Thursday, November 11, 2010

My Thoughts on The Help by Kathryn Stockett


From Goodreads:

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger.

Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women — mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends — view one another.

A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

My Thoughts:


There aren't enough words to express how much I loved this book. I waited so long to read it, too...just because I usually do not read hyped-up New York Times Bestsellers. Was I ever wrong. This story opened my eyes to what was happening in the early 1960's, right around the time I was born. I fell in love with Aibileen, Minny and Miss Skeeter. When you love the characters in a book it's such a wonderful feeling; although I did not care one bit for Miss Hilly. LOL!

For anyone who HAS NOT yet read The Help....what are you waiting for? Yes....it is that good. Go out and buy a copy for yourself....and several others to give as gifts for the holidays. You will not be disappointed!

10 comments:

Wall-to-wall books said...

Yes, I loved this book! It was my favorite book of the year!
I loved it so much I bought a copy and donated it to the library just so they would have a copy.

Carol said...

I loved this book too!

carol

Marce said...

Great review, that good is it. I do continue to consider this one but like try to stay away from the 'hype'.

I will consider for next year for sure.

Have you read Secret Life of Bees? I think you will enjoy it.

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

How fabulous to hear that you enjoyed this one! I, too, was waiting for the hype to slow a bit before picking this one up -- now I think I must get my copy and begin reading!

Donna said...

I listened to the audiobook and I agree completely with your review. This book was sensational. I can still hear their voices. Great review!

Lisa said...

I can't wait for the movie to come out!

Natalie W said...

I have been dying to read this one. It sounds so good and I've read so many great reviews.
I'll have to work it into my tbr pile!
Natalie :0)

Beth(bookaholicmom) said...

I loved this book as well. I hear they are making it into a movie that will be released in August. I am looking forward to it since it was such a great story! I hope the movie does the book justice!

Anonymous said...

I've heard so many good things about this book that I'm worried it won't live up to my expectations. Glad to see you loved it.

Kim said...

(cute header) Such a great story and characters -- on my 100 Best Books list. Could become a classic.

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