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The Kitchen House

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 54,081 ratings · 7,393 reviews

When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family. Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, t...more

Paperback, 369 pages

Published February 2nd 2010 by Touchstone

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Jun 07, 2011 Jeanette rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-fiction, america, historical-fiction

Kathleen Grissom had the raw materials for a rich and powerful historical novel. Her writing is good, if a little drawn out at times. She has an interesting angle with the orphaned Irish immigrant girl put to work among the slaves. So why did it fall short? I think Grissom slipped too easily into stereotypes and melodrama and never got out of that rut. When you have too many tragic or shocking things happen to too many characters, it becomes predictable and numbs the reader. I started losing tra...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Gloria Bernal rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone, especially history lovers

Recommended to Gloria by: Amazon

Shelves: favorites

An amazing first novel!

Author Kathleen Grissom's debut novel about slavery in the South in the late 1700's, early 1800's is one of the best out this year. This thought-provoking look at life on a tobacco plantation in that era both shocks us and draws us into the souls of these compelling characters, the white owners, the black slaves, and the little white girl who is brought in as an indentured servant, with whom we "experience" her growth into womanhood. Totally believable and thoroughly resea...more An amazing first novel!

Author Kathleen Grissom's debut novel about slavery in the South in the late 1700's, early 1800's is one of the best out this year. This thought-provoking look at life on a tobacco plantation in that era both shocks us and draws us into the souls of these compelling characters, the white owners, the black slaves, and the little white girl who is brought in as an indentured servant, with whom we "experience" her growth into womanhood. Totally believable and thoroughly researched I have not read a novel this compelling in some time.

Told in the voice of two of the main characters, it is easy to keep up with the story line. Lavinia is the first voice, the main character, an Irish orphaned 7-year old girl brought in to live and work with the negroes in the Kitchen House. At that time the kitchens actually were commonly in a separate house away from the main house. When she is brought onto the plantation by the white owner, she does not remember the trauma that orphaned her on a shipful of Irish immigrants. She is shocked mute for some time. The black servants become her family. Belle, one of the black slaves, is the secondary narrator who becomes a mother-figure to Lavinia and her story is typical as to what mulatto (half-white, half-black) women had to deal with in that era, as white owners took advantage of black women who sired children as a result. Marshall, the white son of the owners, is a major character in this saga as well, and as a reader you will struggle with your feelings of heartbreak, pity and hatred for him as his character is formed throughout the novel. His story alone will keep you up nights reading long after you intended to.

All of the characters are developed very well, you will not easily forget them. The historical background in Virginia of that era is depicted accurately. I found it interesting that laudanum was generally an accepted and casual source of "calming the nerves with the drops" as they were called, and opium addiction not un-common, even with the elite.

Certainly hoping for a sequel from Ms. Grissom, I will be first in line. Do not miss this amazing work! Highly recommended.

PS: Update October, 2012 Author Grissom has advised me she is working on a sequel to this - yay :)
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Mar 17, 2013 Barb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vine, read-in-2010, slavery, indentured-servitude, new-in-2010, favorites, favs-of-2010, anne-and-i-agree-on, on-the-keeper-shelf

My hat is off to Kathleen Grissom for creating such a wonderful and moving story. I recently read 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett which I also highly recommend. I think the two novels compliment each other very nicely.

Lavinia, born in Ireland, is an indentured servant who comes to live at Tall Oaks tobacco plantation in southern Virginia in 1791. She is placed in the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter. Lavinia lives and works in the kitchen house along side the slaves on the plant...more My hat is off to Kathleen Grissom for creating such a wonderful and moving story. I recently read 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett which I also highly recommend. I think the two novels compliment each other very nicely.

Lavinia, born in Ireland, is an indentured servant who comes to live at Tall Oaks tobacco plantation in southern Virginia in 1791. She is placed in the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter. Lavinia lives and works in the kitchen house along side the slaves on the plantation and forms a deep and loving bond with them, they become her family.

This story is complicated and compelling with realistic characters and complex relationships. There is a richness in detail for the setting and the period. Grissom is able to paint a vivid picture of the love of a family and the joy in the simple things in life as well as the deeply moving sorrow that affected many of the characters in the book.

I loved the two female protagonists, Lavinia and Belle, who narrate this story. They narrate in alternating chapters which has become a very popular technique for writers. I'm not always fond of it, I think it can often make a story feel awkward or disconnected. But I thought it was a clever technique for this story and it was well done. Grisson allows Lavinia to narrate the majority of the story with Belle's chapters being only a few pages in length. Lavinia's voice changes as she matures to adulthood and Belle is able to give the reader adult insight into relationships and the motivations behind other character's actions.

Grissom does a good job of creating a realistic character in Marshall, one of the antagonists, whose behavior is often horrifying and despicable and other times tender and protective. I loved the gentle and caring male characters of Uncle Jacob, Papa George and Ben, who nicknames Lavinia 'little bird'.

This is both a tender and horrifying depiction of a time when life was complicated and dangerous. I felt Lavina and Belle's fear as they navigated the obstacles of their daily life and struggled with who to trust and how to keep their secrets.

This novel reminds me of 'March' by Geraldine Brooks which I would also recommend to readers. Part of that story takes place on a cotton plantation that employs freed slaves and there are similar relationships between the characters.

It isn't often that I give a book five stars and I almost never find myself wanting to re-read a book but I find that both apply to this one. I think this would make an excellent book club choice. In my opinion 'The Help', 'March' and 'The Kitchen House' would all make excellent choices for book clubs.

This is another first novel that feels like it's written by a seasoned author. I found the author's note describing how she came to write this book very interesting. And I enjoyed reading the conversation with the author included at the back of the book. I will be looking for Kathleen Grissom's next novel 'Crow Mary' and I hope she writes what happened after 'The Kitchen House'. If she does I will certainly read it.(less)

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Sep 27, 2012 ♥ Marlene♥ rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, fiction, romance

I had sorted this book as literature on my shelf well it is definitely not literature but more cheap sensational stuff based on stereotypes.

While reading this book this is what I wrote:
"I am not liking this book. It feels like the books I read when I was a teen and had nothing good to read. It is too much. Too much sorrow and everything goes wrong. Now she is going to make life changing decisions because of lack of communication. If there is something I dislike it is that in books.

I meant by tha...more

47 likes · like · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Thing Two rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one.

Shelves: book-club-local-orlando, ylto-rl-alphabet-challenge, goodreads-choice-award-nominee

To quote one of my book club mates, "This is just about the worst book I've ever read." I was so happy she'd said this, because it's about the same reaction I had to the drivel this woman published - and, yet it's been recommended to me by no fewer than seven people! Ack!

Kathleen Grissom started with a great story idea - bring to life the tales of children sold into slavery or indentured servitude in 18th century Virginia whose country of origin was not Africa. In the hands of a more experienc...more

9 likes · like · see review

Apr 26, 2011 Chrissie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Chrissie by: Barb

Shelves: race, usa, hf, kirkus, text-checked, kindle

NO SPOILERS!!!

On completion: Four stars! I know I really liked the book, but why, and what is it that prevents me from giving it five stars? You keep turning the pages, I kept wondering what is going to happen next? Yes, a lot does happen, and sometimes it does feel a bit melodramatic given all the shit that hits the fan. What happens does not feel impossible, but sometimes I found myself thinking that the blacks absolutely never were as bad as the whites. Let me say once again, the story does n...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first 3/4th of the book was awesome. I loved the early story of Lavinia at the plantation and in Williamsburg. Later in the book the story has more downs than ups and can be somewhat depressing.
Of course, I think the author does a great job with portraying the time period, although since Historical Fiction is not one of my favorite genres, I had a hard time with some of the character's choices (although I would think looking at the time period were realistic responses).
Overall, it was a wo...more

18 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2011 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is more like a 2 star book but since the story was compelling enough for me to finish, I gave it 3 stars.

Where do I begin on this review?

I read the author's note and interview immediately following the end of the book. In it she says that the "voices" she hears tell her "their story" and she writes it. She also said, "I tried on a number of occasions to change some of the events (those that I found profoundly disturbing), but the story would stop when I did that, so I forged ahead to write...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Marleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

What an amazing book! It deserves more than 5 stars. Truly, I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning because I had to finish this story. It’s been ages since I have been that engrossed in a book, or that affected by a story for that matter. There aren’t words to describe the emotions you feel while reading this.
I have to give credit to the author’s wonderful talent for being able to render such an unvarnished, yet grippingly beautiful tale of life on a southern p...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Alexandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

I cried at least three time while reading this. The tragedies just kept on coming. One after another after another. Kathleen Grissom sure knows how to make my heart race and keep my eyes glued to the page. The characters were so real to me, it was like they were my own family. I was happy for them when things went well and I was devastated beyond words when things didn't.
First off, let's start with the cast of characters. There's Mama Mae - the "big mama" of the kitchen house. She's the one eve...more I cried at least three time while reading this. The tragedies just kept on coming. One after another after another. Kathleen Grissom sure knows how to make my heart race and keep my eyes glued to the page. The characters were so real to me, it was like they were my own family. I was happy for them when things went well and I was devastated beyond words when things didn't.
First off, let's start with the cast of characters. There's Mama Mae - the "big mama" of the kitchen house. She's the one everybody can depend on. She's got the most experience and she takes care of everyone. Papa George is her husband. He is the perfect match for her because he is also very strong and reliable. He loves her so much, and their relationship is so sweet. Fanny and Beattie and Ben are their children. Belle is like their adopted daughter. And Lavinia, the main character of the novel (well, one of them) is a white indentured servant from Ireland sent to work in the kitchen house and she might as well be their very own. There are many more characters in this family but these are the ones that are most commonly featured. Oh, and there is Uncle Jacob, the sweetest and kindest old man. I can't stress enough how much I love all these characters. Were it not for them and how much I cared about them, I would have stopped reading this book towards the middle, when things just kept on getting worse. Because if a book is depressing, AND I hate the characters, well then what is the point? This book tore at my fucking heart but I loved everyone so much that I couldn't bear to stop reading or else I'd never be able to sleep, not knowing what happened to everyone. And yes I am one hundred percent serious.
Kathleen Grissom, you are a fantastic author.
There were times I wanted to jump into this book, and take action. The whole time I was thinking of a thousand and one things that could have been done to stop all the horrible things that happened.
This book will stay with me long after I return it to the library. This is by far, the best book I have read all year. And not so much for the story. But for the characters. I certainly am left wishing that some things would have turned out differently. I know sometimes people tend to complain about ~fairy tale~ endings but I sure wish that if any book could have had one, it would be this.
I know that some of you may be turned off by hearing me tell about how sad this book is. No one really hears "Oh my gosh, it absolutely broke my heart in half and then ran over it twice with a Mack truck" and then says "I need to run out and read this!" And I get that. I'm not one for depressing books either but if you want to read about a REAL family, one who sticks together till the very end, risks everything for each other, loves each other unconditionally, one who restores your faith in the goodness of people and yourself, read this book.
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Aug 29, 2012 Meghan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved how much the slaves and the white people's lives parallel one another throughout the whole book. It is emphasized over and over that they are not so different from each other - we are all people. Both the servants and their owners experience extreme loss and pain, heartache and betrayal. Both keep secrets, suffer, and on occasion, find joy in peaceful times.

I have gone back and forth on how to rate this book. If I look at it as simply historical fiction - a novel based on things that mi...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 30, 2010 Daphne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book on the Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you Goodreads and Touchstone Fireside publishers. What a gift this book was. Not only did I LOVE the story, but I defy anyone to not care about these characters. From the beginning when you first meet seven year old Lavinia, an orphan first arriving in America from Ireland, all you want to do is hug her and find out where this story takes her. It is a story of the true meaning of family, sacrifice and loyalty. You will want to be a part of Ma...more

20 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Imani rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was recommended this book by Goodreads cuz I loved

and

and

.

There was a discrepancy between those books and this one though. THOSE books had not necessarily happy endings but at least they had hopeful endings. This one was just plain TRAGIC. I love my historical fiction novels and I KNOW most of history was sad, especially in the U.S. during slavery times, but I mean really???? Was all this misery really needed?!!! I'm not asking for flowers and sunshine and a Disney ending, but at least... don't take away from me one of the characters I had dearly attached to and DON'T make things all complicated and sad when you clearly show that things could have turned out happy but DIDN'T.

Belle got on my nerves. I didn't even LIKE her. (view spoiler) I liked everyone else. Except for that stupid Rankin and Marshall. Miss Martha I could have sympathy for. Lavinia very nearly followed in her tragic footsteps, and I almost started to get bitter with HER....

DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED on this I could rant forever. I'm so mad...and so annoyed with the ending I can't even cry in sympathy over (view spoiler)

I feel like this book could be assigned to a high school English class reading list, because they always chose the miserable books for us to read. I'm sure the people in charge of that list would be happy to add this one as well. <______< Goodreads, I never thought I'd say this, but you failed me here. :((less)

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Jamise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kick-up-your-heels

I typically don't mind reading books dealing with racial injustices. However, I did not enjoy reading this story surrounding the day to day lives of slaves and raising a white child named Lavina. My thoughts constantly drifted as the story was developing and in the back of my mind I thought Lavina is going to grow up and have Mama, Belle and the rest serving her. Although there wasn't much Lavinia could do to right injustices given the time and era, I was irritated by her naviety. She didn't rea...more

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Feb 21, 2013 thewanderingjew rated it 5 of 5 stars

As I read this book I was reminded of the Victorian novels I read as a young girl, in which the heroine always faced the most awful circumstances but was rescued by a hero at various turns in her life, each one with a secret that tormented him or her and caused the story to twist and turn until it resolved itself in some way, at the end, with consequences that could not be avoided or altered.

This book is a saga, well worth the read. I listened to an audio version and the reader did a spectacular...more As I read this book I was reminded of the Victorian novels I read as a young girl, in which the heroine always faced the most awful circumstances but was rescued by a hero at various turns in her life, each one with a secret that tormented him or her and caused the story to twist and turn until it resolved itself in some way, at the end, with consequences that could not be avoided or altered.

This book is a saga, well worth the read. I listened to an audio version and the reader did a spectacular job speaking in many voices and never confusing any of the characters. Her expression was spot-on. It was almost like watching a show playing out in my mind.

The well developed characters are gentler and wiser than those far more educated and worldly, and they will endear themselves to you. Those that do not are typical of the cruel monsters we often encounter in life and ascribe their tormented souls to their environment or their experience, but whatever the reason, they are the dregs of the universe.

The opening horror-filled scene is quickly moved into the background as the story begins on a beautiful plantation in the 1700's, a time when slavery was accepted and people were property.

A young child, Lavinia, is brought home to a plantation by the master of the property, the Captain, and she is placed in the Kitchen House to work alongside the slaves, although she is Caucasian. Her brother has been sold, her parents are dead, and she is alone in the world.

Blacks who are enslaved and without free papers are doomed to a life of unbearable bondage, poor housing, insufficient food, overwork and constant fear of being beaten, used or sold and separated from those they loved. In spite of their hardships, they forge a community and care for each other, taking pleasure in life’s simple joys. They embrace Lavinia, regardless of her color, and nurse her back to health.

This is Lavinia's story. She grows up "colorblind" and is not aware of her different station in life or of the fact that she will be free some day, and she loves her home and her family, Mama Mae, Papa George, Uncle Jacob, Belle, the twins, and all the family that surrounds her. She wants to remain with them forever. Her days are work filled and pleasant, once she grows used to her surroundings and responsibilities. She thrives and is actually happy, working and enjoying the friendship of other children her age. As young as she is, she cares for those younger and learns to love.

This is the story of her plight, which although in sharp contrast with the plight of slaves, is almost as dreadful, even though it will only be for a finite term of which she is unaware. They are all owned. It is the story of her innocence, her ignorance and naïveté which leads to dramatic events, some happy and some tragic.

The secrets and mysteries of life on the plantation move the tale in numerous twists and turns. Knowing the truth would have made circumstances turn out in a happier fashion, but these were times when many things were not discussed openly, and women had limited power and freedom. Women belonged to their husbands as much as slaves belonged to their masters, albeit they lived in better circumstances.

The author has done a commendable job capturing the idea of what it meant to be a "slave" and a "master" from both perspectives, as well as how enslaved a wife was, even though she was "free". The author has captured the mood of the times, the hardships, total helplessness and hopelessness and the need for utter obedience and humility in order to survive the most distasteful circumstances and in order to put up with the most cruel and despicable people. The lives of slaves were incidental, unimportant to the masters, simply property. There was no justice, no recourse and utterly no regard for their needs or their humanity. They were unable to fight back and had to witness and bear the most awful punishments and deprivations, sometimes just at the whim of the master.

Through Lavinia's eyes, we experience the life of a slave and a free woman in the same body. The lesson we learn from Lavinia is that one's color does not make a difference. Like "The Boy In The Striped Pajamas", when stripped to our souls we are the same, only some of us are cruel and some of us are kind and it is not our color or religion that determines that, but the sickness in one's mind.(less)

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Oct 17, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Having no talent whatsoever in writing, for some reason, I am frequently attracted to first-time authors. I am always amazed at how they come up with ideas and the ability to express them. In my opinion, The Kitchen House is one of the best debut novels I have read in recent years. This was a page-turner for me from the beginning. It doesn’t quite reach a 5, but it gets a strong 4.

The setting and theme of the South in this period, and the lives of slaves and an indentured servant were well-deve...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Leann rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 01, 2012 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is my favorite read finally of this year! It will be a while, I'm sure, before I find another novel to pull at my heart like this story has done.

Lavinia, a young seven year old is orphaned while onboard a ship from Ireland to America. Since there is no one left to care for her, the ship's captain James Pyke, takes her home to work as an indentured servant. 1791 Tidewater, Virginia is not an easy time in America's history, so when you bring a white girl in to work in the kitchen house of a t...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Katherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club-books

BEST BOOK I have read in years. As a child of the South, antebellum history is a subject on which I am pretty familiar. Since I grew up in a plantation home, complete with the ruins of outbuildings and the old slave quarter adjacent, it was not hard for me to imagine the author's vision of Tall Oaks and how a plantation was structured and functioned in that time. Hats off to Kathleen Grissom, a Canadian no less, for painting such a convincing and seemingly accurate picture of life in the Antebel...more

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May 02, 2010 Jenny Q rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book for its different perspective on plantation life, that of a white indentured servant, Lavinia, who doesn't fit in with the free whites or with the enslaved servants. The story gets off to a strong and immediate start with a glimpse of a tragedy to come and the rest of the narrative leads the reader down a dark and emotional path toward that conclusion:

"There was a strong smell of smoke, and new fear fueled me. Now on the familiar path, I raced ahead, unmindful of my daughter...more
I enjoyed this book for its different perspective on plantation life, that of a white indentured servant, Lavinia, who doesn't fit in with the free whites or with the enslaved servants. The story gets off to a strong and immediate start with a glimpse of a tragedy to come and the rest of the narrative leads the reader down a dark and emotional path toward that conclusion:

"There was a strong smell of smoke, and new fear fueled me. Now on the familiar path, I raced ahead, unmindful of my daughter behind me trying to keep up...I forbade myself to think I was too late and focused all my strength on moving toward home."

When Lavinia first arrives at the plantation she is traumatized and frightened, but gradually comes back to life under the patient care of the kitchen house slaves. The narrative moves between Lavinia and Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter. Both girls live between the worlds of black and white. Belle's light skin and favor from the master set her apart nearly as much as Lavinia's white skin does. But each woman offers a different view of that grey area, as Belle is wise to the ways of plantation society and struggles with the need to be free of it, while Lavinia is young and unknowing and wants only to find her place in it.

Lavinia has a hard time understanding that she is different from her adoptive family. She comes to be dependent upon their acceptance and love, the solidarity and comfort she finds with them. But her family knows that eventually Lavinia will be a free woman and they hope for a better future for her, and try to prepare her for a different future.

As Lavinia grows older she is embraced by the master's family and given a chance to be educated and experience more of the world. Though she attempts to make the most of it, she misses her plantation family fiercely and still can't envision a future that does not include sharing a life with them. She ends up making a decision that she thinks will provide the perfect way to return to live with her family and better their lot in life at the same time, but ultimately ends up bringing suffering and hardship instead.

I've seen a lot of five-star reviews for this book, and I thought it was good, but two things keep me from rating it that high. One, oddly enough, is Lavinia herself. She displays courage and determination when attempting to maintain her relations with her slave family, but she can't find the same stength to take care of herself. She remains on the naive and strongheaded side throughout the story and she doesn't seem to learn from her mistakes or the mistakes of others. That and the fact that this book was a little too dark and depressing for me. No one ever seems to be able to catch a break, there's just one heartache or trauma after another and at the end I didn't feel like all that darkness had a bigger purpose. If that makes any sense.

But this book is very well written and it's hard to believe this is Ms. Grissom's first novel. In the author's note she reveals her inspiration for the story: the discovery on an old map of a place named "Negro Hill" adjacent to her farm. From that notation on a map a story began to flow of what could have happened on that hill to give it its name. I also really enjoyed the descriptiveness of the narrative, particularly that of colonial Williamsburg, (which regular readers of my blog know is one of my favorite places), and the plight of the mentally ill and the conditions of the mental hospital there, having visited last summer and toured the reproduction of that hospital. And even though the story covers a span of about 20 years, it moves at a very fast pace and I had a hard time putting it down.
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Mar 22, 2013 Scott Axsom rated it 2 of 5 stars

Warning: Do not attempt to read this book immediately after reading one by a great novelist (in this case, Willa Cather). It will only serve to piss you off and do a disservice to Kathleen Grissom.

Seriously, this book contains lots of information I'd be interested in learning, but her ham-handed exposition is driving me craaaazyyy! There are so many ways to tell a story. Why do authors do this?!?!?!

May try it again later. Dunno.

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 26, 2012 Jane Holt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Great summer read. Sweeping story of an Irish girl whose parents die on the way to America and she becomes an indentured servant on a Virginia plantation during the time of slavery. Her family is the slaves but her skin color sets her apart as she gets older. Interesting, tragic, ambitious - good read.

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2012 Jana rated it 3 of 5 stars

I felt the story fell flat. Undeniably, several parts played to my emotions, as the main characters (slaves of a plantation and subservient women) were raped, murdered, emotionally harmed. However beyond these emotional ups and downs, the story didn't conclude much. (Perhaps that is an unfair criticism - as the lives of slaves were undoubtedly unsatisfying.) Also, the dual narration writing style seemed to be an effort to give a voice to two sides of the story - white and black - but I don't fee...more

15 likes · like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I think I've reached tragedy fatigue in my reading as of late and the rating reflects that, rather than any failing on the part of the author.

Seriously - slavery, rape, infidelity, incest, spousal abuse, child abuse, maimings, brutal beatings...it's pretty difficult to get through. Poor Lavinia was almost as much a slave as the slaves were, both as an indentured servant and as a wife. The cycle of violence and abuse perpetuates itself, the shame and secrecy spawns misunderstandings that leads to...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

It is hard to believe that this is a first novel and after reading it, I am sure it will not be the last. I read 99 pages the very first time I sat down to read this book. It moves at a very fast pace!

The story of Lavinia and Belle is so very moving. Lavinia's adopted familly are some of the most memorable characters I have encountered in a novel lately, I came to care about each of them very much. The family she marries into much less so. This is a story about family, but much deeper than many...more

11 likes · like · see review

Apr 13, 2011 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is absolutely a heart breaking, gut-wrenching read...I can't say anymore about it..because I don't think anything would quite be able to capture the emotion of the book.

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2011 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars

Every now and then I read a book to find out it is written by a first time author and it just takes my breath away. This is an amazing book and kept me up a couple of nights unable to sleep because I needed to keep reading. I was so deeply drawn into the storyline. These characters feel like flesh and blood people. They will make you laugh at times, which is a challenge in itself given the book was written during the slavery period. Mostly I found my heart racing as this family clung together to...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 01, 2013 Gretchen Stein rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book. Really brought home the struggles of the south during the years of slavery.

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2013 Booklover, Indianapolis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chat-n-chapters, non-romance, read-in-2013

(June) 3.5* This book was pretty good, but kind of exhausting to read. I remember when my mother was reading Angela's Ashes on a visit to me - every few pages she'd say "Oh, another death...tragedy... sadness." I felt the same after reading this. It seemed like there was never a break for this family. Now, to be honest, I'm sure many, many, many slave families had it as bad as portrayed here if not worse, but I just kept hoping there would be something good in their lives, considering how Mama w...more

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May 28, 2013 Mia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall, it was a good book. However, I thought it was a bit slow. I love period pieces books especially books on slavery. My ancestors were Virginia slaves that eventually relocated to Louisiana so I always want to get a sense of the lives of slaves. I believe the characters were developed well but sometimes found that their stories were drawn out without a more thorough explanation of what exactly took place. I believe the book would have been much longer but for me that would have been ok. On...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Around the World ...: Discussion for The Kitchen House	22	41	Jun 16, 2013 10:26am
A Bowl Full of Le...: Did you like this month's book club choice?	37	98	Jun 03, 2013 08:56pm
A Bowl Full of Le...: Why do you think the author chose to tell the story through two narrators?	19	37	May 30, 2013 02:26pm
A Bowl Full of Le...: Marshall is a complicated character. ...	11	39	May 30, 2013 02:23pm
A Bowl Full of Le...: "I was as enslaved as all the others" (page 300). Do you think this statement by Lavinia is fair? Is her position equivalent to those of the slaves? What freedom does she have that the slaves do not? What burdens does her race put upon her?	12	33	May 30, 2013 02:12pm
A Bowl Full of Le...: Belle's freedom papers...	13	33	May 30, 2013 07:55am
A Bowl Full of Le...: Describe the relationship between Ben's wife, Lucy, and Belle.	8	26	May 30, 2013 06:56am

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About Kathleen Grissom

Born Kathleen Doepker, I was privileged as a child to be raised in Annaheim, Saskatchewan, a hamlet on the plains of Canada. Although we lived in a small, tightly knit Roman Catholic community, I was fortunate to have parents who were open to other religions and cultures. Since television was not a luxury our household could afford, books were the windows that expanded my world.

Soon after Sister...more Born Kathleen Doepker, I was privileged as a child to be raised in Annaheim, Saskatchewan, a hamlet on the plains of Canada. Although we lived in a small, tightly knit Roman Catholic community, I was fortunate to have parents who were open to other religions and cultures. Since television was not a luxury our household could afford, books were the windows that expanded my world.

Soon after Sister Colette, my first grade teacher, introduced me to Dick, Jane, and Sally, I began to read on my own. I was a fanciful child and became so influenced by books that while I was reading Five Little Peppers And How They Grew I ate only cold boiled potatoes (the truth is this lasted only for a day) as I suffered with them through their hardships. After reading Anne Of Green Gables I was convinced that I, too, was adopted, until my mother told me to stop the foolishness and to look in the mirror. I had her nose. She was right. I limped desperately during Red Shoes For Nancy until my sister, Judy, told me to cut it out, people would think that something was wrong with me. Wanting to more closely experience Helen Keller’s tribulations, at every opportunity I walked with closed eyes until I solidly whacked my head on a doorframe. Enid Blynton’s Famous Five series had me looking for adventure around every corner, and when in class Rudyard Kipling’s, Kim, was read aloud, I couldn’t wait to leave for far-off lands.

Throughout my high school years Simon Lizee, a poet of merit, was our principal. He taught us literature and it was he who encouraged me to write.

Upon graduating from high school, as I saw it then, I had four choices. I could marry (no), become a secretary (no), become a teacher (no) become a nurse (yes). After I graduated from nursing school, I left for Montreal and there worked on staff at the Royal Vic Hospital. Eventually I married and came down to the United States. Throughout, I read voraciously and I wrote, often sending my work back to Mr. Lizee in Saskatchewan, who took the time to continue to instruct me.

It wasn’t until after I gave birth to my daughter, Erin, that I finally worked up enough courage to submit a short story to Myrna Blyth, who, I believe at that time was an editor at Family Circle. She sent back a lovely rejection note, telling me that this story was not one that she could use, but could I send others. I took that note to mean that she did not like my writing, but was being kind, and I foolishly submitted nothing further.

In time, I divorced and remarried, relocated to Manhattan, and there worked as an Ad Executive for a graphics company. I did not stop reading, nor writing, and over the next years took various classes in creative writing.

After four years in the city, we decided to try life on a small farm in New Jersey. When our collection of animals grew to include twenty-five Cashmere goats, two horses, three dogs, and two cats, we knew that it was time to relocate to a larger farm in rural Virginia. There we found twenty-seven acres and a large brick house, circa 1830, that once served as a stagecoach stop. But with the move came a glitch. For the first year my husband’s transfer didn’t happen as planned, and although he joined me every weekend, I was left on the new farm to manage on my own. It was an exciting yet frightening time, and I began to journal the experience. I joined a writers' group, and the Piedmont Literary Society, and when I met Eleanor Dolan, a gifted poet, she generously agreed to mentor me in my writing.

In the following years, Charles and I established an herb farm, a tearoom, and a gift shop that we filled to the barn rafters with work from local artisans. As we restored our old plantation home, I began to research the history of our home and the land that surrounded it. Then I discovered the notation ‘Negro Hill’ on an old map. Unable to determine the story of its origin, local historians suggested that (less)

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Quotes from The Kitchen House

“[Y]et, I wondered why Marshall did not at least attempt a kiss. In many ways, his treatment of me reminded me of the way I had behaved toward the doll that Mamma Mae had given me as a child. I favored it so that I had refused myself of the joy of playing with it, daring to love it only with my eyes. But in doing so, I had denied myself its very purpose.” — 21 people liked it

“Could I be your girl, too?" I asked quickly.
The large, broad-shouldered man looked away before he answered. "Well, now," he said, as though he had given it deep thought, "I sure do think I would like that."
"But," I said, concerned that he hadn't noticed, "I don't look like your other girls."
"You mean because you white?"
I nodded.
"Abinia," he said, pointing toward the chickens, "you look at those birds. Some of them be brown, some of them be white and black. Do you think when they little chicks, those mamas and papas care about that?” — 7 people liked it

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