The Kitchen House

A Novel

De: Kathleen Grissom

Narrado por: Orlagh Cassidy, Bahni Turpin

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.

Best book I’ve listen to yet!

Wow... I get like I was listening to a cousin book to GWTW. Beautifully written, great care taken with each character, I felt I knew everyone in this book. Beautifully painted. Can’t wait to read more of this author’s work. AND it was performed perfectly.

Enjoyed The Kitchen House

Good but did not like the overly-dramatized voice of Levinia. It got very tedious as the book progressed. I love antebellum history and stories of the south. I think this was pretty unrealistic with all the drama and sub-plots, but I know much was representative of the time and how blacks suffered at the hands of white slave-owners. Incredible that the men were willing to produce offspring with their slave women and could still justify “owning” these human beings who were no different than themselves except in skin pigment. Good to read historical novels that remind us of how awful human nature can be, and that God created all people as equal, precious and deserving of love and self-determination

The power of true love

truly moving and kept me spell bound. the love shown helped to out way the gruesome parts of the story

Truly an amazing story of our past

I almost put this book down when I first started it but something kept me listening. As the book continued I grew more interested and could not stop listening. A fantastic book. Truly a troubling past!!!!

I am a fan of this performance !

I really enjoyed the performance. Both readers were perfect. And I loved the characters. I will miss them!

This is the kind of book that stays with you

I knew I would finish this book from the start. The reader is phenomenal. Her voice takes you to the middle of this time era, not distracting in the least. The story jumps right into action. You’re not really waiting around for it to get interesting. The author really build the characters for me. I fell in love with some and disliked others. There is hurt, there is love, but don’t let that fool you. This isn’t a sappy story. This book will leave you with many feelings. Part of me wants to start all over, take it slow but I am afraid of some parts. I am telling you, this story will put you right there with the rest of the characters. I was in the edge of my seat (suspense!!) and you will too.

A wonderful listen.

What a heartbreaking story but so well written and narrated. The truth hurts about our history as Americans. Thanks to the author for doing her homework.

haunting

this is an excellent written book it has lots of emotions in lots of thought put into it. it brings you right into living just what Lavinia and Val experienced

Breathtaking

I've read it and now listened. I'd listen and read again. The characters are easy to love (and some to hate). It was hard to finish only because losing the characters was hard to bear. This book is so well written, I hope it is never ruined by someone trying to make it into a movie.

What a great read (or listen)

This was a spur of the moment purchase and it was a true find - I enjoyed it tremendously. The story, the narration, the hsitory - truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read her next novel.