The House Girl

A Novel

De: Tara Conklin

Narrado por: Bahni Turpin

Two remarkable women, separated by more than a century, whose lives unexpectedly intertwine....

The year is 2004: Lina Sparrow is an ambitious young lawyer working on a historic class-action lawsuit seeking reparations for the descendants of American slaves.

The year is 1852: Josephine is a 17-year-old house slave who tends to the mistress of a Virginia tobacco farm - an aspiring artist named Lu Anne Bell.

It is through her father, renowned artist Oscar Sparrow, that Lina discovers a controversy rocking the art world: Art historians now suspect that the revered paintings of Lu Anne Bell, an antebellum artist known for her humanizing portraits of the slaves who worked her Virginia tobacco farm, were actually the work of her house slave, Josephine.

A descendant of Josephine's would be the perfect face for the lawsuit - if Lina can find one. But nothing is known about Josephine's fate following Lu Anne Bell's death in 1852. In piecing together Josephine's story, Lina embarks on a journey that will lead her to question her own life, including the full story of her mother's mysterious death 20 years before.

Alternating between antebellum Virginia and modern-day New York, this searing tale of art and history, love, and secrets explores what it means to repair a wrong, and asks whether truth can be more important than justice.

©2013 Tara Conklin (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Would have liked a little more...but GOOD story

i really liked the way this story was told in alternating chapters -- Josephine's story of being a slave girl in the house of Lu Ann Bell. Josephine's a strong, exciting character -- full of spirit and fight. Lina's story set in modern day NYC. a lawyer taking on a case regarding slavery reparations. their stories connect in a really interesting way...unfolding across generations with rich with history and turmoil.

this book feels like it should be a sweeping story, but it's not. it has the feel of that kind of novel.

my favorite parts of the book were letters that Lina read, from Dorothy to Caleb. the history that she uncovered through those types of documents.

i think the story could have gone deeper into Lina's own history, it brushes upon the story of her mother and father, but doesn't deliver with the details as i would have liked.

but over all this was a good book.

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All that being said...Bahni Turpin did a great job with narration.

Interesting story

I found this book interesting but very predictable. The back and forth between the past and present was okay but the ending falls flat.

Fabulous

I can’t say enough good things about this writer or the actual writing! The narrator is amazing as well!!!

Moving story

I was moved by this story of a teenage slave girl who was artistic, beautiful, sympathetic, focused -- everything but free. Her struggle to achieve freedom moves the heart. The modern story of how Lina works to find Josephine her true place in history, long after Josephine's death, is also intriguing. Bahni Turpin is phenomenal as usual. A rewarding, if somewhat sad read.

Left me unsatisfied

I really wanted to enjoy this book. However, save the storyline centering around Josephine this was an incredibly tedious and uninspiring listen. The story of Josephine could have been a stand alone novel . Why did I listen to all 14 hours? One reason only - Bahni Turpin.

Interesting, but just okay

The story was interesting but overall the book was just ok. Parts of it dragged on more than was necessary. There was no real character development. I don’t regret “reading “ it but it didn’t compare at all with other books of the same genre/subject. Bahni Turpin did her usual superb job with the narration.

once again beautiful performance by Bahni Turpin.

Very interesting novel.....but I'm sure my.interest is held by the talented and well spoken Bahni.

Worth listening to but...

While the story is interesting, whether improbable or not, I enjoyed listening to it except:
For some peculiar reason the reader used this annoying girlish voice for the main character, a voice projecting weakness and immaturity, and utterly annoying. This is the storyteller, one of the two main character, a woman who went through law school and is a lawyer in a strong law firm in NYC. Really?! Every time that young and voice came on to indicate Lina talking, I cringed.
Be forewarned!

Good Read, But Too Much "Background"

Starts off pretty slow, but pick up after a few chapters. Too much time spent in describing the scenery, mood extending the story much longer than it needed to be. Overall a good storyline.

Excellent story and narration!

Really loved this book. The switching back and forth between Lena and Josephine, made for grwt listening.