In this gripping New York Times bestseller, Kathleen Grissom brings to life a thriving plantation in Virginia in the decades before the Civil War, where a dark secret threatens to expose the best and worst in everyone tied to the estate.
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 … 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.
more
Here is a 4.5 star read set during the late eighteenth century on a southern plantation. A young Irish girl whose parents succumb to an illness during the ocean crossing that is bringing them all to America, is indentured to the captain of the ship who sends her down to The Kitchen House to be raised by his enslaved workers. A story of what makes a family, what makes a life.
Wonderful, greatly written. The characters were so well defined and truely authentic. I read it in one day, and ordered the next book Glory Over Everything. These books made me think how lucky I am for being born with the rights that were fought by these great women and I respect them for their courage
One of my recent favorites. After reading Kitchen House I had to read the sequel and I’m reading it now. Very good historical fiction novel. My idea of a 5 star is that you can’t wait to get back to it and you don’t ever think “how much longer is this book” or “I hope it gets better”. Also a 5 star is not easily forgotten. Love the characters, the story, and the insights. Read it.
It is hard to know how to convey how much I like this book. The setting is on a Southern plantation prior to the Civil War. A young, orphaned Irish girl, Lavinia, is brought as an indentured servant to the plantation and put under the care of the owner’s illegitimate slave daughter, Belle. Lavinia is raised with the slaves who work in the kitchen house of the plantation learning the necessary skills to serve on the plantation. The story is told from the alternating points of view of Belle and Lavinia. Through this storytelling technique the reader is privy to information and thoughts that Lavinia is not and which cause her to struggle with her feelings and understanding of Belle. There are many secrets within the family and the plantation which create many tense situations. There is a surprising twist in the plot at the end that just stays with you.
Yes, this story reveals the many evils of slavery, but still shows how the human spirit can thrive even in the worst of situations. The characters are so real that you feel like you truly know them. Our book club read this and it was unanimously one of the top books we have read. This is a must read!
This is one of the best southern fiction novels I have read. Just wonderful from a historical perspective. The characters are so well defined and the story is a journey you want to take, as painful as it is. It is still uplifting, fabulously researched and just a glorious book to hold close to your heart.
Emotional and heartbreaking! This book places you into the lives of people who are abused and taken for granted but most of all disrespected. The kitchen house will change you
This debut novel was my “can’t put down” book of the month. The characters were incredibly well developed; I felt as though I could touch them. Although the subject matter is tough, it is written in a way that we see through other’s eyes. My recommendation is to read this book now – don’t wait.
Eye-opening look at southern plantation life. Realistic and often disheartening but well written historically.
Great story. It’s full of suspense, humor, frustration and drama and takes place during the time of slavery.
I couldn’t stop reading once I started.
Loved this book had a hard time stopping till done
I found this book compelling and interesting because of the story and characters, but also the time setting. I recommend this for readers who enjoy books set in pre-Civil War involving life on a southern plantation, with the twist of an Irish girl who finds herself an indentured servant on the plantation.
I really enjoyed this book and all the beautiful characters. I was very moved by the authors main character Lavinia, caught between the two worlds.
Both enlightening and depressing
What an amazing story. I understand the comparison to “The Color Purple”. I originally purchased the CD version second hand at a thrift store. Disk 4 of that package was damaged.
I’m so glad I made the extra effort to find another version and finish reading.
Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end.
I read this book several years ago, and recently discovered I had never left a review. The characters and story were memorable enough for me to remedy the omission.
The Kitchen House is a sweeping portrait of antebellum life in Virginia, told through two narrators – a white indentured servant from Ireland, Lavinia, and an enslaved woman, Belle. I was quickly drawn into this tale of family, relationships, and secrets. It is a story that stayed with me.
Highly recommend!
Very good.
Grissom’s stunning book deserves to be read with the greatest admiration: her research, her characterizations, depictions of relationships, the historical nuances of class and race, and her utterly fine writing. In my novel THE ABOLITIONIST’S DAUGHTER, my goal was to present in fiction a non-fictioanl view of the South far beyond the familiar stereotypes. Grissom has done so with aplomb.
This is a gorgeous read.
Wow, what an amazing story. I couldn’t put the book down as I needed to know what was going to happen with these characters’ stories. The Kitchen House: A Novel by Kathleen Grissom takes place in the late 1790s. Captain James Pyke brings an orphaned Irish girl from his ship to his home to be a servant to work along side his house slaves, one of which is his illegitimate daughter. There is much loss, but a great deal of love throughout this book. Family means everything and is not defined by blood relations. The struggles these characters persevere through is incredible and it made me so angry that people were allowed to be treated as property and so poorly. This was a thought provoking novel and I would highly recommend it.
Best book I have read in years
loved the depth of character