Welcome to Litsy!

This was a very touching historical fiction novel. Most of the characters were very likable. Imagine growing up in the south as an indentured child whose parents died on voyage from Ireland. The novel takes many turns and life isn‘t very easy for anyone living in the late 1700s and early 1800s. I found the story held my attention and I wanted to find out what happened. I gave this book 4.5/5

***EDIT: this book was AMAZING! Highly recommend for all lovers of historical fiction (and history in general, really). Such an amazing and touching (often triggering) account of how life really was. The pain and brutality were very real and needs to be told in hopes of never repeating!

Time to switch up the genre!
I‘ve been reading for hours and now to start new book from TBR shelf!

Wow, this was a tough read. Parts of this book stuck with me after putting it down some nights. I even dreamed of one of the characters which I‘ve never done. If you are a triggered by rape, abuse this may not be a book for you but it portrays a story that is so complex in the emotions it stirs that I felt it‘s a great read. It delves into a dark part of American history that we must never forget or let ever be repeated!

This book was complex and brought about so many emotions. I had never heard of an indentured slave before. The relationships between the characters described in this book were amazing. I found that there was mostly love where I would have thought there would be hate. Some of the characters were deplorable, as you would expect in this type of an environment. I will be reading more by this author.

This book was complex and brought about so many emotions. I had never heard of an indentured slave before. The relationships between the characters described in this book were amazing. I found that there was mostly love where I would have thought there would be hate. Some of the characters were deplorable, as you would expect in this type of an environment. I will be reading more by this author.

The only snow I want at my house!! Thank you to @TheBookHippie for this amazing #yuleswap gift! And to @BookwormAHN and @wanderinglynn for organizing! I love everything and cannot wait to use those adorable snowflake lights in my library!! The candles smell so fresh and clean! The perfect snow for SC ❄️ ⛄️

Based on a plantation in Virginia in the late 1700s, the stories tells the tale of an orphaned girl from Ireland from hers and her new mother's perspective. A sad tale of slavery and what life was like then

I absolutely loved this book. Although I adore history, I haven't read much of the American slavery and plantation era. This book told a story of struggle, love, misery and overcoming, underpinned by deep-rooted issues.

This book came highly recommended by a fellow history lover. Very excited to get into it.

This is one of those books it‘s seems everyone has read except me. Finally getting to it!

It‘s also my August #bookspin (a little late)
@TheAromaofBooks

The #letterK was another hard one. I only have a few but this is definitely a good one. #alphabetgame

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

1/5⭐ Way too much depressing melodrama, no emotional connection to the characters, Belle's short and unnecessary POV chapters, and characters acting one-dimensionally and unrealistically (seriously, the Captain listens to Mama Mae on everything except the tutor abusing his son? so obvious that's there just to move the plot along). #bookspinbingo

This book ripped my heart to shreds! I honestly felt like I needed a hug throughout. The content is very heavy but it‘s a quick read as it is so very, very well written. Kudos to the author and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

I listened to this on audio and I really enjoyed it. It alternates between two women's points of view. One is an Irish girl who is an indentured servant and the other is a mixed-race slave in the same home. Both live and work in “The Kitchen House.“ The back and forth between them is very interesting and does a good job of highlighting the differences and similarities in their situations.

I really enjoyed this book. Some of the scenes are heart-wrenching, some gruesome, and it‘s not an easy story. It‘s narrated from two perspectives: Lavinia, the Irish immigrant orphan who is raised by the plantation slaves, and Belle, a slave who is the daughter of the owner. Intricately woven, memorable characters, this will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.

It‘s a dreary, rainy day, perfect for reading my book and having a nice cuppa in a Jane Austen mug.

I‘ve read so much on my Kindle the past few months, and sometimes you just need a physical book in your hands. I went digging in our shelves and found this, which I bought a couple years ago but never read. I think now is a good time.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's the book, but throughout most of this one I was bored. I appreciate what the author was trying to do with addressing the evils of slavery and the injustice of it all, but the writing just felt blah. 😕

Book 111
Though it starts slow, The Kitchen House is incredibly engaging. The story is about a young indentured servant on a plantation, who's cared for by the slaves. As an adult, she's surprised to be a part of white society and upset to no longer be part of the family who raised her. The end is extremely dissatisfying and abrupt. The idea came to Grissom as a vision, to which some historical accuracy is ascribed. 3.5 stars

@howjessreads @4thhouseontheleft #friyayintro

1. My front porch with a cup of coffee ☕️
2. Chocolate covered cashews
3. The Kitchen House
4. Just my cat Frodo, but he is more than a handful!

1. The Kitchen House
2. Kat Kijewski
3. Killing Eve
4. The Kinks
5. Killing Me Softly

#LetterK #ManicMonday @JoScho

Deep

I‘m glad I reread this before reading Glory Over Everything, since I didn‘t remember a lot of it. The story of Lavinia and her adopted family on the plantation is tragic and sometimes difficult to read.

Letter K for #litsyAtoZ

I‘ve had this one for a while and just hadn‘t gotten to it. Lately I keep seeing things about it so I took it as a sign that it was time to read it.
I‘m about 25 pages in and so far it‘s not bad.

When the author hopes you like her book 😁 #fangirl

A beautiful written story about a dark period of our country's past. An orphaned white girl is sent to be raised in the kitchen house with the slaves, one being the plantation owner's illegitimate daughter. follow Lavinia as she grows close to her new family, is sent away to be raised as a respectable white girl and ends up back at a plantation with a family of her own. There's plenty of heartbreak as you fall in love with some of the characters

This is what I'm doing on this cold, snowy Friday in eastern Iowa. I'm really enjoying this book.

I enjoyed this book. The struggle and ultimate demise of the central family was heartbreaking but right alongside is the resilience of Lavinia. I love books about the South and this one was a pleasure!!

Wow... what a book!! I found it fascinating, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at the same time. I haven‘t read a lot about slavery and the antebellum south but if I can find more books like this I will for sure read them!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A perfect evening... a good book, a mound of blankets and chewie!

This was excellent—and a tear jerker. I couldn‘t put it down, even if it did make me cry in public. 😊 This is also another example of me finding out that there is a sequel to this book and immediately ordering it from Amazon. 😁 I have zero self control. 🤷‍♀️

Found this on my TBR list on Goodreads while browsing the library. I don't remember adding it, but I'm happy I did. Looks interesting!

I was determined to like this book after I read a bad review about the white author telling the story from a black slave's POV. I didn't have an issue with that so much as I did the story panning out half way through the book. It seemed melodramatic and the main character became very wishy-washy, when she was so tenacious and firm in herself to start. The book ties up neatly at the end and I will read the companion novel Glory over Everything. ⭐⭐⭐

I listened to this audiobook and absolutely loved it. The narrators did an amazing job telling this story with emotion. This story captivated me from the beginning. Can‘t wait to read the sequel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book has now made my top ten favorites list. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A compelling & gritty book about life on a tobacco plantation at the turn of the 19 century. A girl orphaned during her passage to the United States from Ireland, becomes an indentured servant. Her life is heavily influenced by Belle, a slave who is the daughter of the plantation master. The girl is soon torn between the slaves, who have become her family, and the plantation owners who share her skin colour. A sad but ultimately hopeful story

I liked this book, but I struggle with books that include the point of view of slaves that are written by white authors. The story was good, and though it did discuss some horrible treatment of slaves, there were still a lot of white savior moments.

Lovely orange books with a desert gems cactus to keep them company! 🧡 🌵📙

#orange #color #colorful #books #agathachristie #appointmentwithdeath #kathleengrissom #thekitchenhouse #andyweir #themartian #crystalmack #thepentrals #colorfulbooks

The novel gave insight into the communal living that existed during slavery. It showed how family goes beyond bloodlines and color. I enjoyed that part. However the ending was a disappointment. Some of the characters could have been developed more and would have enjoyed more description. Easy read that keeps you going.

I‘m glad I finally decided to read this novel that has been on my TBR list forever. It quickly pulled me in and I kept wanting to turn the pages. I immediately fell in love with the characters and the pacing of the novel. ⁣
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I'm officially throwing in the towel. And so is Miss Breezy. #dogsoflitsy

Does anyone else feel such dread about bad things that are clearly about to happen that you find yourself avoiding the book you're reading?

This is heart breaking. #CurrentRead

I never expected that working in a library would give me less time to read... But here I am starting my first paper book in months.

Finally getting around to this one. I remember people raving about this book. I‘m liking it fine, but not sure I‘d rave about it. Plus, a book about slavery where one of the main POV characters is a white indentured servant? I‘m thinking that the people who were outraged over ‘Green Book‘ winning the Best Picture Oscar year would have something to say about this. I just find it strange. I‘m listening to the audiobook, which is well done.

This book has been on my TBR stack for at least a year or two now. I'm so glad I finally got to it! Beautifully written, deeply moving, important and powerful! A must read!

How can I ever thank you, Ben, for helping me the way you did?
You my family, Abinia, he replied
My throat was so tight I could scarcely reply. As you are mine, I said 🧡

Last day of teaching for the semester (grading begins next week). Fall colors and crisp air on our walk today. A new audiobook. And takeout for dinner. Not a bad day at all.

#lmpbc wrap up! Loved reading all of your comments on this one!! Heavy topics but I‘m glad you all enjoyed it still! #groupB Hopefully my next book isn‘t too sad @Johanna414 😐!!
@kellyann28 @hes7

I accomplished nothing work related today, but I flew through the second half of this. I enjoyed it s lot more than I initially thought I would. I‘ve got to make some notes and then I‘ll be sending it along #lmpbc #groupb @TheBookKeepers @kellyann28 @hes7