Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

6 reviews

gnomeo's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This was appallingly predicted. Stereotypical of the interpretation  of thesituation during the time of slavery into sentimental pap. I picked this book up in error. If you want to know about black history, this historical fiction will not give it to you. Of course, lovely happy ending for the black slaves and ‘effectively’ whites burned at the stake. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

Not worth reading

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This story was dark. It was full of one bad thing happening after another. It was also overly dramatic, which I found overdone. I wish we heard more from Belle, I felt she was short-changed in her time in the spotlight. I wish we got to know more about what brought Lavinia there. I felt it didn't tell the whole picture to give the real story. Somehow, it kept me to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, and Murder

lady_elle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

nevertheless_she_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I recently joined a local mom's book club, and last month the book was 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 by Kathleen Grissom. I had never heard of this book, and was unsure if I would enjoy it. But surprisingly, I ended up loving it! ⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 is about Lavinia, a white 7-year-old girl who is orphaned while onboard a ship from Ireland. When she arrives on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, she is ordered to live and work alongside the slaves in the kitchen house. She grows close to the slaves as she grows up, and they become family to her. In many ways, she is treated like them. But time and time again, she is reminded of her privilege due to her white skin.⁣
This book was fascinating. It was told from such a unique perspective, and in many ways, Lavinia was more mature and progressive than the time she was alive. She came to recognize her privilege and found her voice, which many women weren't allowed to share during that time.⁣
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣
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⚠️TW/CW: slavery, bondage, rape, lynching, murder, physical abuse⁣
⁣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Murder

eesti23's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"This world is not the only home. This world is for practice to get things right."

"What the color is, who the daddy be, who the mama is don’t mean nothin’. We a family, carin’ for each other. Family make us strong in times of trouble. We all stick together, help each other out. That the real meanin’ of family. When you grow up, you take that family feelin’ with you.”

"You look at today, chil’. You say, ‘Thank you, Lawd, for everythin’ you gives me today.’ Then you worries about the next day when the next day come.”

I wasn't expecting to like The Kitchen House very much, but once I got all the characters figured out, I struggled to put it down at times. It is a reminder of how cruel we are to other humans and how kind we can be to them. The story was fast paced with plenty of highs and lows, twists and turns. I was heartbroken with the ending

(the death of Mama Mae)

and while I know there is a sequel, I wish it was about Lavinia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Slavery

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Toxic relationship and Murder

booksanna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

It was so intriguing and tense that I couldn’t stop reading. I wouldn’t say I liked it, but I needed to finish it because I needed to know the ending. But throughout the book all I was thinking who’s going to die next?

Half of the plot is just babies- having babies, making babies, birthing babies, dying babies, nursing babies, healing babies.

Also racial slurs and literally all male characters are trash people, except Will.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Slavery

Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Toxic relationship and Murder