Currently Reading: The Kitchen House

Barnes and Noble

In case you haven't figured it out I love history and historical novels. I love learning about different eras while following along to the fictional stories. My latest historical read is The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. A pre-civil war story about slavery and indentured servitude in the south. It's probably one of the more dark stories I have read in awhile but it's told with a purpose. Events in each of the characters young lives seem to effect them into adulthood and shape their personalities in very specific ways. It also shows that sometimes, even when you are free, evil people can trap you, and enslave you. And that sometimes you can find family, and support, and comfort, even in the face of evil.

The Kitchen House is told by Lavina, an Irish immigrant who was brought over to America with her family as an indentured servant. Lavina is the only member of her family to be taken to the Plantation, Tall Oaks, and is raised by black slaves in the kitchen house.

The story is also told by Belle, a black slave, who is also the illegitimate daughter of the Captain, and plantation owner.

Throughout the story you see how they grow, how people and events shape their lives, and their struggle to be free but not loose the family they have grown to love.

Has anyone else read this book? What did you think?