Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

13 reviews

gnomeo's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This was appallingly predicted. Stereotypical of the interpretation  of thesituation during the time of slavery into sentimental pap. I picked this book up in error. If you want to know about black history, this historical fiction will not give it to you. Of course, lovely happy ending for the black slaves and ‘effectively’ whites burned at the stake. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Incest, Murder, Bullying, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Child death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Racism, Rape, and Colonisation

Not worth reading

farmwife's review

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Reading this book required time to recover. I’m changed by its pages. The wounds left on my heart cut deeply. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Child death

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This story was dark. It was full of one bad thing happening after another. It was also overly dramatic, which I found overdone. I wish we heard more from Belle, I felt she was short-changed in her time in the spotlight. I wish we got to know more about what brought Lavinia there. I felt it didn't tell the whole picture to give the real story. Somehow, it kept me to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, and Child death

Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Violence

samanthabryan34's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 ⭐️ Although I didn’t love this book, I did like it. I don’t read slavery books very often, probably because of how terribly sad they always are - and this one is no exception. I will say the narration for the audiobook was well done and interesting to listen to. But the writing itself could have been better. The dual POV felt redundant and the ending felt rushed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Slavery, Infidelity, and Rape

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

lady_elle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Violence, Child death, Mental illness, Racism, Colonisation, Classism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Incest, and Racial slurs

haleighpaige's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol

jenireadstoomuch's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Rape

nevertheless_she_reads's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I recently joined a local mom's book club, and last month the book was 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 by Kathleen Grissom. I had never heard of this book, and was unsure if I would enjoy it. But surprisingly, I ended up loving it! ⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 is about Lavinia, a white 7-year-old girl who is orphaned while onboard a ship from Ireland. When she arrives on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, she is ordered to live and work alongside the slaves in the kitchen house. She grows close to the slaves as she grows up, and they become family to her. In many ways, she is treated like them. But time and time again, she is reminded of her privilege due to her white skin.⁣
This book was fascinating. It was told from such a unique perspective, and in many ways, Lavinia was more mature and progressive than the time she was alive. She came to recognize her privilege and found her voice, which many women weren't allowed to share during that time.⁣
⁣
⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣
⁣
⚠️TW/CW: slavery, bondage, rape, lynching, murder, physical abuse⁣
⁣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Racism, Murder, and Physical abuse

eesti23's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"This world is not the only home. This world is for practice to get things right."

"What the color is, who the daddy be, who the mama is don’t mean nothin’. We a family, carin’ for each other. Family make us strong in times of trouble. We all stick together, help each other out. That the real meanin’ of family. When you grow up, you take that family feelin’ with you.”

"You look at today, chil’. You say, ‘Thank you, Lawd, for everythin’ you gives me today.’ Then you worries about the next day when the next day come.”

I wasn't expecting to like The Kitchen House very much, but once I got all the characters figured out, I struggled to put it down at times. It is a reminder of how cruel we are to other humans and how kind we can be to them. The story was fast paced with plenty of highs and lows, twists and turns. I was heartbroken with the ending

(the death of Mama Mae)

and while I know there is a sequel, I wish it was about Lavinia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Rape

Moderate: Child death, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship and Murder

audreykeyes's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Rape, and Racism

Moderate: Child death and Death