Grudges are a funny thing — they can last for years, 
or be over within the span of a week. There is little to no 
correlation between the pettiness of the original offense 
and the length of the grudge. They’re a habit that make 
zero sense, and yet they remain a source of unnecessary 
strife in many of our lives. Ann Patchett’s newest release, 
“The Dutch House,” revolves around the familial grudges 
that can often drive the development of life as we know it. 
The story spans the lives of two siblings, Danny and 
Maeve Conroy, as they navigate life without a mother, 
a new life with their stepmother and, eventually, a life 
without any parents. Told from Danny’s perspective, it’s 
a book that emphasizes how little we actually know about 
the people who raise us. Danny and Maeve, for example, 

only begin to learn about their father after his death (and 
their subsequent expulsion from the family house.) It 
takes them years to finally understand why their mother 
abandoned them — Danny because he never thought to 
ask the necessary questions, and Maeve because she never 
really wanted to know the answer. As new information 
continues to reveal itself, Patchett continually forces her 
readers to consider what they actually know about the 
people who made them. How did they meet? Why did they 
get married? Why would a mother leave her two kids? 
We really only ever know what Danny knows, and he’s 
the epitome of an unreliable narrator. He’s a self-centered 
character, and even as he injects his revelations from 
the future into the stories he tells, there is still an air of 

suspicion as the reader takes Danny at his word. Though 
his circumstances are unique, it’s his conceited tendencies 
that makes him a relatable character. He goes through life 
believing that he and his sister alone are the only people 
who could possibly understand their situation. We’re all 
inclined to it, this assumption that we are the only people 
in the world who are suffering. 
Fictional stories based on the changes we experience 
as we grow up are a cliché, though for a good reason. 
Readers can connect with Danny at all stages of his life, 
as they reminisce over their twenties or sympathize 
with his struggles as a teen. What sets Patchett’s 
writing apart, though, is the difference in age between 
Danny the narrator and Danny the character. Danny 
the narrator is an omnipotent presence — in the midst 
of heated moments, Patchett inserts Danny’s reflections 
and feelings about the situation from years in the future. 
While reminiscing, he adds notes and thoughts to the 
action and conversations of the past. Eventually, the book 
begins to feel like Danny is simply having a conversation 
with himself, trying to figure out where things might 
have gone in a different direction. 
In these reflecting conversations, whether it’s with 
Maeve or Danny himself, it becomes increasingly obvious 
that the two characters never actually realized they 
held a grudge until it was staring them in the face, in the 
form of their contentious stepmother. Though years had 
passed, grudges can be tough to overcome, and Patchett 
eventually addresses the issue by making Danny and 
Maeve confront the subject of their grudge later in the 
future — a difficult task for many people, let alone those 
who might not even realize they still harbor negative 
feelings.
All families have their issues, some more than others, 
and Ann Patchett turns those of the Conroys into a 
story spanning whole lifetimes. It’s a common premise 
that Patchett executes well. She’s able to touch on a 
wide range of problems without losing her focus on the 
characters, while also deftly weaving in the way family 
roles change as we age. “The Dutch House” manages to 
take a seemingly boring story of family fighting and turn 
it into a universal truth.

Patchett elevates the mundane

EMMA CHANG
Senior Arts Editor

Trauma and healing, illness and health, dreams and 
reality. The common conception is that we can only 
experience one or the other, but “Undone” by Raphael 
Bob-Waksberg (“Bojack Horseman”) proves to us that 
not only are they related, but they are constantly walking 
hand-in-hand to challenge and alter our lives when we 
least expect it. Using animation like you’ve never seen 
on television before, the show disrupts the ideal rules of 
television genre by gracefully leaping over boundaries 
between mystery, thriller, animation, drama and fantasy 
whilst remaining true to life and centered in the core of the 
human experience. 
From the pilot, it delves deep into the life of Alma 
Winograd-Diaz (Rosa Salazar, “Alita: Battle Angel”) and 
her investigation into her father’s death. Her father, Jacob 
Winograd (Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”), died in a car 
accident when she was a child. A car accident of her own 
gave her a glimpse into the realm of the afterlife, and Alma 
begins to see her father everywhere. He’s convinced that 
his car accident was actually a murder, and begs Alma to 
investigate the incident using her new ability to manipulate 
time. Together, they leap into the world of time travel 
and shamanism to try and prevent Jacob’s accident from 
occurring in the past, in an attempt to change the future. 
Since the creators used rotoscope animation — a tactic 
that makes the animation look more realistic — they were 
able to make the characters look like their respective 
actors, so it feels like watching a realistic dream that 
contorts into fiction as it plays out. Sometimes the realism 
of the series makes it easy to forget that you’re watching an 
animation, until the show starts to bend reality and twist it 
into dream-like states of confusion. And while it feels like 

a bad (but inexplicably good) trip, “Undone” never fails to 
ground itself in reality and real-life existentialism. 
Before Alma’s accident, she felt the all-too familiar 
feeling of being stuck in a routine and wondering if there 
was more to life. Even after the accident, even after she 
inherited time-altering powers, the feeling of being human 
and yearning for more never left her. Despite the chaos 
that ensues, the show hits your emotions as hard if not 
harder than any other show could. The show also unravels 
concepts of trauma, unresolved conflict and the fickleness 
of memory that everyone has experienced at some point in 
their life, and talks about flawed families in a way that most 
can relate to. 

The eight episodes waste no time developing the world 
of Alma, but it never feels rushed or forced. It’s original, 
it’s chaotic and it’s a quick but fulfilling series. It’s a 5K of 
emotion, tension and familiarity that’ll change the way 
you perceive time-travel movies in the best way possible. 
It executes its societal duty by including marginalized and 
indigineous cultures into the plot without being preachy, 
and if that doesn’t sell it to you, Tyler Posey (“The Last 
Summer”) plays a priest. And yes, his character looks 
like him. If you love television, you’ll love this show. It’s a 
refreshing glimpse of what great television can look and 
feel like, and I would be personally offended if it didn’t win 
as many awards as it deserves. Do yourself a favor, block out 
four hours of the day and watch “Undone.”

‘Undone’ outdoes its trope

SOPHIA YOON
Daily Arts Writer
Returning to Ann Arbor in September is my 
favorite homecoming. Between the mad rush of 
students racing back to campus, the delight in the 
eyes of young freshman and the air of a beginning, 
September is my favorite month. Ann Arbor is 
special in that it is home to our beloved University 
and a city that is constantly growing and changing 
in accordance with demands from the thousands 
of students to stay on top of trends. The foodie 
culture and restaurant atmosphere in Ann Arbor is 
no exception to the rule. On any given day, one can 
experience a wide and diverse array of cultures 
and flavors through the culinary offerings lining 
the outskirts of the University. To pay homage to 
these recommendations, I’ve compiled a drool-
worthy list of some of my favorite places in Ann 
Arbor.
The place to become a Sunday Morning regular: 
Frank’s 
Open since 1969, Frank’s is one of Ann Arbor’s 
best kept foodie secrets. Known for thick, buttery 
French toast drizzled with sweet syrup, loaded 
western omelets piled on top of chipped white 
plates and familiar faces, Frank’s is not exactly 
what it seems from its exterior. A hole in the wall 
tucked off of E. Liberty, Frank’s is full of home-y 
personality and a history that dates back 50 years. 
Frank’s is a go-to for a breakfast you won’t forget 
and a late-night option if you crave breakfast at all 
hours of the night. 
If you’re craving your grandmother’s baba 
ghanouj: Jerusalem Garden
Jerusalem Garden began in 1987 with the 
family recipes of an Ann Arbor resident who 
was originally born in Jerusalem. Their creamy 
homemade hummus is layered on almost every 
menu item and the crispy falafel cannot be beat. 
Priding themselves on a strong background of 
family and heritage, Jerusalem Garden serves the 
best Mediterrean food in Ann Arbor. It is a versatile 
option with both dine in and to-go options. 
The best taco in Ann Arbor: Chela’s
If you hail from the west coast and are used to 
authentic Mexican food on every street corner, it 
may come as a challenge to find similar quality eats 
in Ann Arbor. Chela’s, however, has cornered Ann 
Arbor’s market on Mexican food. If you’re looking 
for a perfectly seasoned pork, beef or chicken taco 
on a double layered homemade corn tortilla, a 
Cubana torta, homemade chicken tamales and a 
horchata, Chela’s is your place. 
When you want the best burger in Ann Arbor, 
plantain chips and an alcoholic milkshake, all at 
once: Frita Batidos 

This cuban-inspired street food set in a chic all 
white space in downtown Ann Arbor may be my 
number one recommendation for any time of day, 
any occasion and any palate. The female-owned 
business serves fritas (chorizo-based, Cuban-
inspired burgers) and batidos (tropical milkshakes) 
in various flavors made with fresh fruit and rich 
vanilla ice cream. The unique, versatile menu is 
accented by fresh ingredients and a constantly 
buzzing atmosphere. Frita’s also serves 6-person 
fishbowl margaritas and hosts happy hour Sunday 
through Thursday from 4-6 PM as well as their 
last hour of service. 
When you have to recap your night out over 
breakfast: Angelo’s
Since 1956, Angelo’s has opened its doors on 
Saturday and Sunday mornings to hordes of 
students and locals alike patiently awaiting their 
weekly breakfast tradition or guilty pleasure fried 
French toast. The quintessential diner vibe should 
not be overlooked. When it comes to breakfast 
food, the team behind Angelo’s knows what 
they’re doing. A family business passed down 
through generations, Angelo’s is the perfect place 
to go to in your pajamas with all your friends to 
recap the previous evening’s endeavors. After 
piling into cozy booths slightly sticky with maple 
syrup, you’ll leave Angelo’s incredibly full and your 
hangover miraculously cured. 
A non-awkward first date spot:
Slurping Turtle
A unique twist on traditional Japanese ramen 
bars, Slurping Turtle is a laid-back eatery serving 
customizable ramen bowls, sashimi and a variety 
of shareable appetizers. The low-stakes setting 
and high-top seating allows for a casual dining 
experience that isn’t too loud or too quiet, too 
fancy or too low-key. In addition to a delicious and 
unique menu, Slurping Turtle offers a fun cocktail 
list and a variety of wines and sake. Slurping 
Turtle is perfect for friends and family, a casual 
first date spot or the best comfort food when the 
winter months have you down. 
Just finished tailgating, feed me: 
Blimpy Burger
In 1953, Blimpy Burger opened in Ann Arbor, 
and tailgating would be changed forever. Krazy 
Jim’s Blimpy Burger is a known fan and student 
favorite, cultivating lines down the road on 
football Saturdays with tipsy fans craving a greasy 
cheeseburger and crispy jumbo onion rings. With 
the stove right in front of you and not much seating 
space, Blimpy Burger is your on-the-go kind of 
joint. The steak fries are so good they should 
only really come in the larger “papa” size. The 
burgers are the star of the show, however, and an 
adventurous, hungry eater can opt for the ‘quint,’ a 
five-patty burger all tucked under one bun.

O h , the things you 
can eat in Ann Arbor!

ELI RALLO
Daily Food Columnist

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Undone

Season One

Amazon Prime

Streaming Now

The Dutch House

Ann Patchett

HarperCollins

Sept. 24, 2019

AMAZON PRIME / YOUTUBE

BOOK REVIEW

TV REVIEW

FILE PHOTO / DAILY

FOOD COLUMN

Classifieds

Call: #734-418-4115
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By Evan Mahnken
©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
09/17/19

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

09/17/19

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

Release Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2019

ACROSS
1 Activist Parks
5 First bird to attack 
in “The Birds”
9 “¿Qué __?”
13 Overly neat, say
14 Irish New Ager
15 Deep sleep
16 Amazon founder
18 2001 bankruptcy 
headliner
19 Corn serving
20 Very focused, as 
an athlete
22 “Of course!”
24 Some dadaist art
26 Voices one’s view
27 Scolds
29 Clear dirty dishes 
from
30 HS promgoers
31 Tops of waves
32 Small batteries
33 Pleasing to look 
at ... or a phonetic 
hint to a two-letter 
sequence in 
16-, 20-, 51- and 
56-Across
39 Bash into
40 Rapscallions
42 Soak (up), as 
gravy
45 Halves of qts.
46 Look over again
47 Like Goldilocks’ 
first bowl of 
porridge
49 Send to the 
canvas
50 Code-breaking 
org.
51 Expatriate 
American poet 
arrested for 
treason in 1945
53 Tiresome grind
55 Had a smoke
56 Aztec emperor
60 One-eyed 
“Futurama” 
character
61 Earnest request
62 Dog food brand
63 LAX landing list
64 Some 35mm 
cameras
65 Open-handed hit

DOWN
1 Koothrappali on 
“The Big Bang 
Theory”

2 Common bill
3 Low-crime part of 
town
4 __ Romeo: 
sports car
5 “Gosh!”
6 Opens, as a 
parka
7 Rhone cathedral 
city
8 At the back of the 
pack
9 Swindler with a 
scheme named 
for him
10 Cooks’ wear
11 Earlier
12 “Gunsmoke” 
actor James
15 Leaks slowly
17 Like an overtired 
child, perhaps
21 One may be 
hidden under a 
welcome mat
22 “Grey’s Anatomy” 
network
23 “__ goes 
nothing!”
25 Fall back on
28 Beast of burden
29 Scroogean scoff
32 20s dispenser

34 “Old Town Road” 
rapper Lil __ X
35 Cry after 
a stunning 
performance
36 Slangy assent
37 Happening later
38 Moments, briefly
41 Caribbean music
42 __ Artois: Belgian 
beer
43 More slimy
44 Stout relative

45 Dad
46 Original “SNL” 
cast member 
Gilda
48 Lugs
49 Small hill
52 Baseball’s “men 
in blue”
54 Guns from Israel
57 Univ. aides
58 UFC fighting 
style
59 Egyptian snake

HELP WANTED

GO BLUE

5 — Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com