The House Girl
A Novel

I liked the beginning of this book and thought it had a lot of promise. I liked the way the two stories were set during slavery and the present. I often like dual narration and get absorbed by two different viewpoints. I like the topic of slave reparations, wondering at the outset how we could ever......more

I don't often review a book but I have to say something about this one. I just have to wonder about all the 4-star and 5-star ratings here. This book is readable, certainly, but not at all the page-turner I expected from hearing others idolize it. The present-day character, Lina, is a lawyer in a hi......more

What interested me into this story was the timeline in 19th century Virginia before the Civil War. I understand that the present day story has a connection to Josephine in the past timeline, but I don’t care about glass globe with flakes being shaken or a cursor and a computer or preparation for a la......more

It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel . Tara Conklin has beautifully written an emotional story of a young woman slave in Virginia in 1852 and skillfully connects that story to a young woman , an attorney living in present day New York City . She brings history to life with Josephine's sto......more