These The Dutch House book club questions unravel the tale of the Conroy family, filled with unconditional love, betrayal, and the echoes of the past. So, prepare to step into the opulent corridors of the fictional home where one family’s stories of ambition, sibling bonds, and memories intertwine.
You’ll foster meaningful discussion and get free printable book club questions to prepare for your in-person book club. Get started below.
Book Club Questions for The Dutch House
Below are some book club discussion questions for The Dutch House that I personally wrote for you because I think it’s such a good book club pick for your reading group:
Discuss how Maeve’s and Danny’s parents influenced their lives.
What qualities made Maeve a good mother figure to Danny?
Discuss the unique book cover art.
How did you picture The Dutch House in your head?
Is The Dutch House a positive or negative force in Maeve’s and Danny’s lives?
If you listened by audio, what did you think of Tom Hanks’ narration?
Was this Danny’s story or Maeve’s story? Discuss the point of view.
Danny tells the reader, “The story of my sister was the only one I was ever meant to tell.” Why do you think he believes this? Is he correct?
Should Maeve and Danny have forgiven their mother?
Why did Maeve and Danny remain so close?
How do Maeve and Danny process grief?
Why do you think Maeve and Danny often returned to The Dutch House?
What is the meaning of home, both in the novel, and in your opinion?
What did you think of the ending? How did it make you feel?
Printable Discussion Questions
Download printable book club discussion questions to prepare for your in-person book club below.
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Why The Dutch House Is A Good Book Club Book
The Dutch House has earned the following accolades:
- Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
- New York Times bestseller
- Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club pick
- A New York Times Book Review Notable Book
- TIME Magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2019
- 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
- 2020 Audie finalist for Audiobook of the Year and Best Male Narrator
My Rating: ★★★★★ (For details, read my full review of The Dutch House.)
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett is one of the best books of the 21st century, as well as one of the best Ann Patchett books, best family sagas, best books set in Philadelphia, best character-driven novels, best books to read in the Fall and best audiobooks of all time.
TIPS
- The audiobook version of The Dutch House is exquisitely narrated by actor Tom Hanks.
- The hardcover version is great for displaying thanks to its stunning book cover.
- You can order signed copies at author Ann Patchett’s bookstore, Parnassus Books. (I did!)
Book Club Food Ideas
Being a resident of Philadelphia, I got this! Below are popular Philadelphia-based food items and products, as a nod to the setting of The Dutch House:
- Philly cheesesteak
- Roast pork sandwich
- Hoagies
- Soft pretzels (you can even make them as a book club activity!)
- Tastykakes
- Tomato pie (basically cheese-less pizza)
- WaWa food (a popular convenience store, known especially for its coffee)
- Peanut Chews
- Herr’s snack foods
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Author Ann Patchett has confirmed that “The Dutch House” does not exist in real life. The Dutch House is a fictional family drama about the inhabitants of a fictional mansion located in a suburb of Philadelphia called Elkins Park.
The intense look of the young lady featured on the front cover of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett is Maeve Conroy, the sibling of the storyteller Danny, depicted as a young girl by an artist.
Yes, The Dutch House is a great pick for book clubs, based on its compelling characters and exploration of themes like family and forgiveness. Its narrative depth encourages lively discussions, while Ann Patchett’s beautiful prose enriches the reading experience and offers diverse interpretations.
Conclusion
Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House is a mesmerizing exploration of family, memory, and the passage of time, encapsulated by the line, “We overlay the present onto the past.” Book clubs will revel in dissecting the intricacies of the Conroy siblings’ relationship, accompanied by questions of inheritance, loss, and redemption with these The Dutch House book club questions.
It remains one of my favorite modern books and I highly recommend it to all readers, especially in audio format, narrated by the incomparable Tom Hanks better than just about any audiobook I’ve read.
If your club loved this book and wants a similar book to read next, check out these family dramas:
