I really enjoyed this book, The Kitchen House. Lavinia, the protagonist, is a white Irish indentured servant who spends her childhood in the kitchen house of a large Virginia plantation. Her new family embraces her…but there’s just one problem. They’re slaves. Following Lavinia through her life this book tells of her struggles with race and what it really means to be family.
Personally, I think Lavinia was weak. She just accepted circumstances and tried to survive, she never steps up nor actually tries to change how her life is….a lot of people would disagree with me on that, however.
It was a great, easy read that’ll have you frustrated, happy, mad and puzzled by the characters and the drama that unfolds. This is Mrs. Grissom’s first book, and was defiantly worth the time to read it, and I look forward to more of her works. She has a wonderful story telling ability that literally transports you back into the slavery days and what it was like for each character. I felt like I truly got to know the majority of the characters on a very personal level (and there were a lot, so that’s quite an accomplishment).
As for book club discussions…there are some great potential for race, gender, mental illness, slavery, marriage, siblings and so much more for discussion.
