Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Touchstone (Simon & Schuster)
Pages
370
Description
"The author of the New York Times bestseller and beloved book club favorite The Kitchen House continues the story of Jamie Pyke, son of both a slave and master of Tall Oakes, whose deadly secret compels him to take a treacherous journey through the Underground Railroad. Published in 2010, The Kitchen House became a grassroots bestseller. Fans connected so deeply to the book's characters that the author, Kathleen Grissom, found herself being asked over and over "what happens next?" The wait is finally over. This new, stand-alone novel opens in 1830, and Jamie, who fled from the Virginian plantation he once called home, is passing in Philadelphia society as a wealthy white silversmith. After many years of striving, Jamie has achieved acclaim and security, only to discover that his aristocratic lover Caroline is pregnant. Before he can reveal his real identity to her, he learns that his beloved servant Pan has been captured and sold into slavery in the South. Pan's father, to whom Jamie owes a great debt, pleads for Jamie's help, and Jamie agrees, knowing the journey will take him perilously close to Tall Oakes and the ruthless slave hunter who is still searching for him. Meanwhile, Caroline's father learns and exposes Jamie's secret, and Jamie loses his home, his business, and finally Caroline. Heartbroken and with nothing to lose, Jamie embarks on a trip to a North Carolina plantation where Pan is being held with a former Tall Oakes slave named Sukey, who is intent on getting Pan to the Underground Railroad. Soon the three of them are running through the Great Dismal Swamp, the notoriously deadly hiding place for escaped slaves. Though they have help from those in the Underground Railroad, not all of them will make it out alive"--… (more)
Description
The latest New York Times bestseller from the author of the beloved book club favorite The Kitchen House is a heart racing story about a man’s treacherous journey through the twists and turns of the Underground Railroad on a mission to save the boy he swore to protect. Glory Over Everything is “gripping…breathless until the end” (Kirkus Reviews).
The year is 1830 and Jamie Pyke, a celebrated silversmith and notorious ladies’ man, is keeping a deadly secret. Passing as a wealthy white aristocrat in Philadelphian society, Jamie is now living a life he could never have imagined years before when he was a runaway slave, son of a southern black slave and her master. But Jamie’s carefully constructed world is threatened when he discovers that his married socialite lover, Caroline, is pregnant and his beloved servant Pan, to whose father Jamie owes his own freedom, has been captured and sold into slavery in the South.
Fleeing the consequences of his deceptions, Jamie embarks on a trip to a North Carolina plantation to save Pan from the life he himself barely escaped as a boy. With the help of a fearless slave, Sukey, who has taken the terrified young boy under her wing, Jamie navigates their way, racing against time and their ruthless pursuers through the Virginia backwoods, the Underground Railroad, and the treacherous Great Dismal Swamp.
“Kathleen Grissom is a first-rate storyteller…she observes with an unwavering but kind eye, and she bestows upon the reader, amid terrible secrets and sin, a gift of mercy: the belief that hope can triumph over hell” (Richmond Times Dispatch). Glory Over Everything is an emotionally rewarding and epic novel “filled with romance, villains, violence, courage, compassion…and suspense.” (Florida Courier).
The year is 1830 and Jamie Pyke, a celebrated silversmith and notorious ladies’ man, is keeping a deadly secret. Passing as a wealthy white aristocrat in Philadelphian society, Jamie is now living a life he could never have imagined years before when he was a runaway slave, son of a southern black slave and her master. But Jamie’s carefully constructed world is threatened when he discovers that his married socialite lover, Caroline, is pregnant and his beloved servant Pan, to whose father Jamie owes his own freedom, has been captured and sold into slavery in the South.
Fleeing the consequences of his deceptions, Jamie embarks on a trip to a North Carolina plantation to save Pan from the life he himself barely escaped as a boy. With the help of a fearless slave, Sukey, who has taken the terrified young boy under her wing, Jamie navigates their way, racing against time and their ruthless pursuers through the Virginia backwoods, the Underground Railroad, and the treacherous Great Dismal Swamp.
“Kathleen Grissom is a first-rate storyteller…she observes with an unwavering but kind eye, and she bestows upon the reader, amid terrible secrets and sin, a gift of mercy: the belief that hope can triumph over hell” (Richmond Times Dispatch). Glory Over Everything is an emotionally rewarding and epic novel “filled with romance, villains, violence, courage, compassion…and suspense.” (Florida Courier).
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-04-05
Physical description
370 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
1476748454 / 9781476748450
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member lit_chick
2016, Simon & Schuster Audio, Read by Santino Fontana
Having thoroughly enjoyed Grissom’s [The Kitchen House], I was compelled to immediately pick up [Glory Over Everything]. The novel follows the life of James Pyke, illegitimate child of Belle (from the former novel) and Marshall Pyke, heir to
James falls in love with Caroline, a young woman from an aristocratic family, and, when she becomes pregnant, he is much alarmed (and rightfully so) that his true roots will be revealed. At the same time, James becomes guardian to young Pan, the son of Henry, a former acquaintance and slave who once saved James’ life. When Pan is stolen and sold into slavery, Pyke begins a treacherous journey via the Underground Railroad to recover his young ward. He will encounter persons from Tall Oaks, including some family members, but most notably Sukey. At the novel’s conclusion, both James and Pan will know an entirely new life.
What I Loved: Once Grissom introduced the Underground Railroad, I was completely enthralled and didn’t want to put the novel down. It was wonderful to be re-introduced to Sukey. And the novel’s conclusion made me want to stand up and cheer.
Highly recommended.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Grissom’s [The Kitchen House], I was compelled to immediately pick up [Glory Over Everything]. The novel follows the life of James Pyke, illegitimate child of Belle (from the former novel) and Marshall Pyke, heir to
Show More
the Tall Oaks Plantation. James, whose skin is white, has been raised by his maternal grandmother in the big house – he knows nothing of his negro heritage until he is thirteen years old. Shortly thereafter, he murders Marshall – an unconscionably cruel man – and flees North, where he eventually inherits a prosperous silver business and lives amongst fine society in Philadelphia. James falls in love with Caroline, a young woman from an aristocratic family, and, when she becomes pregnant, he is much alarmed (and rightfully so) that his true roots will be revealed. At the same time, James becomes guardian to young Pan, the son of Henry, a former acquaintance and slave who once saved James’ life. When Pan is stolen and sold into slavery, Pyke begins a treacherous journey via the Underground Railroad to recover his young ward. He will encounter persons from Tall Oaks, including some family members, but most notably Sukey. At the novel’s conclusion, both James and Pan will know an entirely new life.
What I Loved: Once Grissom introduced the Underground Railroad, I was completely enthralled and didn’t want to put the novel down. It was wonderful to be re-introduced to Sukey. And the novel’s conclusion made me want to stand up and cheer.
Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member keyboardscoffee
I picked up The Kitchen House a couple of years ago on a whim from the used bookstore. I love me a good historical fiction, and it DEFINITELY falls into that category. Fast forward to this year and when Simon & Schuster reached out asking if I’d like to read Kathleen Grissom’s newest novel,
I looked up a couple of reviews of The Kitchen House to re-familiarize myself with the story, but it turns out I didn’t need to. All I had to do was look at the cover and I could remember the plot, characters and feelings I had reading it. Since I read so much, this rarely happens. It’s a testament to Grissom’s writing.
I received Glory Over Everything during the week, and made sure to clear my schedule so I could start it on the weekend. All it took me was one afternoon. ONE AFTERNOON!!! I don’t remember the last time I flew through a book like that.
Although you don’t have to read The Kitchen House to understand Glory Over Everything, I suggest you do. It helps set a backstory for Jamie, and it helps immerse you in the story so much more. I was able to feel what Jamie was feeling easier, and understand why he did certain things. At times when he was thinking back to his plantation days, I felt like we were two friends reminiscing, because I had followed him on that journey as well.
The story is told mostly from two points of view: Pan and Jamie’s. Even though I’m not normally a fan of multi-viewpoints, it worked well. They were each distinctive viewpoints, and I like that Jamie’s started a little farther back than Pan’s, so it wasn’t really overlapping. They intertwined nicely.
Pan I liked, although I found him a little annoying. Mind you he is a child, and a pretty sheltered one at that, so I can understand. But I gave him a lot of side eye throughout the novel. Other than that, I found him cute and I got really super nervous anytime I thought something bad might happen to him.
Jamie I didn’t mind at all. His growth in character was a little sudden and didn’t feel 100% genuine for me, but overall it didn’t detract from my liking of him. It was interesting to have him as a little boy in The Kitchen House, and then see him as a man in Glory Over Everything. You can definitely see how the past has shaped who he is today.
Overall, I loved Glory Over Everything, just like I loved The Kitchen House. Actually, I might have liked it more. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, pick this one up.
Show More
Glory Over Everything, I said heck yes!I looked up a couple of reviews of The Kitchen House to re-familiarize myself with the story, but it turns out I didn’t need to. All I had to do was look at the cover and I could remember the plot, characters and feelings I had reading it. Since I read so much, this rarely happens. It’s a testament to Grissom’s writing.
I received Glory Over Everything during the week, and made sure to clear my schedule so I could start it on the weekend. All it took me was one afternoon. ONE AFTERNOON!!! I don’t remember the last time I flew through a book like that.
Although you don’t have to read The Kitchen House to understand Glory Over Everything, I suggest you do. It helps set a backstory for Jamie, and it helps immerse you in the story so much more. I was able to feel what Jamie was feeling easier, and understand why he did certain things. At times when he was thinking back to his plantation days, I felt like we were two friends reminiscing, because I had followed him on that journey as well.
The story is told mostly from two points of view: Pan and Jamie’s. Even though I’m not normally a fan of multi-viewpoints, it worked well. They were each distinctive viewpoints, and I like that Jamie’s started a little farther back than Pan’s, so it wasn’t really overlapping. They intertwined nicely.
Pan I liked, although I found him a little annoying. Mind you he is a child, and a pretty sheltered one at that, so I can understand. But I gave him a lot of side eye throughout the novel. Other than that, I found him cute and I got really super nervous anytime I thought something bad might happen to him.
Jamie I didn’t mind at all. His growth in character was a little sudden and didn’t feel 100% genuine for me, but overall it didn’t detract from my liking of him. It was interesting to have him as a little boy in The Kitchen House, and then see him as a man in Glory Over Everything. You can definitely see how the past has shaped who he is today.
Overall, I loved Glory Over Everything, just like I loved The Kitchen House. Actually, I might have liked it more. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, pick this one up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Grissom’s debut - The Kitchen House - became a runaway hit via word-of-mouth and book club recommendations. This book follows one of the characters in the first book over several decades.
There is a good story idea here – Jamie / James is a “runaway” slave who is so light-skinned as to be
There are a number of twists and turn in the plot and Grissom keeps the action moving forward. There are scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. I was caught up in the story and wanted to know how things would turn out, and how the characters would fare. However …
Grissom uses multiple narrators. This is not an easy technique to employ successfully. Grissom has said in numerous interviews that her characters “spoke” to her, and revealed the story in their own way. But the result is that there is less cohesion in the story-telling. The ending felt rushed to me. There was so much danger and uncertainty even 30 pages from the ending, and while there is some ambiguity (not a bad thing given the story arc) about what will happen in the future, it seemed to me that Grissom was trying too hard to wrap things up with a pretty bow.
In summary, it’s a good story and kept me turning pages, but the writing fell short. It earns a solid 3 stars.
There is a good story idea here – Jamie / James is a “runaway” slave who is so light-skinned as to be
Show More
able to pass for white, and he makes a success of himself in Philadelphia. When the young Negro boy he has taken into his household disappears, the boy’s father pleads with James to go to the south and retrieve the boy. James hires people to search for the boy, but is distracted by his own troubles – an indiscretion threatens to reveal his secret and destroy the life he has built. There are a number of twists and turn in the plot and Grissom keeps the action moving forward. There are scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. I was caught up in the story and wanted to know how things would turn out, and how the characters would fare. However …
Grissom uses multiple narrators. This is not an easy technique to employ successfully. Grissom has said in numerous interviews that her characters “spoke” to her, and revealed the story in their own way. But the result is that there is less cohesion in the story-telling. The ending felt rushed to me. There was so much danger and uncertainty even 30 pages from the ending, and while there is some ambiguity (not a bad thing given the story arc) about what will happen in the future, it seemed to me that Grissom was trying too hard to wrap things up with a pretty bow.
In summary, it’s a good story and kept me turning pages, but the writing fell short. It earns a solid 3 stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Laine-Cunningham
April 2016 by Simon & Schuster
After reading The Kitchen House, millions of readers were wanting to hear more about the mixed-race escaped slave who had been raised white until his father sold him off.
Now they have another gripping story from Grissom. In this one, James Pyke has built a life for
He has also taken in the son of the man who helped him when he first arrived in the city. The other man is also an escaped slave, and both men constantly fear that the slave hunters will track them down, reveal their secrets, and return them to the South.
When the boy Pan is kidnapped by slave traders and taken south to be sold, James is the only person who can hope to find him and eventually return his freedom. What follows is two tales interwoven, and each tale offers its own rewards. When the two stories again merge, readers are swept along to a thundering climax that only Grissom could provide.
The only flaw with this work is found in the opening segment. The work is paced quite slowly here as readers are introduced to everything James has to lose. However, by the opening of the third chapter, readers are well entrenched in two lives. Readers who continue on will be richly rewarded with a novel that is compelling and strongly paced to the end.
5 stars!
Readers who are interested in other stories of lives stolen away and snatched back after great effort should consider The Family Made of Dust, which deals with the aftermath of Australia's twentieth-century genocidal policies against Aboriginal tribes. Readers who are interested in other groups that have built America and continue to make it strong will be interested in the contemporary story of a Native American man who must save his sister and his lover from a peyote cult in Reparation: A Novel of Love, Danger and Devotion.
After reading The Kitchen House, millions of readers were wanting to hear more about the mixed-race escaped slave who had been raised white until his father sold him off.
Now they have another gripping story from Grissom. In this one, James Pyke has built a life for
Show More
himself as a white man. Working as a jeweler, he has carved out a place among the aristocracy of Philadelphia. He has also taken in the son of the man who helped him when he first arrived in the city. The other man is also an escaped slave, and both men constantly fear that the slave hunters will track them down, reveal their secrets, and return them to the South.
When the boy Pan is kidnapped by slave traders and taken south to be sold, James is the only person who can hope to find him and eventually return his freedom. What follows is two tales interwoven, and each tale offers its own rewards. When the two stories again merge, readers are swept along to a thundering climax that only Grissom could provide.
The only flaw with this work is found in the opening segment. The work is paced quite slowly here as readers are introduced to everything James has to lose. However, by the opening of the third chapter, readers are well entrenched in two lives. Readers who continue on will be richly rewarded with a novel that is compelling and strongly paced to the end.
5 stars!
Readers who are interested in other stories of lives stolen away and snatched back after great effort should consider The Family Made of Dust, which deals with the aftermath of Australia's twentieth-century genocidal policies against Aboriginal tribes. Readers who are interested in other groups that have built America and continue to make it strong will be interested in the contemporary story of a Native American man who must save his sister and his lover from a peyote cult in Reparation: A Novel of Love, Danger and Devotion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Really enjoyed this continuation of The Kitchen House! The story follows Jamie Pyke, beginning in Philadelphia, and as he travels south to rescue Pan, a young boy whose father entrusted Jamie with his care. Exciting story, beautifully written.
LibraryThing member Alphawoman
If I could have read it in one sitting I definitely would have. Story of attachments despite adversity. Triumph of good over evil. Great story. Tears of sadness and joy streamed down my face the entire book.
LibraryThing member alekee
I loved the Kitchen House and when I saw there was a sequel, well, all I can say is it didn’t disappoint.
If you read the first book you know why James Pyke fled to Philadelphia, and the feeling he had for his real mother Belle, well now you can continue, and you will be staying up late and page
This story answers some questions, and gives us more, but there are still some tragic happenings, and then the author gives us a conclusion to both books! This book does have it all and you will come away with a Wow!
Now I wish I was able to continue on in the lives of those I have come to know and care about!
If you read the first book you know why James Pyke fled to Philadelphia, and the feeling he had for his real mother Belle, well now you can continue, and you will be staying up late and page
Show More
turning!This story answers some questions, and gives us more, but there are still some tragic happenings, and then the author gives us a conclusion to both books! This book does have it all and you will come away with a Wow!
Now I wish I was able to continue on in the lives of those I have come to know and care about!
Show Less
LibraryThing member nyiper
There could be a possible further book in this two book series---except for the fact that even in today's world we haven't begun to finish solving the problems that James is going to face at the end of this book. Wonderful to read because the author's words flow, full of very descriptive details of
Show More
everything that is happening from each character's point of view. As others reviewers have mentioned, I wish I had taken a quick look back at the first book to remind myself of that story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sharn
Did not disappoint but it's been so long since I read The Kitchen House that I probably should've skimmed through it to refresh my memory because even with the authors help in this I still struggled to remember. Just as in The Kitchen House, this book offers unforgettable, lovable characters that
Please let this be a trilogy.
Show More
you root for and care for their well being.Please let this be a trilogy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Karin7
A number of years after the end of The Kitchen House, Belle’s son, Jamie, is a wealthy artist living as a white man when Henry, an ex-slave who helped Jamie when he first arrived, comes to him asking him to hire his son Pan after Henry’s wife died. But when Pan is kidnapped by slavers, Jamie
While there are some good things in this novel, I found it extremely difficult to like Jamie, even though I thought I should. For someone supposedly so smart, he really isn’t always the brightest bulb in the box. Not that I can’t like someone who isn’t, of course, but it didn’t work well for him. And while the writing is solid, there is nothing particularly special about it. I think this might be due in part to the author having been born and raised about 140 km from where my dad was born and raised in Saskatchewan. In heart Grissom is very rooted where she lives now, but I didn’t feel it in her writing. I’d love to see Grissom write something set in the Southern US written from a Canadian POV; I think that could work well for he
Show More
has to decide if he should risk everything he has and avoid getting caught in order to rescue Pan. Pan, injured, ends up in a sickhouse being cared for by Sukey, who was sold by Jamie’s father out of spite.While there are some good things in this novel, I found it extremely difficult to like Jamie, even though I thought I should. For someone supposedly so smart, he really isn’t always the brightest bulb in the box. Not that I can’t like someone who isn’t, of course, but it didn’t work well for him. And while the writing is solid, there is nothing particularly special about it. I think this might be due in part to the author having been born and raised about 140 km from where my dad was born and raised in Saskatchewan. In heart Grissom is very rooted where she lives now, but I didn’t feel it in her writing. I’d love to see Grissom write something set in the Southern US written from a Canadian POV; I think that could work well for he
Show Less
LibraryThing member Micareads
An amazing follow up to The Kitchen House. This story follows Jamie (now James) after he has established himself as a white man and the lengths he goes to to keep his word. If you loved The Kitchen House then this book is a must read.
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
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
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 More
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. 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
LibraryThing member haymaai
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
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 More
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 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
LibraryThing member SheilaCornelisse
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
Show More
and the negro stigma in 19th century America. The book left me wanting more. A highly recommended read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
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
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 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 More
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 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
LibraryThing member she_climber
I absolutely loved The Kitchen House and could not have been more surprised and excited to learn that Grissom had written another book continuing the story. I didn't remember much, if any, of the particular details of The Kitchen House but it was not an issue at anytime during the story.
Glory is
Never expecting a sequel to Kitchen House, I am now hopeful that Grissom will continue this into a series. These are stories that need to be heard and she does it so wonderfully.
Glory is
Show More
such a wonderfully spun story that I quickly found myself caught up in it all. The characters are all so rich as is the history, that I just found myself pulled in. I did recall that The Kitchen House was particularly violent and graphic at points in the story and I felt like Glory while still, what I assume to be, historically accurate, was not so detailed in the atrocities committed against the slaves.Never expecting a sequel to Kitchen House, I am now hopeful that Grissom will continue this into a series. These are stories that need to be heard and she does it so wonderfully.
Show Less
LibraryThing member EllenH
Kathleen Grissom's continuation of "The Kitchen House" was well told and the characters done well. It kept the tension up, I didn't want to put it down.
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
This is a sequel to Kathleen Grissom's "The Kitchen House" but you do not have to have read that book to enjoy this one. I loved the Kitchen House and enjoyed this book just as much. The story picks up many years later as we follow the life of Jaime Pyke who has moved to Philadelphia. As a runaway,
When Henry comes to James' house for help, he feels he must help him to pay back the debt he feels he owes him. Henry's son, Pan, has been working for James as a houseboy and has disappeared. Henry thinks he has been taken by slave traders and put on a boat south to be sold as a slave. There are other things going on in James' life at this point, but I do not want to spoil the story so will not share, that put him in extreme danger if he goes after Pan, but he follows through with his promise to Henry.
Not only does the story does go back and forth in time but it is told from different points of view by several of the characters from this book as well as others who were also in The Kitchen House. This was not a book that could be read in one sitting. It is painful to read about the conditions and situations that the African American people were going through during this time. The characters that I disliked in the first book, Marshall the plantation owner, Rankin the overseer and his son Jake were either in the story or were referred to in this one. I still hated them. The characters of Belle, Sukey, Miss Lavinia and her daughter Ellie also appeared in this book and either helped or found help for James and others in the book. They are still heroes in my eyes.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review that you do not have to have read The Kitchen House to enjoy this book, but I do encourage you to read it first so you have a full picture of this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Show More
he was hidden away by Henry, also a runaway while he is healing from a vicious attack shortly after arriving in Philadelphia. Henry takes him into the city and he lands a job as an apprentice to a silversmith, Mr. Burton. Being able to pass himself off as white allows himself to be part of the Philadelphia Society. As he works for him and lives in his house, he eventually works his way into the hearts of both Mr. and Mrs. Burton. He is eventually adopted by the Burtons. When the Burtons die he inherits the business, the house and their estate. The story goes back and forth between the present and Jamie's past life on Twin Oaks. This gave us the background we needed to follow the story whether we had read the previous book or not. When Henry comes to James' house for help, he feels he must help him to pay back the debt he feels he owes him. Henry's son, Pan, has been working for James as a houseboy and has disappeared. Henry thinks he has been taken by slave traders and put on a boat south to be sold as a slave. There are other things going on in James' life at this point, but I do not want to spoil the story so will not share, that put him in extreme danger if he goes after Pan, but he follows through with his promise to Henry.
Not only does the story does go back and forth in time but it is told from different points of view by several of the characters from this book as well as others who were also in The Kitchen House. This was not a book that could be read in one sitting. It is painful to read about the conditions and situations that the African American people were going through during this time. The characters that I disliked in the first book, Marshall the plantation owner, Rankin the overseer and his son Jake were either in the story or were referred to in this one. I still hated them. The characters of Belle, Sukey, Miss Lavinia and her daughter Ellie also appeared in this book and either helped or found help for James and others in the book. They are still heroes in my eyes.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review that you do not have to have read The Kitchen House to enjoy this book, but I do encourage you to read it first so you have a full picture of this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cwhisenant11
Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House
By Kathleen Grissom
Narrated By Santino Fontana, Heather Alicia Simms, Madeleine Maby, and Kyle Beltran
Published 2016 by Simon & Schuster Audio
12 hours and 5 minutes
A few years ago, I listened to The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and I was blown
In Glory Over Everything, the main character of the story is Jamie Pyke. Although some of the characters are the same as in The Kitchen House, this book could be read as a stand-alone. Having read The Kitchen House first, and the bar being set so high, it’s difficult to write my thoughts about Glory Over Everything without comparing it to The Kitchen House. I thought this book was almost as gripping as the first but I wasn’t left with the same wow factor. I’ve thought a lot about this since I finished the book and the missing piece for me was the narration. The Kitchen House had two narrators and the performance was part of what made that book so outstanding. This book had 4 narrators, all of which were good except for the voice of Jamie. I’m not sure exactly what it was about his reading that I disliked but it affected my overall perspective of the book. Nevertheless, it was still a great book and I’m still a big fan of Kathleen Grissom.
By Kathleen Grissom
Narrated By Santino Fontana, Heather Alicia Simms, Madeleine Maby, and Kyle Beltran
Published 2016 by Simon & Schuster Audio
12 hours and 5 minutes
A few years ago, I listened to The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and I was blown
Show More
away. I immediately went to look for other books by this other only to discover that this was her first and only published novel. When I heard she had written a second book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. In Glory Over Everything, the main character of the story is Jamie Pyke. Although some of the characters are the same as in The Kitchen House, this book could be read as a stand-alone. Having read The Kitchen House first, and the bar being set so high, it’s difficult to write my thoughts about Glory Over Everything without comparing it to The Kitchen House. I thought this book was almost as gripping as the first but I wasn’t left with the same wow factor. I’ve thought a lot about this since I finished the book and the missing piece for me was the narration. The Kitchen House had two narrators and the performance was part of what made that book so outstanding. This book had 4 narrators, all of which were good except for the voice of Jamie. I’m not sure exactly what it was about his reading that I disliked but it affected my overall perspective of the book. Nevertheless, it was still a great book and I’m still a big fan of Kathleen Grissom.
Show Less
LibraryThing member countrylife
Just as good as [The Kitchen House]. A young boy, having escaped slavery, is passing as a white apprentice in Philadelphia. He comes of age, still unsuspected, when his house boy disappears, sending him back south to search. Vivid characters and settings. Believable and well-rendered story. Highly
Show More
recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member hollysing
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
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 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 More
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 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
LibraryThing member KarenHerndon
Sequel to The Kitchen House that follows up on life of African American who escaped plantation and slavery to Penn. and lives as a white man.
Just as good as her previous novel and another I did not want to put down.
Just as good as her previous novel and another I did not want to put down.
LibraryThing member blmyers
The art of story-telling perfected! Hard to put down; I came to know the characters intimately and cared about them deeply. Now I have to go back and read [book:The Kitchen House|6837103]The Kitchen House to get the rest of the story. [author:Kathleen Grissom|3067074] has a new fan!
LibraryThing member marquis784
It took me awhile to get through this book. It was a great follow up with many of the characters from the Kitchen House. There were parts of the book that I felt dragged on longer than needed. Overall, I enjoyed the book but there is indication that another book may be in the future.
LibraryThing member janismack
I was surprised how much I liked this book. It started a bit slowly but as you went deeper into the story, the caracters came alive. This was an interesting story that kept me interested and wanting to know what would happen to these caracters. I liked all of the main caracters and thought their
Show More
backstories well developed. Show Less
Call number
FIC J Gri