The Dutch House

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett reminded me how much I love creepy old houses and the secrets they hold. I haven’t in a while, but I used to dream about my grandparent’s old Victorian in Taunton all the time. In this book, the house itself is just another quirky character, personification at its finest.

All the story's main characters either love or hate the Dutch House, and in turn, it brings them peace or causes them misery as the plot unfolds. Some characters experience both over the course of about four decades.

It is the story of the relationship between a brother and sister who spent their formative years growing up in the house, purchased by their distant father as a symbol of his financial success and prosperity in business. The Dutch House is an acquired taste, however, and it ultimately contributes to the demise of their parent's marriage because of their mother's disdain for it.

There is a portion of the middle of this book where my mind wandered, but Part Three drew me back in. I enjoyed how the ending created a sense of reckoning with life's complexities, especially for the protagonist, Danny Conroy, who we meet at the beginning of the book as an eight-year-old. The story centers on the bond between Danny and his beloved yet unreserved sister Maeve, who is seven years his elder. Maeve's portrait graces the book's cover, foretelling a significant plot event involving the legacy of the house.

Educated

Educated by Tara Westover has been on my wish list for over a year! The premise is similar to The Glass Castle which I loved! I'm struggling staying focused on reading during the Coronavirus pandemic so maybe that is why I haven't been as captivated by Educated. It certainly is well-written, and it's absolutely remarkable to me how someone deprived of the foundations of a strong education developed her intellect in spite of the abuse, neglect, and self-doubt that characterized her childhood. This is a tribute to her strength and perseverance in the face of hardship and uncertainty!

Despite the harsh reality of being raised as one of seven children of a strict Mormon, survivalist father in Idaho, Westover lovingly describes the beauty of her surroundings. Her deep connection to and appreciation of the rugged mountain landscape provides a contrast to the the family's stubborn resistance to basic health care and educational services. Much of Westover's ability to successfully withstand the deprivation of her upbringing comes from her inner convictions and recognition of the positive legacy of her unusual situation. Still, I grew weary reading about the degradation she endured at the hands of her abusive older brother while her parents made excuses for and enabled his behavior.

Here are a couple of examples of what I like about Westover's writing style. First, I thought this metaphor was very clever, and true. "I told her she shouldn't marry someone who scares her, that no one should, but the words left my lips stillborn. I believed them, but I didn't understand them well enough to make them live." The following is a quote from the conclusion of the book as Westover attempts to explain some of her decision-making and bring closure to her familial journey. "But vindication has no power over guilt. No amount of anger or rage directed at others can subdue it, because guilt is never about them. Guilt is the fear of one's own wretchedness. It has nothing to do with other people."  

Finally, I came across this video of a discussion between Bill Gates and Westover in an article about becoming a better conversationalist. "Do You Make This Mistake In Conversations? How to Improve Your Discourse" by John P. Weiss. While the conversation demonstrates Gates's skill as an interviewer, I definitely agree with Westover's sentiment about education. "I think education is really just a process of self-discovery, of developing a sense of yourself and what you think." At least this is what I have always tried to convince my own children and my fifth grade students!