Play Book Tag discussion

This book is told through the eyes of Danny and his sister Maeve. The two are initially living on the edge of poverty and then are suddenly thrust into wealth and the large, elaborate 3-story estate, 'The Dutch House' complete with servants and all its furniture, artwork and life-sized portraits. Their mother, having much simpler tastes and comforts, is not able to live in this house of opulence. More comfortable with her life while be trained as a nun before Cyril swept her away, she abandons her husband and children and departs to India to take care of the needy. Cyril remarries, Andrea, who quickly sets the rules in the home where Cyril's children are marginalized and her children take over the best bedroom and best adornments of the home. Soon Cyril's children are expelled from the home to boarding school creating the final fracture within the family.

The story follows Danny and Maeve, their reflections on earlier years and their ongoing lives. Their closeness and their young lives experiences have shaped them into people who don't trust others. The only trust they enjoy is that which exists between them. The abiding trust that has always been there. Covering 50 years of their lives, Danny shares with Maeve, and she with him, their stories, fears, beliefs often while sitting in a car, smoking cigarettes on the road outside The Dutch House. When Maeve falls gravely ill, Mom returns. Maeve is more than pleased to reunite with her mother while Danny harbors hate and a complete inability to understand his mother's abandonment of him. The growth that occurs within these youth-to-adult characters is quite revealing of a person's thought process when growing up under these circumstances.

Tom Hanks narrates the audiobook and it is a delight for sure. His tone, inflection and pacing are wonderful for this story. I don't believe I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read it instead of listened to it.

I also adored this book, and the audio experience of it. Great Review.... This will be in my top ten for the year for sure!

This was one of my favourite books this year--I loved the audio recording of it.

I agree. The audio was awesome. Glad you enjoyed it too, Margie!