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The Kitchen House
The Kitchen House | Kathleen Grissom
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review
Yenya1954
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
Pickpick

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

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all_4_kb
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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***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!

Cathyloves2read I hope you like it! I found it to be very good. 8mo
all_4_kb @Cathyloves2read - two pages in and I already love. But I‘m a huge fan of history and historical fiction! 8mo
59 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Bec_lectic
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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!

AnnCrystal 💕🐕💝. 8mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
50 likes4 comments
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Cathyloves2read
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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.

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Cathyloves2read
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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.

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BarkingMadRead
Kitchen House (Original) | Kathleen Grissom
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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 ❄️ ⛄️

BookwormAHN 🤍🩵🤍 11mo
TheBookHippie Yay!!! I didn‘t know how to send snow to you from me here 😅🙃! Enjoy! The books looked good! ❄️☃️❄️ 11mo
BarkingMadRead @TheBookHippie it‘s so cold here today and there‘s hella frost on the ground. I like the snow you sent way better 🥶❄️ 11mo
TheBookHippie @BarkingMadRead 😂❄️😅 11mo
wanderinglynn Fantastic! Happy Yule! ❄️ 11mo
44 likes5 comments
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britabroad
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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.

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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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This book came highly recommended by a fellow history lover. Very excited to get into it.

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GinaKButler
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AmyK1
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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The #letterK was another hard one. I only have a few but this is definitely a good one. #alphabetgame

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

AnnR Good choice! I've read a lot of positive reviews for this HF novel but never seem to get around to reading it. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf!! 2y
23 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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hissingpotatoes
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Bailedbailed

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

hissingpotatoes I really did try, @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks! I can see why people would like the developing found family aspect centered in the kitchen house, but it just wasn't for me. 3y
18 likes1 comment
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whatkhrysreads
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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.

Nute All these years later this remains one of my most favorite stories! So happy to see that you enjoyed it.🤗 3y
whatkhrysreads @Nute I did. Have you read the sequel? 3y
Nute I did read the sequel. I didn‘t enjoy it as much as the first book. The author rose to the occasion…she is a fantastic storyteller and seems to do a great amount of research regarding the historical events and atmosphere, but the protagonist, I didn‘t really feel any empathy towards him. Have you read it? What did you think? 3y
8 likes3 comments
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Auntynanny
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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.

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Lynnsoprano
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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.

Caroline2 I really liked this one too. 💕 4y
57 likes1 comment
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Lynnsoprano
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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It‘s a dreary, rainy day, perfect for reading my book and having a nice cuppa in a Jane Austen mug.

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Lynnsoprano
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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.

megnews I‘ve been reading kindle the last year and recently did the same thing and it was amazing. Also I love this book. 4y
intothehallofbooks I thought the same thing this morning-so much Kindle reading lately. So I also grabbed a print book so I could turn some real pages!! You chose a great book. 4y
Johanna414 I loved this book! 4y
ValerieAndBooks Looks good! 4y
Bandrea I really enjoyed this book! 4y
58 likes5 comments
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Addison_Reads
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Mehso-so

#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. 😕

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes authors forget they need to have an engaging story to go with their message... 4y
32 likes1 comment
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MelKelsey
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

Djspens There‘s a sequel if that helps 🤷🏻‍♀️ loved them both!!! 4y
MelKelsey @Djspens yes!!!! That helps so much!! Thank you!!! 4y
25 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jennbee
The Kitchen House | Kathleen Grissom
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@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!

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Blueberry
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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1. The Kitchen House
2. Kat Kijewski
3. Killing Eve
4. The Kinks
5. Killing Me Softly

#LetterK #ManicMonday @JoScho

JoScho Thanks for playing 🖤☺️ 4y
33 likes1 comment
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S3V3N
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

Deep

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AmyK1
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

canbku Ooooh, i loved this when i read it, but i don't think i could go through those tough moments again! 5y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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OrangeMooseReads
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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.

TamTracy I loved this book! Enjoy! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This was a good book. 5y
48 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Djspens
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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When the author hopes you like her book 😁 #fangirl

aeeklund This is honestly my favorite thing about social media! 5y
Judybskt I loved that book! 5y
38 likes2 comments
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Djspens
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

ljuliel Sounds good. Great review. 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Very much enjoyed this one! 5y
49 likes2 comments
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Djspens
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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This is what I'm doing on this cold, snowy Friday in eastern Iowa. I'm really enjoying this book.

Booknerd2 I‘m in Davenport and it is miserable!!! Where are you? 5y
Djspens @Booknerd2 Monticello and snowing like crazy 5y
Booknerd2 @Djspens here too! My son went to school at Cornell and did some lighting for Jim McDonough‘s Christmas show. I spent a few hours in Monticello one Thanksgiving. 5y
See All 6 Comments
Djspens @Booknerd2 lol I just talked to Jim this week. #smalltown 5y
Booknerd2 @dispensed I‘ve seen his show a couple times. He truly seems like a nice man. Was sure nice to my son. 5y
Djspens @Booknerd2 He's very nice! He has several family members that live and work in our community. A nice family 😁 5y
56 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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smjohns
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
Pickpick

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!!

9 likes1 stack add
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Kshakal
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cinfhen You might like 5y
25 likes2 comments
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Kshakal
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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A perfect evening... a good book, a mound of blankets and chewie!

kspenmoll What a cutie! 😻 5y
brit91 😻😻😻😻😻 5y
44 likes2 comments
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AmberWB
Kitchen House (Original) | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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. 🤷‍♀️

35 likes1 stack add
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kristankremer
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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!

TheBookHippie I enjoyed this one way more than I anticipated!! 5y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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nichollinlove
Kitchen House (Original) | Kathleen Grissom
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Mehso-so

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. ⭐⭐⭐

19 likes1 stack add
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TamTracy
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CharismaRaven13 What is the book about? 5y
59 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Lisa0223
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

Caroline2 I loved this book too. 👍🏻 5y
SW-T Welcome to Litsy 😊 5y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
See All 6 Comments
nichollinlove I'm just picking this one up today! Your review makes me excited to read it! 5y
Lisa0223 @nichollinlove Let me know what you think of it 5y
nichollinlove I finally finished the book, I have mixed feelings about it. Not in my top 10 but I liked it well enough that I want to read Glory over Everything in hopes of revisiting some of my favorite characters. 5y
11 likes6 comments
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Come-read-with-me
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

LatrelWhite On my TBR pile😊 5y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Surban
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
Mehso-so

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.

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RhianJMartin
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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keepingupwiththepenguins What a gorgeous stack!! 😍 😍 😍 5y
RhianJMartin @keepingupwiththepenguins Thank you! So glad you like it! 😊 5y
23 likes2 comments
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DonnaZ
Kitchen House (Original) | Kathleen Grissom
Mehso-so

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.

4 likes1 stack add
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Denisereads75
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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. ⁣

Crazeedi Good story, havent read sequel yet 5y
Caroline2 I really liked this one too. 👍🏻 5y
20 likes2 comments
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bookandbedandtea
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Bailedbailed

I'm officially throwing in the towel. And so is Miss Breezy. #dogsoflitsy

krayoncolorz I‘m an hour and a half in and struggling... 5y
18 likes1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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?

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bookandbedandtea
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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This is heart breaking. #CurrentRead

17 likes1 stack add
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KCorter
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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.

73 likes1 stack add
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azulaco
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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.

annahenke It took awhile for me to be convinced, but I thoroughly loved it by the end. You may change your mind. 6y
19 likes1 comment
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TheHeartlandBookFairy
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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!

megnews One of my all time favorites. Stays with you a long time. 6y
TheHeartlandBookFairy @megnews , I certainly believe it will! 6y
tammysue 💗 6y
26 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BittersweetBooks
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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 🧡

17 likes3 stack adds
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Kmmsellers
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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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.

Susannah Sounds wonderful. That‘s a beautiful tree. I miss autumn colors. My current town tends to conduct autumn overnight. 😢 6y
BarbaraBB Gorgeous picture! 6y
Kmmsellers @Susannah we usually don‘t have much of a fall, either. It‘s been about three years since we‘ve had foliage like this. Even though it‘s late this year (and back up to 74 degrees today), I‘ll take what I can get 😉 6y
Kmmsellers @BarbaraBB thank you! 6y
48 likes4 comments
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TheBookKeepers
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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#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

Lynnsoprano This has been on my TBR and my shelf forever. I really need to read it! 6y
100 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Johanna414
The Kitchen House: A Novel | Kathleen Grissom
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Pickpick

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

kellyann28 I really enjoyed this one! I am a sucker for old southern stories though. 6y
keys_on_fire May have to move this one up the TBR stack! 6y
Johanna414 @kellyann28 it‘s not a genre I‘ve read much of so I didn‘t know what to expect 6y
See All 7 Comments
kellyann28 @Johanna414 I've read so many of the "old southern" genre that people might wonder about me. Lol ?‍♀️ 6y
TheBookKeepers I‘m glad you ended up enjoying it!! Excited to read everyone‘s notes! 6y
Johanna414 @TheBookKeepers I put this in the mail today! 6y
47 likes1 stack add7 comments