The Ties that Bind: Ann Patchett on Family, Fortune, and the Search for Self

Ann Patchett’s novels hit that sweet spot where literary prestige meets blockbuster success. With The Dutch House, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Patchett is at her peak. This “engrossing, warmhearted book” (NPR) tells the story of a brother and sister whose deep bond and secret-filled past is haunted by the legacy of an ornate mansion, the “Dutch house,” that was the site of childhood, and later, of their exile. Patchett is known for speaking her mind with refreshing and down-to-earth brilliance.