William Morrow
February 2013
Format: ARC Paperback, 336 pages
First line: Mister hit Josephine with the palm of his hand across her left cheek and it was then she knew she would run.
From the back cover: Two remarkable women, separated by more than a century, whose lives unexpectedly intertwine...
2004: Lina Sparrow, the daughter of an artist, is an ambitious young lawyer working on a historic class-action lawsuit seeking reparations for the descendants of American slaves.
1852: Josephine is a seventeen-year-old house slave who tends to the mistress of a Virginia tobacco farm - an aspiring artist named Lu Anne Bell, whose paintings will become the subject of speculation and controversy among future collectors.
Lina's search to find a plaintiff for her case will introduce her to the story of Josephine. Was she the real talent behind her mistress's now-famous portraits? It is a question that will take Lina from the corridors of a modern corporate law firm to the sleek galleries of the New York City art world to the crumbling remains of an old plantation house. Along the way, Lina will unearth long-buried truths about Josephine and about herself...and just maybe achieve long-overdue justice.
My thoughts: This is Tara Conklin's debut novel and it was captivating from page one. From the stunning cover of a silhouette of a woman against a background that gives the appearance of wallpaper, to the two unique women who drive this story, I had a hard time putting down this book.
The House Girl takes place during two different time periods - 2004 where young lawyer Lina is working on a ground breaking case trying to make reparations to descendants of slaves; and 1852 where Josephine Bell, 17 year old slave in Viriginia, takes care of the mistress of the house. Seamlessly flowing back and forth between the two time periods, the story propels itself forward without the feeling that you are missing anything. The stories come together, each giving just a little bit to enhance the other story.
Lina attends an art gala showcasing the work of Lu Anne Bell. It appears there is some controversy surrounding these paintings, as it has come to light that perhaps the paintings were not done by Lu Anne, but by Josephine Bell, Lu Anne's house slave. Believing that this could help her case, Lina travels to Virginia to look into this more closely, hoping to find any information she can on Josephine and her descendants.
I really enjoyed the history that was part of this book. Having recently read Jennifer Chiaverini's newest book, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker, I had come away with a newfound interest in this time period. With this book, the history concentrates solely on the slaves and their life. I loved how Tara Conklin used letters to help tell the story - it adds another dimension to the book. This story has a little bit of everything - rich history, a mystery or two, and even a little romance. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what Tara Conklin writes next - she is one to watch!
I received a complimentary copy of The House Girl by Tara Conklin from Trish at TLC Book Tours.
About the author: Tara Conklin has worked as a litigator in the New York and London
offices of a major corporate law firm but now devotes her time to
writing fiction. She received a BA in history from Yale University, a JD
from New York University School of Law, and a Master of Law and
Diplomacy from the Fletcher School (Tufts University). Tara Conklin’s
short fiction has appeared in the Bristol Prize Anthology and Pangea: An Anthology of Stories from Around the Globe. Born in St. Croix, she grew up in Massachusetts and now lives with her family in Seattle, Washington.
Find out more about Tara at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
Find out more about Tara at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
To see who else is participating in Tara Conklin's The House Girl tour, click here.
Want to know what inspired Tara Conklin to write The House Girl? Listen to this short podcast to find out: http://files.
Thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours, I have one copy of The House Girl to give away to my readers.
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