The Kitchen House: A Novel
Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk. The Kitchen House is a tragic story of page-turning suspense, exploring the meaning of family, where love and loyalty prevail.
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Readers say *The Kitchen House* offers a compelling look at early America with rich historical detail and strong characterizations. Many appreciate it...
Loved this book. Loved it as historical fiction. It especially loved it for the rich characterizations the author has drawn. These characters and their story will undoubtedly stay with me a long, long time. I highly recommend this book!
I had fun. Historical Fiction is a genre I never read so when I do I am pleasantly surprised. Satisfying and easy read.
3.5 stars. I definitely enjoyed this sweeping novel, reading late into the night, but there were things that bothered me about it too. Some aspects were unbelievable, and there were some storylines that were glossed over. It's well-written, but I'm not sure it will stick with me long.
It's a fast read because it's an intriguing story, told from the points of view of two characters, Lavinia and Belle, one a orphaned indentured servant, the other the daughter of the plantation owner and a slave. Their situations are similar and vastly different at the same time.
Much of the book is about family bonds, especially parent-child, or the lack of any bond for whatever reason. For some, the lack of a relationship leads to disastrous results affecting many more people than just that parent and child. Others build a family relationship where there is no blood relation simply because we need love, and without love and a home, life doesn't have much meaning.
Another concept that runs through the book is holding on to our preconceived ideas because of convenience, prejudice or insecurity. The captain, his wife, and Lavinia all make assumptions that change lives because it is generally easier in the short run to ignore a problem than confront the truth, even though it's always better for the long run to address the issue.
In short, I recommend the book.
Much of the book is about family bonds, especially parent-child, or the lack of any bond for whatever reason. For some, the lack of a relationship leads to disastrous results affecting many more people than just that parent and child. Others build a family relationship where there is no blood relation simply because we need love, and without love and a home, life doesn't have much meaning.
Another concept that runs through the book is holding on to our preconceived ideas because of convenience, prejudice or insecurity. The captain, his wife, and Lavinia all make assumptions that change lives because it is generally easier in the short run to ignore a problem than confront the truth, even though it's always better for the long run to address the issue.
In short, I recommend the book.
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