janetpollert's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Murder, Police brutality, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
slammabangjoe's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is one of those classic school required-reading books, most likely chosen for the impact it has for readers of all backgrounds. Some readers may find that it employs the “white savior trope”, which is actually addressed in the book itself a few times. This may make readers uncomfortable or find the story disingenuous, but I don’t feel confident enough to say whether or not thats the case.
The Help will have you laughing, crying, cursing, feeling hopeless, and hoping. Though it is a work of fiction, it’s based on very real circumstances that should not be forgotten with time. Younger readers may have yet to be faced with the thoughts the book will provoke, and that is extremely important. These things did not happen very far in the past.
The characters are personalized with such care, even the antagonists, that they feel real. Anyone who lives in a small town might even feel some familiarity, good or bad. The movie is just as good.
The ending may feel unsatisfying, but the journey to get there is completely worth it. It’s not a difficult or long read, fit for younger and older readers alike.
The Help will have you laughing, crying, cursing, feeling hopeless, and hoping. Though it is a work of fiction, it’s based on very real circumstances that should not be forgotten with time. Younger readers may have yet to be faced with the thoughts the book will provoke, and that is extremely important. These things did not happen very far in the past.
The characters are personalized with such care, even the antagonists, that they feel real. Anyone who lives in a small town might even feel some familiarity, good or bad. The movie is just as good.
The ending may feel unsatisfying, but the journey to get there is completely worth it. It’s not a difficult or long read, fit for younger and older readers alike.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Child death
rose492's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I read this book several years ago and really enjoyed it. However, this time I noticed some huge problematic flaws.
Spoiler
This is basically a white savior story where the main character Skeeter swoops in and makes change in Jackson in the 1960s. Though Minny and Aibileen have initiative and are good characters, Skeeter seems to solve all their problems! She gives up so much to help them when she doesn’t even have to! Yay for her for not being so racist!! This was written by a white author and it felt as though she saw herself in Skeeter. I was honestly shocked I didn’t notice any of this on my first read. A line that really stuck out to me was “I am in the old Jackson kitchens with the maids, hot and sticky in their white uniforms…. I let their colored memories draw me out of my own miserable life.” She’s getting over a breakup. She writes this book to get over a breakup. There was some interesting perspectives from the point of view of minny and Aibileen, but the skeeter parts were just bad. I found the topic of the book very interesting, but it wasn't written in a good way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Murder and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia
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