You know how the ultimate compliment for a singer is, "I'd listen to her sing the phonebook?" I feel like we need to come up with a similar phrase for an author like Ann Patchett. She's so brilliant at developing compelling characters that I often finish her books feeling like I've just parted ways with a real person, and I'm sad to lose touch. The Dutch House is no exception. It's right up there with Bel Canto as one of her best.