Reviews

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

lelodo13's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Police brutality, and Classism

gracec04's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.75

dancingwaffle's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring fast-paced

4.0

haileysue's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

hheartstrongg's review against another edition

5.0

This book was FANTASTIC. All I could think about the entire time was how I can't even imagine that this kind of thing was real, once, and how I could have easily been a part of it. Fan. tas. tic.

sarahrogers1's review against another edition

my problem with books like the help is that they are white saviour novels written by white people to make other white people feel good about themselves.

there were aspects of the book that i did like, for example, the friendships between certain characters, a lot of great literary tools, etc., but ultimately this book left a bad taste in my mouth.

things that specifically bothered me:
- the book felt like a self-insert, where kathryn stockett believed that the impact skeeter's book had was going to be the same impact that this book had.
- viola davis (who plays aibileen) regrets doing the movie.
- i felt like certain parts were glossed over compared to what was accurate for the time period.
- stockett was sued by her brother’s nanny for using her likeness that she found to be inaccurate and violating.

there are much better books to read on this topic. specifically by black authors.

nicol_wiktoria's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

bridge_overbooked's review against another edition

funny inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This one is long, but incredible.

"The Help," set in 1960s Mississippi, follows the lives of African American maids who work for white families. The story is narrated through the perspectives of two maids, Aibileen and Minny, and Skeeter, a young white woman who aspires to be a writer. Skeeter decides to document the experiences of the maids, revealing the harsh realities of racism and discrimination. Through their collaboration, the women challenge societal norms and form a powerful bond, leading to significant changes in their community.

readinggrandma's review

hopeful inspiring tense 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? No

4.5

dorisroe's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0