The Kitchen House
Ratings26
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings26
Average rating3.7
Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of the highly anticipated Glory Over Everything, established herself as a remarkable new talent with The Kitchen House, now a contemporary classic. In this gripping novel, a dark secret threatens to expose the best and worst in everyone tied to the estate at a thriving plantation in Virginia in the decades before the Civil War. Orphaned during her passage from Ireland, young, white Lavinia arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed, as an indentured servant, under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, and serve food, while guided by the quiet strength and love of her new family. In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master’s opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves. Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Grissom’s debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds.
Reviews with the most likes.
I read this book sometime in past year and I really enjoyed it! A different perspective.
I absolutely adored this novel. I read it in a couple of days. I'm not usually a fan of the multiple POV but Kathleen really nailed it. Having the 2 perspectives gave me a much clearer picture of what life was life on the plantation. To view it from a white slaves perspective and how she fit with the black slaves... genius!
The first half of the book is fine enough, somewhat corny and simplistic, but fine, as it tells the story of a white Irish girl growing up among the slaves at a tobacco plantation. But then the second half pushes all the melodrama too much, over-relying on secrets and misunderstandings as plot points. Also, the main character is rather maddening, as she never grows out of her little-girl naivety.
I had such high hopes for The Kitchen House. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe it's because I'm from the South and know that all stereotypes are not true. Either way, I was so extremely disappointed with this book. After finishing, I still can't really decide if I even liked it or not.
Basically, every single Old South cliche that there has ever been was covered. The good slave master, the evil slave master, masters raping slaves, weeny wives who get depressed and withdrawn, children who are neglected, husbands beating wives.... blah, blah, blah. This would be ok and would still make a good story if there really had been a story. There was not much development, and the story just ended. Also, there was a severe lack of dialogue.
I would not consider this book a literary masterpiece or a piece that “does important work” as proclaimed on the cover. The story was well written and entertaining at times, but it is not a story that I would recommend or care to read again.
