The Kitchen House: A NovelKathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of the highly anticipated Glory Over Everything, established herself as a remarkable new talent with The Kitchen House, now a contemporary classic. In this gripping novel, a dark secret threatens to expose the best and worst in everyone tied to the estate at a thriving plantation in Virginia in the decades before the Civil War. Orphaned during her passage from Ireland, young, white Lavinia arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed, as an indentured servant, under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, and serve food, while guided by the quiet strength and love of her new family. In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master’s opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves. Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Grissom’s debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds. |
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Page 5
... child's laughter. It rang familiar, and forgetting all else, I sprang to the window. The brightness stung so that I needed both hands to shade my eyes. First all I saw was rolling green, but below the window, I saw a path. It cut past a ...
... child's laughter. It rang familiar, and forgetting all else, I sprang to the window. The brightness stung so that I needed both hands to shade my eyes. First all I saw was rolling green, but below the window, I saw a path. It cut past a ...
Page 13
... child fussed when she gently pulled his swollen hands out to show her father. “When his hands get big like this, he cry all the time,” she said. Her father leaned down and, with a knuckle, gently stroked the baby's cheek. When he ...
... child fussed when she gently pulled his swollen hands out to show her father. “When his hands get big like this, he cry all the time,” she said. Her father leaned down and, with a knuckle, gently stroked the baby's cheek. When he ...
Page 16
... child? During the day she can't keep her food down, and at night she scares me, sitting there in the dark, looking off. 'Course, the cap'n is known for this, coming and going, telling nobody nothing. That's the way he always is, says ...
... child? During the day she can't keep her food down, and at night she scares me, sitting there in the dark, looking off. 'Course, the cap'n is known for this, coming and going, telling nobody nothing. That's the way he always is, says ...
Page 22
... children in the quarters. The twins were forbidden to visit without their mother, but Fanny, already rebellious, convinced Beattie and me to go with her. The quarters were set up far down the hill, alongside the stream. Coming from the ...
... children in the quarters. The twins were forbidden to visit without their mother, but Fanny, already rebellious, convinced Beattie and me to go with her. The quarters were set up far down the hill, alongside the stream. Coming from the ...
Page 23
... children and followed the sound. It led us past a number of double cabins and several small gardens. When we rounded the final cabin, we found ourselves in a large dirt yard. Down a distance was a clapboard house, and Beattie whispered ...
... children and followed the sound. It led us past a number of double cabins and several small gardens. When we rounded the final cabin, we found ourselves in a large dirt yard. Down a distance was a clapboard house, and Beattie whispered ...
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon asked baby Henry barn Beattie Beattie’s began Belle Belle’s Ben’s big house blue room Boran called Campbell can’t cap’n captain carriage chair chil child comes daddy dance dark didn’t door Dory Dory’s Eddy Elly eyes face Fanny Fanny’s felt gave girl gonna hair hand he’s head heard horse Jamie Jamie’s Jimmy kitchen house knew laudanum laughed Lavinia leave looked Lucy Madden Mama and Papa Mama Mae Mama says Mama’s marry Marshall’s Masta Marshall Meg’s Miss Martha Miss Sarah morning mother night nodded Papa George pulled Pyke quarters Rankin Sally she’s shook sleep smile spoke stared stay Stephens stood stop Sukey sure surprised talk Tall Oaks tell there’s thought told took turned twins Uncle Jacob voice wait walked watched What’s whispered Will’s Williamsburg woman wondered