The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I know a book is going to be great when one of two things happen, either I am laughing out loud agreeing with everything, or I'm crying.

This book has done what only one other has in the past, had me crying less then ten pages in.The first paragraph of the Kitchen House is fast paced and seems to grab at your throat, hooking you and forcing you to pay attention to the lead character. 

Plot:  Lavinia is an Irish orphan who is brought home to a plantation, where she's given to the kitchen staff.  A white girl in the middle of the 1700's working and living as if she is black. Belle, her new adoptive mother, is the daughter of the plantation owner, but banished to the servants quarters. Both find themselves struggling to live a life torn between these two worlds. As each grows into her own identity, she must face the outside world that is no bigger then the farm they are indebted to. 

This story unfolds in the voices of both women, each chapter a parallel of the one before it, giving you a view from the "big house" (Lavinia)  and the smaller "kitchen house" (Belle).  This novel is not for the weak of spirit. There were moments where I was shocked at passages but loved the fact the author Kathleen Grissom was not afraid to explore the territory. 

Rape, incest, slavery, addiction, faith, hope. 

The story itself covers only a part of their lives, roughly twenty years, but weaves a tapestry that covers more. Not since Anne Rice's Feast of All Saints, have I come across a novel that dared to speak honestly about a time in history that helped to change the structure of things. There were moments when my mind was drawn to a comparison of Jane Austen's  Mansfield Park in the lighter sense, of Lavinia's own improved "banishment" to a more wealthy aunt and uncle.

 As I read this, I found myself asking the questions "what are we willing to do for love? How far are we willing to go? What secrets are we willing to keep? What boundaries are we willing to cross? And what would you do for your family to keep them safe?"

The novel is hauntingly beautiful in it's own spirit and gracious in it's unapologetic tone.

It's a mail bag day

I just got this in the mail today.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grisson.

So, I'll have a review of it soon.

Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachelle Rogers Knight

I was sent this by Sourcebooks the other week.

It is a complete guide to award winning books up to this point, with a break down of award by country and genre.

A lovely jumping off point for building your own library, or for sharing titles you might not have thought of before.

This however, is not all that Read, Remember, Recommend has in store, it in fact is a very thought out book club diary. With sections for your ever expanding "To Read" list, your groups "Read" list with discussion pages, the "Recommend" list, a section for keeping track of books you have lent out or borrowed and the final chapter/section is an overview of internet based sites for online book clubs and internet awards.

This is a well researched diary for anyone just starting out with a book club or who might be wanting to look into what sort of writing awards they might be eligible for.

Rachelle Rogers Knight has put hours of dedicated work into her latest offering, and it's companion diary for teens. The diary is available this week and you can visit her at her website http://www.bibliobabe.com/

Blog's First Award

Thank you Magaly Guerrero at Pagan Culture for this award.

If I understand this right, I need to follow the rules of the award

They would be

* Thank the one who gave you the award

*Share 7 things about yourself

* Pass the award to 15 others

*Let them know you are giving them an award

Well, okay seven things about me...

1) Disney movies make me cry

2) I'm still after 15 years only on chapter 2 of ClockWork Orange -just can't get into the book, loved the movie can't get into the book

3) I'm a Michael Damian fan from years back. I still listen to his self titled album from 1986 on cassette

4) When I had cable I used to watch Designer Guys every day on HGTV

5) My favourite scene in the movie Duets when Paul Giamatti sings "Hello It's Me"

6) I love Earl Grey Tea

7) I adore the character Clem on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I think he's the best of the comedy relief they ever had.

That was the easy part, now for 15 bloggers I adore. Little harder, I can think of 5 off the top of my head.

1) Revenge of the Book Nerds

2) Reading with Tequila

3) Austenesque Reviews

4) Stephanie's Written Word

5) WWE GIRL

Motherhood : movie

Right off you are thinking what does this have to do with anything?

It's a version of Mrs. Dalloway.

For anyone who has not read Mrs. Dalloway, it is about a woman who's life is examined in the course of one day. The end of the day being a grand party she's throwing, and how she views herself in the course of the day.

The movie Motherhood is about a woman who is planning this party for her daughter's 6th birthday, and how her life is

examined in the course of that day leading up to the party.

The husband, the best friend, the society she has to deal with; all which make her doubt herself and her place in life.

Now, I love this idea. Loved it when they did the film The Hours (also based on Mrs Dalloway)

and am loving it in this modern telling.

With the internet, our lives are processed down to one day at a time, and our lives spilled forth sometimes in full for others to view in short areas of time. This movie uses the blog as a way for the lead to examine her own life in less then perfect snips. And we the viewers, are treated to her in every shade of what at first appears to be the beginning of a meltdown but in fact is a celebration.

March 26 2010

I have got to learn not to plan anything beyond a few hours, cause whenever I do, those plans get shuffled and mucked up.

I know, I said the other day I would get to an Emma post.  Well, that did not happen.  Was hoping to also have a Cleaving by Julie Powell half done by now, but I'm only starting it.   But one things for sure, I was not prepared for it. I thought I was, but I wasn't.  What do I mean by that, you are thinking.  Well, I'm a vegetarian so I was prepared for the graphic content of the butchery, but I was not prepared for the erotic way she describes the butchery.  It's like she's describing a lover in a very poetic way.

Wow.

Okay, so now that you all know I am behind on my homework, I'll throw another Emma question at you....  Do you feel that Frank Churchill's behavouir was justified?  

March 23 2010

I got another book in the mail the other day. Read Remember Recommend by Rachelle Rogers Knight. Which I will be reviewing next week.

Yesterday, was my birthday. So mom took me for lunch and while I was out, I wandered into the bookstore and bought myself a copy of Cleaving A Story of Marriage Meat and Obsession by Julie Powell. I am very eager to start reading this one. I adored Julie/Julia. Been reading her blog for awhile now and just love her strength and humour.

This has launched me on a bit of a cooking book addiction. I have a "to buy list" that has about 6 memoirs from Chefs/Food Critics that I hope to have soon.

I'll be doing a Jane Austen post hopefully tomorrow. I just got my hands on a copy of the latest BBC version of Emma and I want a chance to sit down to watch it.