April 29, 2010

The Help - Kathryn Stockett


I feel like I am one of the few book bloggers left not to have read this one. I have to be shallow and say that one reason I was reluctant to pick this book up was the cover - I think it looks so bland and uninviting! Now that I have read the book the cover - and its significance - resonates with me more.

The Help is broadly a story of the social and political times in Mississippi in the 1960's - but more specifically it is a story of the relationships of and between women and races in that time and place. Three women in particular are the narrators in The Help; Aibileen, an African American woman who has worked as a maid and nanny for white families since her adolescence, Skeeter, a young white society woman who has just returned home from college and Minny (my favourite character in many ways and for many reasons), a middle aged African American woman with a gift for cooking and sassy remarks and comebacks.

Skeeter is in a way the catalyst for the main storyline that takes place in the book. Skeeter wants to be a writer but in her home town of Jackson there aren't a whole lot of opportunities for her to practice her craft so she ends up taking a job writing a domestic and home help advice column for the local paper. As a privileged white woman of the time Skeeter does not have a lot of experience in this area which is why she connects with Aibileen - the maid of one her old school friends. It is Aibileen who gives Skeeter the input for her columns - and a tentative relationship begins between the two women which leads to another writing project - one that is much more important and more dangerous for all of the women involved.

I am blown away by how much this book - both the story and the issues it raised - have impacted on me - it was a powerful reading experience. The story was built beautifully - each character had the time and space devoted to them for them to be able to tell the reader their own story - it felt like a collaborative effort. The book had tension, humour, warmth and connection. The section at the end of the book where the author speaks about her own experiences of growing up in Mississippi, and how she reconciled writing in the voice of an African American woman, was a great way to end the story and added a level of authenticity. I don't know how this author will be able to follow up this effort but I am definitely looking forward to her trying!

83 comments:

Nadia said...

I know what you mean - I put off reading this book for quite some time and eventually gave in and boy was I happy that I did. This book was such a wonderful read. I loved your review of it because it described it so well and like you, Minny was my favorite. I just loved this book for the way it told these women's stories and showed us how volatile that time period was. Stockett did a terrific job with this book, that I am truly excited about her next one. I've heard that they are already casting for the film version of The Help - I just hope that the movie does the book justice. Fingers crossed!

Unknown said...

I loved this book too! I'm not sure that she'll be able to match this with her next book as I think the personal aspect of the story helped it come to life. I look forward to finding out what she does though.

Steph said...

I haven't read this one yet, Karen, so you weren't the last blogger to get to it! I've heard unilaterally positive things about it, though, so I'm looking forward to it!

JaneGS said...

This book is definitely on the TBR list, and like you, I find the cover off-putting and not reflective of what I'm learning the book is about. Great review, btw. Now I'm looking forward to a summer read of this even more :)

Ana S. said...

I'm a member of the now even smaller group of book bloggers who have yet to read it - and you know, though I've never really thought about it I'm completely with you on the cover. It does sound amazing, though, so I'll just have to get over my bias.

Iliana said...

I still haven't read this. Ah, one day though! It sounds fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I still haven't read it, but maybe I'll wait till the hype has died down a bit - I don't want to be influenced by too many raving reviews. But your review shows once again that it deserves to be on Mount TBR.

claire said...

Karen, I don't like the cover at all either. One reason (besides being so popular) that I haven't also picked it up yet.

Bybee said...

I haven't read it yet, either. I'm hoping my book group will choose it for a future read.

Karen said...

Hi Nadia - It was an amazing story - and so well written - 2 of my very favourite things when it comes to books! I'm not sure how I feel about the movie though...

Hi Jackie - I did remember that you had really enjoyed this one.

Hi Steph - I knew there must have been others out there like me!!

Hi Jane - I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Hi Nymeth - trust me - the cover does not do this one justice at all!

Hi Iliana - it's one of those books you hear a lot about it isn't it? That alone can turn me off some books.

Hi the bookaffair - I know what you mean - I think that is partly why I stayed away from this one for so long too.

Hi Claire - I totally understand - I'm not sure what the publishers where thinking about with this cover???

Hi Bybee - I think this one would be a great bookclub read. I almost wish I hadn't read it now so that I could choose it as my bookclub selection for our next read!

Anonymous said...

Lovely review! Overall I am happy I read this book. I loved, loved Minny especially, and her relationship with Celia just about broke my heart. I admit, though, I felt like some of the other characters were too broadly drawn, and I felt like her desire to get in so many details about the 60s sometimes distracted from the story. Overall, though, I really enjoyed it, and it has stayed with me.

Marg said...

I have this book out from the library at the moment, but I am not sure that i am going to get to read it before it has to go back. I should really just sit down and read it. I am sure that I will enjoy it when I do.

Karen said...

Hi eveningreader - thanks so much for your thoughts. I actually thought the characters on the whole were well rounded and written - but mayeb I was just so in to the book my judgement about the writing went out the window!

Hi Marg - I think if you sit down and start this one you won't be able to take it back to the library until it is finished - even with the threat of a library fine!

belinda said...

hi i have heard so many say what a great read i can`t wait to get my head inside it,but i am shall i shan`t i in case somthing might upset me and play on my mind maybe one day eh bel

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You mentioned the significance of the book cover, yet I've not been able to find out what that significance is. My book club brainstormed it, but I'd love to hear what you and everyone else has discovered. Thank you!

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