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The Kitchen House: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.00) - 50,989 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
"The Kitchen House" is a powerful debut novel that brings together two women whose lives become inextricably linked despite their diverse backgrounds and equally different futures.
Lavinia first steps foot in Virginia as a 7-years-old orphan and becomes an indentured servant to white plantation owners. The year is 1791, and her upbringing is in the care of Belle, a slave woman whose future is not nearly as bright as that of the white, Irish immigrant child in her care.
Nevertheless, the two form a bond, becoming almost family as they go through their lives, performing the duties of enslaved women in the antebellum South. Lavinia becomes attached not only to Belle, but to other black characters around her from whom she develops a sense of belonging.
Even so, Lavinia is white. She eventually is accepted into the white world around her, having survived the perils of living under a harsh and cruel master. Despite being the illegitimate daughter of that same master, Belle can never belong.
Lavinia is caught up in the tug-of-war thrust upon her by the institution of slavery, and her loyalties are torn between two worlds. She has decisions to make.
Grissom's characters are intricately developed, each having a unique and believable voice. The setting is one with which she is intimately familiar and is able to convey convincingly to her listeners.
A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, author Kathleen Grissom now lives in southern Virginia. She uses the experience she gained as she and her husband restored a Virginia plantation building to create an authentic, compelling, and richly detailed account of 18th and 19th-century plantation life in the South.
The two narrators of "The Kitchen" work well together, and have garnered much praise for their work as narrators of other popular audiobooks such as "The Help."
"A little racy at times (due to the time period and subject matter), but couldn't put it down. A coworker recommended this book to me less than two weeks ago. In the midst of end of the trimester stress and two kid stress and husband out of town stress, I finished it incredibly quickly. You will fall in love with the characters and root for them from start to finish!"
— Meg (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
Kathleen 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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The Kitchen House Listener Reviews
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Susan Bowman, 11/16/2022
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" Very good story read by amazing Bahni Turpin! "
— CAT_from_NC, 4/26/2022 -
" This book was fantastic. I would actually give this closer to 4.5 stars. The only thing I didn't like was that it needed just a couple more paragraphs to tie things up. There needed to be some closure. Wonderful portrayal of a disturbing time in history. Highly recommend. "
— Leslie, 2/8/2014 -
" A friend gave me this book as she knows I love a good historical based fiction drama. This book fit that need and took me on many unexpected twists/turns. Overall this book would be a great book club choice as it would lend to lots of conversation elements. I hope they make it into a movie as well. "
— Stacy, 1/31/2014 -
" This is kind of "Days of Our Lives" on a tobacco plantation in the 1700's. I really couldn't put it down, but it was graphic and semi disturbing for the most part. It does raise some interesting themes, but for the most part is a tragic and depressing story. In no way am I trying to sound trite or funny when I say that slavery was no picnic. Oy. I might give it 3.5 stars. "
— Katie, 1/27/2014 -
" A page-turning saga of life on a southern plantation under the helm of an evil master. "
— Terry, 1/25/2014 -
" Overall a very good book. It drug a little in the middle, but my desire to find out what happened to the characters kept me going. "
— Linda, 1/19/2014 -
" Great first novel by author. Liked the historical aspect. Finished it in 3 days, so it was a page turner "
— Molly, 1/15/2014 -
" This is a great book! "
— Elisa, 1/15/2014 -
" Good historical FICTION by a new author. An enjoyable read if you can separate sensationalist southern stereotypes. "
— Alison, 1/2/2014 -
" Couldn't put it down towards the end. I don't say that about just any book! Some disturbing events in the book for sure, but ultimately I'm glad I read it. "
— Petra, 12/7/2013 -
" Great read. I was sorry to see it end. "
— Roxie, 12/3/2013 -
" Good story. Slows down a bit but worth the read. "
— James, 11/30/2013 -
" A captivating read; disturbing at times but hard to put down. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. "
— Charlotte, 11/13/2013 -
" I liked this book more for the plot and characters than for the writing style, which seemed a bit choppy and rushed toward the end. Nevertheless, I could hardly put it down! Great read. "
— Jen, 11/11/2013 -
" This is the unusual story of an orphaned immigrant child living with slaves. The roles reverse and she becomes a member of the big house. An epic tale that keeps you reading to find out how it all tragically ends. "
— Jill, 11/4/2013 -
" I might have given it 3.5. I thought the end was rushed for how much happened "
— Leigh, 6/3/2013 -
" Loved the characters! Such a great heart felt story line. I'm not one to usually enjoy a story set earlier in our history, but really loved this one. "
— Melissa, 4/6/2013 -
" Book was great! Her details and as se writes drew me in greatly. However ending wasn't what I liked and didn't leave me satisfied. But, it's life. Nothing can end perfectly. A must-read. "
— Christina, 12/6/2012 -
" I felt that this story had so much potential, but I was disappointed by both its pace and lack of character development. They all just seemed so flat and stereotypical to me. "
— Amy, 11/30/2012 -
" I found this one hard to get into, but enjoyed it once it got going. "
— Lauren, 11/10/2012 -
" I did not like this book. The stereotypical characters made me nauseated at times. It was sensationalized and over-the-top. "
— Kellibid, 11/1/2012 -
" A new look at life of slaves, plus an orphaned Irish girl, raised in the Kitchen House, but trained to live as a free white woman. Unique story, but told so slowly I almost gave up. Glad I stayed. "
— Dmehringer, 8/24/2012 -
" 3.5 stars, while I could appreciate the subject matter, I just did not enjoy reading it all that much because it was SO depressing. "
— Cameron, 4/2/2012 -
" Loved it. Really felt for the characters "
— Dana, 2/5/2012 -
" Great book! The miscommunication that was used to move most of the plot along was a bit annoying, though. "
— Ashley, 10/2/2011 -
" A compelling story. It opened my eyes to a different world in a way, similar to the Help. It's a great read. "
— Lindy, 9/12/2011 -
" similar to The Help, not quite as well developed of a story though. The author did a lot of research to make the details of the story as authentic as she could. There is nothing pleasant about slavery, that is for sure. "
— Jill, 7/1/2011 -
" Thoroughly enjoyed this easily read historical fiction about the South in the late 1700's. "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." "
— Carol, 5/23/2011 -
" So entertaining! I am not sure what the life lessons were or how realistic the plotline. I think they were all possible atrocities, but so much human folly in one family? But I enjoyed the drama so much. "
— Misty, 5/21/2011 -
" great book - a real pg turner. I found my self wanting to save everyone myself. Great historical fiction book. "
— Toni, 5/20/2011 -
" Didn't think I would like this book but ended up loving the story. Great example of the true meaning of family, love and loyalty. "
— Sharnette, 5/19/2011 -
" Highly highly recommend this book; fabulously written. <br/>I found myself caring for these fictional characters. They stayed with me long after I finished reading this book. "
— Tami, 5/19/2011 -
" Very good book, but I was disappointed in the ending. "
— Mom, 5/17/2011 -
" I enjoyed this book - not quite as good as The Help. "
— Patricia, 5/17/2011 -
" Historical Fiction. Terrific Story!!!<br/><br/>Still recommend it as a fabulous read.<br/><br/>Great for a northern girl who had only a passing understanding of southern plantation life during slavery. "
— Sandra, 5/17/2011 -
" Thoughtful story of race repression built into a suspenseful novel. Given the events, I thought the ending was a little too pat and that's the only reason for 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend. "
— Lee, 5/17/2011 -
" Different take on a oft-told southern pre-Civil War topic. We don't think a lot about the indentured servants and how a relationship could build with slaves. "
— Don, 5/17/2011 -
" Very interesting book that is another historical fiction piece- my new favorite genre. Tells the story of the slaves who live in the kitchen house, and their treatment by and interaction with the family in the big house. "
— Shannon, 5/15/2011 -
" Great book. An interesting perspective of life on a plantation and slavery. "
— Becky, 5/15/2011 -
" Engrossing and fast paced story. "
— Jessica, 5/15/2011 -
" Loved this book. Some great historical points about slavery times-shocking "
— Louise, 5/14/2011
About Kathleen Grissom
Kathleen Grissom, born and raised in Saskatchewan, is now happily rooted in south-side Virginia, where she and her husband live in the plantation tavern they renovated.
About the Narrators
Bahni Turpin, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and several prestigious Audie Awards for her narrations, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. Publishers Weekly magazine named her Narrator of the Year for 2016. She is an ensemble member of the Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. She has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, Cold Case, What about Brian, and The Comeback. Film credits include Brokedown Palace, Crossroads, and Daughters of the Dust. She is also a member of the recording cast of The Help, which won numerous awards.
Orlagh Cassidy, an American actress of stage, television, and film, is an audiobook narrator who has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, as well as many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She is a graduate of SUNY at Purchase and a recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation Scholarship. She has been seen on and off Broadway and in films, including Definitely Maybe and Calling It Quits. Her television credits include roles in Law & Order and Sex and the City and as Doris Wolfe on Guiding Light.