koalathebear's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't sure I was going to like this novel because it looked a little Worthy and didactic but once I started reading, Stockett's writing style is so light and engaging that despite only intending to read a chapter before bed, I ended up reading three and then finishing it the next day.
The novel is certainly a novel about and against racism and prejudice but the richness of the novel also stems from Stockett's evocative writing, from the voices of the women whose stories she is purporting to tell. Both Aibileen and Minny seemed very real to me, as did the very tragic and pitiful Miss Celia. Interestingly enough, the "main" voice - Skeeter is probably the least three dimensional of the characters even though I still liked her very much.
The book is set in 1962 Mississippi. A young woman named Skeeter has just returned home after graduating. Despite having a degree, this is worth little in her mother's eyes - her mother just wants her to get married. Skeeter's distressed to discover that her beloved maid Constantine who raised her and has always been more of a mother-figure than her own mother has disappeared. No one will tell her where she's gone.
Written in the first person, chapters in "The Help" are told from the perspective of the three main women - Aibileen and Minny, who are black maids in Jackson, Mississippi and Skeeter, the college-educated woman who is an aspiring writer.
Tall, gawky and not particularly pretty, Skeeter's the only one of her friendship group who is unmarried - her friends Hilly and Elizabeth both being married with children. Aibileen works for Elizabeth, one of Skeeter's friends and a particularly unmaternal mother. Minny worked for Mrs. Walters, Hilly's mother, until Hilly successfully moves her mother into a nursing home and fires Minny, telling everyone that Minny is a thief and warning them not to hire her. Hilly's the 'leader' of sorts of the group, being attractive, socially well-connected and very dominating.
Minny eventually finds employment with Celia, a very troubled and fragile young woman with many issues and problems.
When Skeeter initially attempts to get published, her list of suggested topics are somewhat bland and uninteresting. It's only when she takes it into her head to tell the stories of the black maids working in white homes does she get a nibble of interest. I loved reading about the world through the eyes of Aibilen and Minny and 'hearing' their voices. I was halfway through the book when curiosity made me Google the author to see if she was black or white. It didn't really matter - I was just curious.
Aibilen and Minny risk dismissal and much worse as they tell their stories to Skeeter. Around them, blacks are being beaten up for using white toilets, for getting ideas above their station - one is shot in the back. It's a terrifying and unjust world, even as Aibileen tells one of her charges a fanciful tale about Martian Luther King, a being who is discriminated against because his skin is green.
For me, I suppose Skeeter never really rings true because for a period of time she is 'socialising' with Aibileen and Minny as well as Hilly and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is weak and bland, Hilly sounds like a complete and utter psychopath with very few redeeming qualities. It may be true that Skeeter didn't have a lot of options for friends in that town but it's hard to feel much liking for someone who would choose to be friends with and socialise with the likes of Hilly in particular.
Furthermore, for me she didn't really start writing the book for noble reasons. It wasn't to smash racism or give a voice to women who were being silenced - she wanted to be published and this happened to be a hot topic. I don't doubt that she genuinely felt bad and did like the women - but I can't help thinking that she was using them in a way for her own personal gains and she had a possibility of escape elsewhere if things went bad but these women were trapped.
Nonetheless, it's a really good read. I particularly loved reading Minny's frustration as she is dealing with the helpless and very damaged Miss Celia. I liked how her initial disdain eventually transforms to pity and then affection.
The story of Constantine unfortunately happens in the wings most of the time so it was difficult to get a sense of the woman. I liked how Stockett did manage to bring humanity to Skeeter's parents - to her father and even to her mother to a certain extent, even though her mother in particular was imbued with the bigotted views of the time.
The novel is certainly a novel about and against racism and prejudice but the richness of the novel also stems from Stockett's evocative writing, from the voices of the women whose stories she is purporting to tell. Both Aibileen and Minny seemed very real to me, as did the very tragic and pitiful Miss Celia. Interestingly enough, the "main" voice - Skeeter is probably the least three dimensional of the characters even though I still liked her very much.
The book is set in 1962 Mississippi. A young woman named Skeeter has just returned home after graduating. Despite having a degree, this is worth little in her mother's eyes - her mother just wants her to get married. Skeeter's distressed to discover that her beloved maid Constantine who raised her and has always been more of a mother-figure than her own mother has disappeared. No one will tell her where she's gone.
Written in the first person, chapters in "The Help" are told from the perspective of the three main women - Aibileen and Minny, who are black maids in Jackson, Mississippi and Skeeter, the college-educated woman who is an aspiring writer.
Tall, gawky and not particularly pretty, Skeeter's the only one of her friendship group who is unmarried - her friends Hilly and Elizabeth both being married with children. Aibileen works for Elizabeth, one of Skeeter's friends and a particularly unmaternal mother. Minny worked for Mrs. Walters, Hilly's mother, until Hilly successfully moves her mother into a nursing home and fires Minny, telling everyone that Minny is a thief and warning them not to hire her. Hilly's the 'leader' of sorts of the group, being attractive, socially well-connected and very dominating.
Minny eventually finds employment with Celia, a very troubled and fragile young woman with many issues and problems.
When Skeeter initially attempts to get published, her list of suggested topics are somewhat bland and uninteresting. It's only when she takes it into her head to tell the stories of the black maids working in white homes does she get a nibble of interest. I loved reading about the world through the eyes of Aibilen and Minny and 'hearing' their voices. I was halfway through the book when curiosity made me Google the author to see if she was black or white. It didn't really matter - I was just curious.
Aibilen and Minny risk dismissal and much worse as they tell their stories to Skeeter. Around them, blacks are being beaten up for using white toilets, for getting ideas above their station - one is shot in the back. It's a terrifying and unjust world, even as Aibileen tells one of her charges a fanciful tale about Martian Luther King, a being who is discriminated against because his skin is green.
For me, I suppose Skeeter never really rings true because for a period of time she is 'socialising' with Aibileen and Minny as well as Hilly and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is weak and bland, Hilly sounds like a complete and utter psychopath with very few redeeming qualities. It may be true that Skeeter didn't have a lot of options for friends in that town but it's hard to feel much liking for someone who would choose to be friends with and socialise with the likes of Hilly in particular.
Furthermore, for me she didn't really start writing the book for noble reasons. It wasn't to smash racism or give a voice to women who were being silenced - she wanted to be published and this happened to be a hot topic. I don't doubt that she genuinely felt bad and did like the women - but I can't help thinking that she was using them in a way for her own personal gains and she had a possibility of escape elsewhere if things went bad but these women were trapped.
Nonetheless, it's a really good read. I particularly loved reading Minny's frustration as she is dealing with the helpless and very damaged Miss Celia. I liked how her initial disdain eventually transforms to pity and then affection.
The story of Constantine unfortunately happens in the wings most of the time so it was difficult to get a sense of the woman. I liked how Stockett did manage to bring humanity to Skeeter's parents - to her father and even to her mother to a certain extent, even though her mother in particular was imbued with the bigotted views of the time.
mayaperkins's review against another edition
5.0
I fell in love with the characters. I didn’t want it to end!!
klizeck12's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
oliviaalbion's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible book, well worth reading before watching the film. This book got me back into reading fiction again after a very long time.
appletonkelli's review against another edition
5.0
I was touched by this inside look at the relationship between white families and their black maids/housekeepers/nannies in the 1960's south.
jaigeyes_6's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
liliyne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
karmen12's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book. It took me forever and a day to read because it was a long book and each page was full of so many details that just brought the story to life. That is why I gave the book five stars. This was also one of the few historical fiction books that I have read and it was just incredible and sad to hear about what actually happened in Mississippi in the 1960s. I think that everyone should read this book to have the same experiences reading this book that I did.