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amandasbookreview 's review for:
The Kitchen House
by Kathleen Grissom
Our book club selects a different genre every month. This way we aren’t reading the same type of books over and over again. July is historical fiction. We selected The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. This book shows the point-of-view of two women, Lavinia and Belle. Lavinia is just a child, orphaned when her family comes to America. She becomes an indentured servant. She is placed with Belle in the kitchen house. Belle is the illegitimate child of the master of the plantation. Lavinia becomes accepted as a part of the family. Belle is abused because of her relationship with the master. As they grow older, Lavinia is given opportunities that would forever change the dynamic of the plantation.
This is one of those books where too much description will give away key moments of the story. I have had to really work through my thoughts on this book. I wanted to love it. The atrocities that happened are absolutely unfathomable. The author really dives deep into the differences between Belle and Lavinia. Lavinia gets different opportunities because she is white. Even though she starts out as an indentured servant, she is able to rise above that station. The slaves are forever in the same station. No matter their loyalty to the family, the love they show the children, they are still treated with unbelievable hatred, just because of the color of their skin. Mama Mae, Uncle Jimmy, Papa, Ben, Belle, and the whole family is the absolute best part of the book. They are willing to sacrifice everything for each other and the love they have is so heartwarming.
However, I felt that the atrocities alone could have moved the story along. The author seemed to add as much drama as she could into the story. Some of it seemed absolutely pointless and not very realistic to the time period. There are a few relationship triangles that seem to have more emotional outrage than the actual atrocities that were committed. Lavinia could have been stronger. Her character ends up mirroring the previous mistress of the plantation and it just felt redundant. Then don’t get me started on the ending. I know there is a second book, but this book just ends. I actually thought my book was missing some pages. So how do I feel about this book? I still don’t know. I wanted to love it. I loved the characters, I appreciate the author for talking about a time period that can’t be forgotten. But it just fell a little short for me. So I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
This is one of those books where too much description will give away key moments of the story. I have had to really work through my thoughts on this book. I wanted to love it. The atrocities that happened are absolutely unfathomable. The author really dives deep into the differences between Belle and Lavinia. Lavinia gets different opportunities because she is white. Even though she starts out as an indentured servant, she is able to rise above that station. The slaves are forever in the same station. No matter their loyalty to the family, the love they show the children, they are still treated with unbelievable hatred, just because of the color of their skin. Mama Mae, Uncle Jimmy, Papa, Ben, Belle, and the whole family is the absolute best part of the book. They are willing to sacrifice everything for each other and the love they have is so heartwarming.
However, I felt that the atrocities alone could have moved the story along. The author seemed to add as much drama as she could into the story. Some of it seemed absolutely pointless and not very realistic to the time period. There are a few relationship triangles that seem to have more emotional outrage than the actual atrocities that were committed. Lavinia could have been stronger. Her character ends up mirroring the previous mistress of the plantation and it just felt redundant. Then don’t get me started on the ending. I know there is a second book, but this book just ends. I actually thought my book was missing some pages. So how do I feel about this book? I still don’t know. I wanted to love it. I loved the characters, I appreciate the author for talking about a time period that can’t be forgotten. But it just fell a little short for me. So I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.