Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House

I had much the same likes and dislikes when it comes to this book as I did for The Kitchen House. The book is beautifully and fluidly written with characters that are likable while still having human flaws. The story, particularly the part set in the south, feels claustrophobic (in a good way). You feel for these characters who are truly trapped in their lives. Once again, however, it was ruined for me by the ending which I found absurdly upbeat and unrealistically optimistic given the time. A more balanced ending would have torn me out of the book less.

One could argue that the plethora of novels that discuss slavery would make yet one more novel seem irrelevant. Yet, with Ms. Grissom’s novels, this sentiment is far from the truth. In fact, her themes are so universal and she explores the institution of slavery with such delicacy that they take on greater importance now more than ever. She excels at creating sympathetic and highly conflicted characters that move beyond caricatures but put names to the nameless and faces to the faceless. If anything, these novels provide an excellent reminder that even though slavery may no longer exist in the United States, it still exists around the world and that these victims face the same biases and harsh realities as those around which Ms. show more Grissom’s two novels revolve.

People will be happy to note that this is a stand-alone novel, and one need not have read The Kitchen House to understand it. There are references to Jamie’s childhood years and his flight from his childhood home, but Ms. Grissom covers all of the necessary backstory. That does not mean readers will not want to read The Kitchen House first. It is an excellent story in its own right and well-deserving of a second or even third reading. However, for those who may be worried about being able to pick up Jamie’s story in what is essentially the middle of it need not continue to do so.

In Jamie, Ms. Grissom gives us a character which will simultaneously raise one’s ire and one’s sympathy. His need to fit into white society, along with his ongoing repulsion about his mother and the black community at large, are difficult to stomach at times as he reflects the same hateful attitudes which he later faces in person. Actions speak louder than words, and some of Jamie’s actions are not the most promising. Yet, there is no doubt Jamie is a good person. He knows his attitudes are shameful, and he feels that shame. He is generous, kind, and caring. He has a large capacity for love and, more importantly, for forgiveness. His journey of self-discovery is uncomfortable and poignant as he comes to some hard truths about his past, his present, and his future.

As for Jamie’s physical journey, it is a thrilling one. The story starts out slowly, establishing Jamie’s position in Philadelphia, his relationships with his servants and with his beloved. However, what seems slow is really just the creation of that important relationship between main character and reader, so that once Jamie faces exposure of his deepest secret readers are firmly involved in the story and willing to overlook Jamie’s weaknesses. Once Jamie hits the Mason-Dixon line, the action is virtually nonstop and the resulting whirlwind is intense in its highs and lows.

What makes the story even better is that the narration shifts between Jamie, Sukey, and Pan. Each of their stories provides greater insight into the world in which they live as well as differing glimpses into slavery. Pan’s innocence and his lack of understanding of his surroundings remains one of the more upsetting sections if only because readers know the truth and are impotent to protect this vibrant and adorable little boy. Sukey’s story is plain ugly but necessary. In spite of everything she recalls and shares, she remains one of the more hopeful characters one will ever meet. Hers is a narrative that would drive other men to madness, but she maintains her dignity, loyalty, and love throughout the most horrific scenes. Sukey is the type of character we should all try to emulate.

In Glory over Everything, Ms. Grissom proves her writing mettle, for it is every bit as good, if not better, than her first book. There is something about Jamie’s struggle that hits close to home for all readers, regardless of color, and its scope is quite ambitious given the complexity of most of the themes. In fact though, Ms. Grissom is more than up to the task of tackling such themes with delicate forthrightness while creating a fantastic thriller at the same time. If fans loves The Kitchen House, they will adore Glory over Everything. show less

Slavery, such an abhorrent institution, the thought that one person can own another and that they feel they have that right is horrifying. While reading this I couldn't help but ask myself if I had been raised during this time what would I have thought. Would I have had the courage to defy convention, become part of the underground railroad? I certainly hope so. There is much cruelty within these pages, but much kindness too, from the least expected places at times.

But it is the characters that made this story for me. Jamie, raised as white only learning of his black heritage as a teen, when he has to, run away. Just loved young Pip and his father Henry, whose fear of slavery made him ever watchful, fearful. Robert, a black man, a man I show more would wish on my side no matter the circumstance and Adelaide, a young Southern girl, who is a handful, opinionated and wonderful. There is much on race of course, the differing opinions, degrees of acceptance, even in the North where slavery was not supposed to be accepted. But laws can be enacted, doesn't mean everyone will change their thinking. A book that at times left me breathless, angry, a book filled with emotion.

The ending felt a bit too good to be true, a little much but I still immensely enjoyed this book. The world as a whole still has such a long way to go despite the fact that we have come a long way from the days of slavery. Or have we? Something to think about.

ARC from Netgalley. show less

I was excited to get an ARC copy of Glory Over Everything from the Publisher because while I have not yet read The Kitchen House, it is a book that I have been wanting to read (and after reading Glory Over Everything, I will go out today and buy the The Kitchen House).

The author really puts the reader inside the story - so much so that I feel like I've actually been living inside this book while reading it. I also never wanted the story to end. I loved the strong narrative drive and the characters. Pan will go down as one of my favorite all-time book characters.

This book made me think a lot about the circumstances in life that are forced upon us as well as the circumstances that we put ourselves in that are based on our own choices. show more The story examines the ability to overcome insurmountable situations through our own determination and resolve but also with the willingness to receive help and kindness from others (as well as also repaying those acts of kindness by then helping others when your situation has turned around).

When I reached the end of this book I wanted to know everything there was about the author, Kathleen Grissom, because I thought she wrote such an amazing book. The author's note was pretty simple and was one short sentence that basically said: "Kathleen is happily rooted in Southside, Virginia, where she continues to write." I read that short sentence to mean: It's not about me, it's about the writing, which in turn, was also the unselfishness and sacrifice that her characters portrayed in the story.

When I saw a woman pick up a copy of another book at Costco the other day and begin to read the back cover while Glory Over Everything sat beside it on the table, I had to insert myself and tell her that she needed to put down that book and read Glory Over Everything and that she wouldn't be disappointed. show less

This is a fantastic riches to rags to riches to rags to realization to redemption story. The characters are very real and the reader can vividly visualize the struggles that Jamie Pyke / James Burton goes through as he comes to terms with his ancestry and identity, battling the racism of slavery and the negro stigma in 19th century America. The book left me wanting more. A highly recommended read.

After having been enthralled with Kathleen Grissom’s ‘The Kitchen House’ a couple of years ago, I was delighted to receive her new sequel, ‘Glory Over Everything’ as a Goodreads Giveaway novel. The story evolves around the life of Jamie Pyke, the son of Marshall, the white Plantation owner and his Negro slave, Belle from ‘The Kitchen House.’ Jamie has escaped from the plantation and now lives as a successful silversmith in Philadelphia. Denying his African American heritage, he poses and lives as a white man, moving up the social ladder in white, privileged society. Jamie falls in love with Caroline from an aristocratic family, and she becomes pregnant causing alarm that the secret about his true race might be show more revealed.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s cherished servant Pan has been kidnapped and taken into slavery, and because of his indebtedness to Pan’s father Henry, he embarks on a journey to recover Pan and to bring him to safety. While much of the novel in the first chapters were interesting, it was really when this journey toward freedom began that I became captivated with the story. The harsh cruelties that the slaves endured, such as when Sukey’s tongue was removed for wailing as her baby was plucked out of her arms, were almost too much to bear. Kathleen Grissom, being such a gifted writer, brings the Underground Railroad experience to life, as she depicts a treacherous journey in the Great Dismal Swamp with all the oozing mud, the eerie sounds of wildlife in the darkness of night, and the mosquitoes relentlessly swarming about.
This novel is intriguing to me because Grissom portrays its main character, Jamie, as a man struggling with racial identity and inner conflict. He has survived an arduous escape from the plantations, but he is not perfect in character. At times he is overcome by fear and succumbs to choices that reveal his human imperfections. What I love about this story, however, is that by the end, Jamie recognizes his mistakes and chooses to live in a more virtuous and fulfilling way. show less

Glory Over Everything, stand-alone sequel to Kathleen Grissom’s grassroots best-selling novel, The Kitchen House, glued this reader to the page. The story revolves around blacks, those passing as whites, and slavery both in Philadelphia and North Carolina, mid 1800s. With each meticulously written word, heartbreaking tragedy and enduring courage pulsate through the plot. Compulsive and propulsive until the last page, Glory Over Everything rewards the reader with period detail, edge-of-your-seat danger, and profoundly human characters.

Jamie Pyke, passing as James Burton, was a minor figure in The Kitchen House. He is now a white aristocrat artist living in the upper echelon in early nineteenth century Philadelphia. He constantly show more attends to societal details, even fresh manicures, as he graces ballrooms and is attended to by house servants. Despite his sophistication, he fears his security in the white elite is tenuous.

Multiple first person narratives inform us of James’ back-story and lives of minor characters. Jamie totters on danger if his true identity is discovered. After incriminating evidence is revealed, life as he knows it ceases. He chooses a virtuous path, returning to the south to rescue Pan, the son of his old friend, Henry.

Tension builds in this historical thriller. We expect the brutality of the slaves to take center stage, but kindness trumps evil in the story. The bravery, sacrifice, and courage of the slaves are impressively aligned with the compassion and humanity of those who help them. The fine line walked by mulatto people living during the time of slavery is brilliantly painted. What happens to Pan in the future is an open door for Ms. Grissom to walk through in what may become her next novel. We shall see. Highly recommended.

I thank the author and Simon and Schuster for an advance reader's edition for my unbiased review. show less