The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

  The Dutch House by Ann Patchett-337 pages


 Maeve and Danny are siblings who grow up in a grand home nicknamed The Dutch House, after the wealthy Dutch family that had it built. Maeve and Danny's mother abandoned their family when they were young, so they are raised by their father and the household help instead.  Never knowing what happened to their mother the siblings wondering if she was dead or alive.  Then the father remarries and the new wife is not kind to Maeve and Danny.  Maeve was the oldest and always took wonderful care of Danny throughout his life.  They had a very tight bond.  It is wonderful how the author brings it all around to make sense to Danny, now well into adulthood.  I enjoyed it very much.

The Story of Buildings by Patrick Dillon

The Story of Buildings by Patrick Dillon - 95 pages

I read this book in preparation for the homeschool class I was teaching on architecture.  This was a wonderful resource.  It was detailed while also  making the subject accessible to those who are completely unknowledgeable about architecture and building.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic.

Compact houses: 50 Creative Floor Plans for Well-Designed Small Homes

Compact houses: 50 Creative Floor Plans for Well-Designed Small Homes by Gerald Rowan 201 pages
This book shows floor plans, from 814 square feet to 1400 square feet, that are either new built or renovations. There are pages of design elements and tips to make smaller homes comfortable homes.

If you are just starting out or are wanting to down-size this book would be a good book to consult.

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure - 371 pages

The Paris Architect  is a gripping story about a pair who worked architectural marvels in Occupied Paris to protect French Jews.  The novel follows architect Lucien Bernard and industrialist Auguste Manet.  To the eyes of most Parisians and the Germans, Bernard and Manet appear to be collaborationists helping design factories for the German war effort.  Behind the scenes, Bernard designs cleverly disguised hiding spaces for Manet's Jewish friends enabling them to elude the Germans.

What I loved most about this book was the "cat and mouse game" Bernard and Manet played with the Germans to cleverly hide the Jews.