The Dutch house - by Ann Patchett

 I loved the book Bel Canto by Ann Pratchett. So when I wanted to pick the next book for reading, after unsuccessful effort of the gentleman in Moscow, I decided to start The Dutch house by this author.

And I am happy for this selection. The book is very good.

It is the story of two children Danny and Mauve, who were raised in this magnificent house and were thrown out of the house.

Danny does not miss his mother much. As Mauve takes care of him like a mother and there are of course Jocelyn and Sandy who run the house like a well oiled engine. He knows his father is not the one not display affections. He also knows that his mother has left for India many years ago. 

The life as they know it changes one day when their father brings home a lady - Andrea. Andrea is much younger than their father and is in love with their house. They do not know whether she is his girlfriend. 

Andrea keeps visiting the house. And one day her daughters come along. Though the sister-brother duo dislike Andrea, they like her daughters. And they have to look after them many evenings when their father goes out with Andrea.  

3-5-2022

Emperor Shahjahan was so much in grief and anguish after the death of his wife Mumtaj mahal that he commissioned a wonderful building as her memorial - which came to be called as Tajmahal. 

Similar to him  Danny and Maeve's father Cyril Conroy bought a luxurious house for his wife Elna. But when she was alive. And she hated it. 

Elna was a devout christian who liked to spend her time and energy with poor people. She was on the way to become a nun before Cyril convinced her to marry him. So, naturally she did not like this large, magnificent house. And to make matters worse, the three servants in the house would not let her do any work. And she became miserable in the new house. And finally left the house and the husband and the children.

Her leaving made Maeve very sick. She became diabetic. And the funny part is when 30 years later, Maeve has a heart attack and is hospitalized, Elna comes back. And visits her daughter though Danny did not want it. 

Maeve recovers and mother and daughter spend all the time together reminiscing, bonding and making up for all the lost years. 

But when they visit Andrea - who now is very sick, has Alzheimer's disease, Elna decides to stay with her because she feels Andrea needs her. 

So the mother who left Maeve and the mother - stepmother who threw  Maeve  out of the house, stay together in the Dutch house.