Kathryn Stockett's book, The Help, is a wonderful, funny, insightful, entertaining read. This book is an amazing accomplishment. It is an important work, one that everyone should read.
The book is written from the perspective of three different women in Mississippi in 1962. Aibileen, a black maid who has lost her own family, but has spent her years raising white ones. She follows the orders that she is given, but inside, it is starting to leave her bitter and broken. Minny, Aibileen's friend and another of the maids, has never been able to hold back her thoughts and has gone from job to job because of it. And Skeeter, a white woman who has returned from college with a degree in journalism and a desire for a very important story to be told. These three women unite on a journey that they hope will change the landscape of the south in the 60s.
There are other notable characters too - the white socialites these maids work for, and Skeeter is supposed to be a part of, but doesn't really fit in with anymore. These women who think that they are above everyone else, who can have the black maids raise their children and clean their homes, but not use the same bathroom. And one white woman who is from the other side of the tracks but married into the socialite circle, who can't seem to get it right and has a secret to protect.
This book was wonderful from the start. Sometimes it was hard to read, because of the nature of the story being told. I loved some of the characters and hated others. I cheered for them and held my breath waiting to see what would happen. I laughed out loud, seethed at the injustices and cried. This novel will end up a classic. For sure, it will be on my favorites list this year.
Happy Reading!
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