Around halfway through the book, I was thinking maybe this book wasn’t doing it for me, though I didn’t dislike it and definitely didn’t want to stop reading it. I just wasn’t as invested as I wanted to be. And then I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning to finish the second half because I couldn’t put it down. Tears were shed yet again. (I think I should make a list of books that have made me at least shed more than one tear this year, because there has definitely been a few.)
I think the slow pace in the beginning almost turned me off, and the alternating time lines could be a bit disorienting at times, but I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it.
I liked the prose, subtle but compelling with great one-liners and a wry narration; the atmosphere of the book was palpable; and the depth of the characters was admirable. Every character action made sense, but I wish Maeve was featured more at the end as truly herself. She kind of took a backseat in the last few chapters, and she only had one shining moment before the end. I believe that’s why I felt the ending was a bit unsatisfactory, but it took some reflecting to figure out why because the story itself felt complete. That is my main complaint. If I had the authority to change one thing about the book, it would be to give Maeve more of an authentic voice near the end.
I realize I just said that all of the characters were well-developed, but I did see the mother as more of a presence rather than a character, and I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the novel, but looking back on it, I’m not sure I understand her. But that might be due to my fundamental nature where I simply can’t understand a saint-like mother who leaves her children to care for other people. Though the book raised an interesting proposition I’ve never considered: saints were probably not so well liked by their families. The kind of person who cares about and relates to everyone can’t care deeply enough (according to societal standards) for the people they’re actually related to. So I’m just not sure if the mother was the only character under-developed or if I just can’t condone her actions and implicitly refuse to understand her.
Also upon reflection, there were some plot points that seemed far-fetched, but they were told so quietly and in the right voice that they didn’t take me out of the story or seem melodramatic. They also somehow fit the characterization, so Patchett made it work. (If you have read the book so can’t be spoiled, continue reading the rest of the paragraph for the plot points that didn’t completely vibe, but if you don’t want spoilers, skip to the next paragraph please. 1. Andrea having dementia at the end did seem to be a bit of a cop-out, 2. I wasn’t quite sold on the kids’ obsession with the Dutch House so much that they stalked it, but the novel also seemed self-aware that this was obsessive behavior so I lived with it, and 3. All of the reconciliations at the end happened a bit too neatly and seemed a bit rushed to get to the forgiveness part, which is just not human nature. Maeve also wasn’t exactly the type to forgive immediately, which speaks to my point above, but she exhibited next to no bitterness toward her mother. I took it as a realistic character deviation rather than a flaw of the book, since she did come back to herself before her death. I just wish we had more of her authentic self at the end, as I said previously.)
All of that being said, this book really made me feel something, all due to the strength of the characters and the sibling bond. I can easily forgive all of the book’s flaws, because ultimately, Patchett made it work, at least for me.
