book, how the story unfolds over the years, the characters get older, it’s sort of a fairytale, the enchanting Dutch House so perfectly designed, the stepmother and throughout the years the bond between Danny and his sister -so beautifully written and read.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This was my first audiobook experience and I don’t think I could have enjoyed it more. Tom Hanks has a phenomenal voice and presentation.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Beautiful story and characters with interesting dimensions. The insights on complexities of family relationships had me thinking about the story when I wasn’t reading/listening. It was slow to grab me in beginning but hang in there it is well worth it. I knew it would evolve ... it’s Ann Patchett! And it probably goes without saying but Tom Hanks as narrator!!! simply Brilliant! You won’t regret getting this book. I have already ordered two copies of book for Christmas gifts.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I loved this so much and the audio was wonderful!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I just sunk into this story and let it tell itself to me.
      So enjoyable. Loved Tom Hanks as the reader.
      Ah - Ann Patchett - a great storyteller.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I rarely give a book 5 stars. I love the way Patchett wove the past with the present. I love how she was able to relay the anger, resentment, and contempt. I love how she made me feel about the characters, that same anger, resentment and contempt that the characters felt.

      This was so beautiful written. Not a wasted word nor phrase, not a superfluous word nor phrase.

      Thank you for this gift of a book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Wonderful, Tom Hanks did a fantastic job. Couldn’t stop listening.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Good timing on my part to read this near Halloween. The central character is a house, actually a mansion, completely furnished with antiques and artwork by the previous owners who died. The house has it's own ghostly past in a very unusual way. The people in it are most certainly haunted by what takes place in the house, but the story is neither trite or predictable. The dialog is realistic and I found myself drawn into these ordinary people struggling to make sense of their past while moving forward with their lives. Much to say here about love and loss, bitterness and righteousness. Great writing by Ann Patchett. All exquisitely read by Tom Hanks. Every audio book should be this well done.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Absolutely loved! Tom Hanks is a great narrator! Makes me homesick

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Characters, house, Tom Hanks. Perfect. Real people, good people, disappointed with their significant loved ones, wanting more from those relationships, but ultimately accepting what they were, imperfect.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Anne Pachette talent for turning words into story don’t fail in this tale. The empathy and amazement at each juncture of the story enables the reader to feel for the characters, the house and the history as if it’s a memory of one’s on family heritage. Only failing, as a resident of the community that hosts the story, I wish there was more accurate fact checking of the community. Even so, I so wish I could drive down the street and see the Dutch House for myself in our neighborhood.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I've just finished reading such an emotional novel that the last lines made me cry. It's hard to describe the beauty of the story, the smoothness of the prose in a novel where nothing specific happens and yet so many extraordinary things take place. Danny, the narrator is such an honest and endearing character, and yet I wanted to know more about him, because Danny is a generous narrator who puts everyone else's story before his own. It's a tragedy about dysfunctional families, jealousy, cruelty and sorrow, and yet it's also an uplifting tale of love, forgiveness, and goodness. A warning, the beginning is slow, but it's well worth persevering, and if you can, listen to Tom Hanks magnificent reading. Unforgettable.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Loved Loved loved Tom Hanks narrating this book! I can’t imagine anyone else doing it. The story drew me in and kept me in until the last page. This would be a great book club book because there is just so much to talk about. I’d love to be on a discussion about it. Without giving anything away it’s hard to say much more but I thought it was an awesome book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The story of 3 generations of a family through a house and not only. Family constellation at its best . Family traits and destinies repeating until coming to a resolution. It really touched my heart . And the audio by Tom Hanks really did honor to it and was a perfect match. Perfect!!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      You know, I did keep listening, because I was sure something interesting was going to happen at some point. :) I am not a person who looks for an action packed book, but this could have used a little "zing" somewhere along the line. I kept hoping to get more of a story on the "Dutch" house, maybe something from the past that would explain it's importance ( other than to the family). ...or Maeve...or anyone! The story line of the mother abandoning her family for not liking a house? Wanting to be poor? It was pretty inexplicable, and while I appreciate the message of forgiveness it seemed like the author was trying to justify it ("Don't men get to do things like that all the time?") Tom Hanks was enjoyable as the author and the book had it's moments in a family saga sort of way...it just seemed like there was a lot of ways to make the story more interesting that weren't explored which was frustrating.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Feel good story of
      Home, family, and their struggles no matter how rich… love is more than what money can give. The loss of loved ones and grief that can change when we learn the reasons.
    • 4/5
      It was a really relatable story that I'm sure a lot of people can see there themselves in parts of. The characters were endearing and I definitely wrestled with my feelings about Alma. I would recommend it to others.
    • 5/5
      Amazing!! Didn't want it to end. And Tom Hanks.. wow
    • 5/5
      Loved this story and Hanks' reading of it. It's a warm and funny and poignant family drama with a terrific cast of characters. Just delicious. Highly recommend.
    • 5/5
      The Dutch House is by far the most beautiful audiobook.
    • 3/5
      Too Long! Would make a better movie. Too much detail.
    • 5/5
      This book was wonderful. The writer gave rich descriptions that made me feel like I was standing inside the Dutch House, or was a part of the Conroy family. There isn't high drama or speed in this tale, but there is a rich sense of emotion and history to the book. Reading this felt like bring a kid again; exploring all the hidden places in your house that only belong to you - and rediscovering that sense of loss, longing, and nostalgia as an adult.
    • 5/5
      I wish Tom Hanks narrated more books! Best voice ever.
    • 5/5
      What a vibrant, poignant story! The characters are rich and real. It has a sting, but ultimately it’s very hopeful. The audiobook is nicely done by Tom Hanks. Highly recommend.