#15 and #16 The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

My dear friend Pam suggested that I read The Kitchen House last year.  As I always do when anyone recommends a book, I immediately pulled up my Amazon account and added the book to my cart (and then clicked "save for later") so that when I need a book, or when someone asks me what I want for Christmas or my birthday, my list is ready! Unfortunately, sort of, I never got to The Kitchen House because I have been so wrapped up in Outlander that I rarely read anything else these days.  I say "unfortunately" because I had the amazing opportunity to attend this years' Junior League Book and Author Dinner and Kathleen Grissom was one of the author's who came to speak.  At the time I wished I had read her book, but after listening to her speak, in a very cryptic, and teasing sort of way, I realized that I did not have to have read it before hand and found myself to be even more excited to read it than before.  So, now that I am done with the 4th Outlander book, and my friend who reads them with me is still reading away at that one, I tackled both The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House and loved them!

The Kitchen House is the simultaneous story of Lavinia (Abinia) and Belle.  Lavinia is a white girl, around the age of seven when she comes to the Plantation as an indentured servant.  Belle is a seemingly white girl who runs the kitchen house.  What we soon learn is that Belle is actually half white and half black (the product of the relationship between the master of the plantation and a servant who's mere presence drives the mistress of the big house insane which is why she is now running the kitchen house) but she is fair and often passes for white.  Their stories are told in alternating chapters and function in my mind to set up all sorts of paradoxes throughout the story: young versus old, child versus adult, white versus black, kitchen house versus big house, and I'm sure there are others that I missed.

As Lavinia and Belle tell their stories, we meet so many other characters, both from the big house and beyond, that are larger than life and remarkable (for better or for worse) in so many ways.  At one point I remember thinking as I read that The Kitchen House would make a great mini-series on TV, like a 19th century The Thornbirds.  There is so much drama and so many moments that make you gasp, I just could imagine it all coming to life on the screen.  I also remember thinking as I was reading that no matter who you were in this time in history, if you weren't the white male in charge, and even sometimes if you were, your life was going to be just plain hard.  Again I say, I am glad I was born in 1972.

When the book started coming to a close, I quickly ordered Glory Over Everything and was glad that I could literally close one and open the next.  But what I quickly discovered, as I have often suspected, is that sequels are never as good as the originals.

Glory Over Everything is the story of James, Pan, and Sukey (also told in alternating chapters but sometimes James gets more than his fair share and will tell several chapters at a time).  While The Kitchen House focused mainly on telling the story of life on the plantation, both in the kitchen house and in the big house, Glory Over Everything tells the stories of slaves on the run as they are helped to freedom (or death in some cases) by The Underground Railroad.  Again, we have a contrast created by the characters: James is the wealthy white man, raised by white parents; Pan and Sukey are both runaway slaves.  Of course, James is the grown-up Jamie that we met from the first book (and is of mixed race which causes all sorts of issues in this new story).  It is really fascinating, and heart-warming on most cases, to see how he turns out, what he has made of his life, and ultimately what sort of man be becomes.

What I found to be the biggest difference between these two stories is the cast of characters.  While I found The Kitchen House to be mini-series material, the action and drama in Glory over Everything wasn't quite as large.  Now, please do not misunderstand.  Glory Over Everything is still an amazing story and one that needed to be told.  We needed to know what happened to Jamie (although I would've liked knowing what happened to everyone from The Kitchen House) and telling the story of The Underground Railroad is a natural progression from the plantation story that came first.  I just felt that The Kitchen House was more powerful and told a more powerful story.

If you get a chance to read anything about Kathleen Grissom before reading these books, you should try to find her telling the story of how Lavinia and Belle came to be. She shared this story at the Book and Author event and it really is interesting how these characters spoke to Grissom and made their stories known.  Or better yet, perhaps you might run into her one day (she lives close in Southern/Southside, VA), and she could tell you the story herself.  I'm sure she would if you just ask! It's a good story!

I hope she plans to write more, this lady from Canada with a knack for telling Virginia History.

Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie

#14: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

Well, I did it!  I've read 4 of the 8 Outlander books! And my house is clean, my family is fed, and no one has been running around naked.  In other words, don't be afraid of these books taking over your life.  Balance is possible!  I promise!

Drums of Autumn picks up where Voyager (a book whose details I can barely recall at this point...time to re-read the summary in the Outlandish Companion...yes I bought it.  It's a great reference for this epic story) leaves off.  And, if I may be so bold, with Outlander (the first book in the series) being first, I think Drums of Autumn may be my second favorite book in the series.  I love the story line, the time travel, the new characters, and the Colonial American history that is present in the book.  It was wonderful!

I must admit, however, that reading DOA while watching Season 2 of Outlander on STARZ was a bit much for me.  It's hard to keep each individual story straight, much less to watch one part of the story while reading the story two books ahead.  I found that I was always going back to the text of DOA to remind myself of the storyline, and even then I have been confused on certain parts of the plot (which I feel certain is because I know things from reading books 3 and 4).  Oh well.  I am sure that I am not the only Outlander fan overwhelmed by immense amounts of details present in this story.

I am taking a break between books 4 and 5 to catch up on other reading.  It's nice to know that Jamie and Claire will be waiting for me when I am ready to resume reading.  I can't believe there are still 4 more books, and a 9th is being written now.  What else could happen to this family?

I can't wait to find out!

Happy reading everyone!
:)Dodie

#13: The Secret Language of Sisters by Luanne Rice

I bought The Secret Language of Sisters at my school's book fair in an attempt to keep up with new children's literature.  Although, I suspect that this particular book falls into the Young Adult category and, as a result, will soon be passed on to my girls for summer reading.  

This book made an impact upon me for a few reasons.  First, the story centers around two sisters who happen to be the exact same ages as my girls.  Second, there's a car accident resulting from texting while driving (my greatest fear).  Third, I had never heard of "locked-in syndrome" and wanted to know more.  

Ruth Ann (Roo) and Mathilda (Tilly) are sisters and best friends.  They really do know each other better than anyone else in the world and are connected in a way that only sisters can be.  When Roo is involved in a tragic car accident, Tilly's world is shattered.  With time and the secret language she and Roo share, she is able to move forward.  

The novel is told in alternating chapters between Roo and Tilly-- a style I particularly enjoy as it gives readers a depth of information we would not get any other way.  Roo's chapters after the accident are hard to read, as she is "locked-in" with a fully functioning brain, thoughts, and feelings; she simply is paralyzed with no means to communicate (how amazingly terrifying this must be). I can honestly say that reading her chapters made me uneasy.  You can feel her fright and panic over her situation.  These chapters are very well written.  Very. 

While this book does not have a traditional happy ending, I think it's realistic in the sense that many tragic accidents can't possibly have a happy ending.  However, the people involved can learn to be happy again.  And Roo and Tilly are able to do just that by the end of the book.  

This is a great read.  It did not read like a child's (teenager's) book yet it was still a quick read.  I needed to know what happened to these girls and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  If you have daughters, or even teenagers who text (haha--what teenager doesn't text?), this book should be on your reading list.  It serves as a poignant warning to all.  

Happy reading everyone! 
:)Dodie