The Kitchen House

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 The good slave master, the evil slave master, masters raping slaves, weeny wives who get depressed and withdrawn, children who are neglected, husbands beating wives....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.