The Kitchen House in Crazy Challenge Connection

May 02, 2016 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: library, concierge, southern-lit, audio, 19th-century, historical-fiction, virginia

Audiobook narrated by Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin

Lavinia, her brother and parents emigrated from Ireland with hopes of a better life in America. But her parents die aboard ship, still owing the captain for their passage. As per the current law in 1791, Captain Pyke can indenture the children to pay off that debt. He sells the boy but brings Lavinia to his Virginia estate, where he turns the six-year-old over to Belle, his illegitimate black daughter, who runs the kitchen house. Slowly the fr Audiobook narrated by Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin

Lavinia, her brother and parents emigrated from Ireland with hopes of a better life in America. But her parents die aboard ship, still owing the captain for their passage. As per the current law in 1791, Captain Pyke can indenture the children to pay off that debt. He sells the boy but brings Lavinia to his Virginia estate, where he turns the six-year-old over to Belle, his illegitimate black daughter, who runs the kitchen house. Slowly the frightened child warms to her new family, as she learns to cook, clean, and serve food. Eventually she comes to be the main comfort of the Captain’s wife, who is addicted to laudanum, and spends much of her time in the “big house.”

I can certainly see why this has become so popular with book clubs. It has an interesting basic story line, some tension-filled scenes, and complex relationships between characters. However, it’s not the best-written book. Grissom tends to repeat herself in scene after scene, making me wonder when she’d finally get to the crucial scene she foreshadowed in the prologue. I felt the ending was rushed, wrapping up a complicated scenario a bit too neatly. Still, it held my attention and was a fairly quick read.

The story is told in alternating voices – Lavinia and Belle. Lavinia seems pretty slow to catch on to the realities of her situation, and more importantly the realities of her slave family’s lives. While the chapters narrated by Belle leave no doubt as to what is really happening. About half-way through I realized that Lavinia’s chapters are considerably longer than Belle’s, and when I looked at the text this became even more apparent.

Grissom based the novel on a small discovery she made when renovating an old Virginia plantation tavern. Many poor whites were so indentured, living and working among the slaves on the plantation until their debts were paid off. Some of them never gained their freedom.

Orlagh Cassidy (voicing Lavinia’s chapters) and Bahni Turpin (performing Belle’s) do a fine job on the audio book. They are both accomplished voice artists, with good pacing and an ability to differentiate the various characters.
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Dec 24, 2012 Nancy Brady rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-exchange-library-group-read

A historical novel of the late 1790s to 1811 that features indentured servant Lavinia, an orphan from Ireland, and her slave family (Mame Mae, Belle, Dory, Ben, Papa George, etc.). Growing up in the Kitchen house, where the family cooking is done, Lavinia has a unique life; so has the men and women of the Kitchen house.

Interrelationships with the master's family makes for a poignant, compelling read as families become more and more intertwined and old (and new) resentments fester. Told from two ...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Joanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, 5-star

The story of a white orphan girl sold to a southern plantation owner and raised by the slaves he owns. She grows up to love them as a family and as she becomes an adult, opportunities arise for her because of the colour of her skin. She has to make some difficult choices and she does the best she can to try to keep her family safe.

I really loved this book and was held captive the whole way though, but holy crap, the drama! I can't see myself re-reading it because all the emotions a book like th ...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Rusty rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

The story is told by Lavinia, an orphan taken into a southern family, and Belle, a daughter of the plantation owner, and one of his slaves. However, I found myself most drawn to Lavinia. As I often do, I read the author's notes prior to starting. Lavinia is of Irish descent, had two brothers, and lost her parents and younger brother en route to this country. She seems very bright but needs affection so much. As she begins to remember her family, I couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Her tender ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

While I couldn't put the book down, I had to take away a full star in my overall rating, because I was continuously frustrated by how weak Lavinia was. I almost tossed the book across the room and refused to continue somewhere around the 3/4 mark, but I pushed on hoping that she would eventually do something. I understand a woman in her situation, especially at that time, would have been limited in her options; but it just annoyed me. ...more

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