The Help by Kathryn Stockett

[katekintailbc]

The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
(Audio)

I was told the movie was amazing. But I recently signed a petition promising to read the book before seeing the movie. And, really, I'd heard such great things about this book and wanted to read it. So I bumped it up in priority and the hold I put on it at the library came through. Wow. I fell in love with this book HARD. For weeks I kept telling everyone I knew that they had to read it.

The story is told from the perspectives of one white twenty-something woman who moved back home to Jackson, Mississippi after college and two black maids who work in the same town. Through their intersecting lives, we see a full picture of the town and culture from different perspectives. We meet characters we don't like and ones we fall in love with. We cringe at the bathroom initiative and want to snuggle the sweet little kids who love Aibileen and laugh at toilets on the lawn. I was shocked and surprised and horrified and terrified.

After a while, the connection among all the characters turns out to be a book of interviews/stories told by black maids in the same small town of Alabama. Skeeter's idea to write something that's important to her changes EVERYTHING. It breaks barriers, it exposes situations, it creates ill-will, it shows wonderful truths. It was wonderful seeing the maids coming out finally to tell their stories--both good and bad. It was wonderful seeing Miss Skeeter finally realize how she felt about segregation. Mostly, it was wonderful just seeing how these people who didn't even know each other or want to change the world realize that they are dear friends, connected by something that is absolutely amazing and world-changing. My favorite parts were without a doubt Aibileen and her love for her children (and her secret stories and attempt at making Mae Mobley feel worthy). I was moved to tears several times, especially after the book came out.

I know the book & movie have faced criticism for not going further to tell more about black men or to tell about sexual abuses. But the point, as I saw it, was to show what had happened to THESE maids. Yes, they're fictional, but at some point, adding more would make them more like fictional stereotypes. They can only have so much happen to them. And I feel like there was more than enough. Skeeter and her mama's cancer, Aibileen and her son's death, Minny and her abusive husband... but also Hilly and her husband's political aspirations, Celia and her pregnancies, Stuart and his family. There was so much packed into this book, but done so beautifully.

I really connected with the characters and felt like I knew them intimately by the end of the book... but also that there was so much MORE to know about them. They felt like real people I had just spent weeks getting to know because they'd let me in on parts of their lives for a while. I wasn't alive during the time period, so I don't know how accurate a representation it was, but I enjoyed it and thought it was great. I can't wait to see the movie now, though I'm told the ending is different.

Comments

[ingrid glaw (from livejournal.com)]

I've heard that this book was good aswell as the movie. I should follow your lead and read the book then watch the movie.

-iggygirl

[sarah coller (from livejournal.com)]

I've, of course, seen this book all over the place. I'm not sure why I've not been drawn to it like others seem to be. After your review, however, I'm thinking about giving it a try! :)

I'm visiting you for the Swap Bot "Check Out My Blog" swap!

Sarah (lostinavalon @ Swap Bot)

[adpaz.livejournal.com]

I've heard a lot of great things about this book. It's one that I've wanted to pick up for awhile but haven't yet. I'm going to put a request in at my library as well!

Amber (PisceanMama) here for the "Check Out My Reading Blog" swap.