- ISBN13: 9781439153666
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
This stunning debut novel set in the antebellum South, is a tragic story of page-turning suspense, exploring the meaning of family, where love and loyalty prevail.
Orphaned while onboard a 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. Under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate daughter, Lavinia deeply bonds with her adopted family, though s… More >>
5 Responses to “The Kitchen House: A Novel”
I have to admit I did not get very far in this book, maybe a third in. The reason for that is that there are lots of story lines to follow, and although they each give a unique view of what happened it made for difficult reading. I had to stop.
Rating: 3 / 5
This novel is a well written look at race relations in the South during the slavery period. It held my attention from the beginning. But I was disappointed by the ending thus I only gave it three stars. I know that this is listed as a novel and not a romance; however I prefer that the books I read give me some sense of hope of happiness for the main characters. When this novel ended I was not left with a feeling of a happy future for Lavinia. What a shame. She was such an interesting main character. I would have loved an ending that gave her a bit of happiness and true love. Her entire life as written was difficult and filled with pain. The ending only offered her years of hard work and loneliness. I was let down when I finished.
Rating: 3 / 5
I’m nuts about historical fiction novels from any period and anywhere in the world, so if you describe yourself in that way, you’ll enjoy this book.
It’s about Lavinia, a little girl from Ireland who wakes up one day and on that same day, finds herself living with a family she doesn’t know and to top it off, they are black….something she has never seen before. She doesn’t know why she’s there, where her family is or even what her own name is. She slowly warms to her new family, soon finding herself with a new Mama and Papa but constantly confused as to why, even though she is a servant, she is treated differently because of her pale skin and red hair. As time goes by, she slowly learns why, but never really understands.
This is a lovely book about a young child growing into adulthood in the late 1700’s in the Old South. It’s a very different point of view about slavery with warm, lovable characters.
Rating: 4 / 5
A great story that I didn’t want to end. I so enjoyed Lavinia’s story even though I would have liked she and Will to be together. I wish the author would have expanded upon the story of Marshall and the tutor. I wonder how Belle and Marshall would have dealt with each other had her parentage come out.
Really good story
Rating: 5 / 5
I could not put this book down. It is gripping from the very beginning. It is very moving but not dark. I look forward to more from this author.
Rating: 5 / 5