The Help
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on March 30, 2012 – 6:02 am -
I am pretty sure that I am the last person in America to read this book, but if I’m wrong and there are still a few of you out there that are kind of slow like me, READ THIS BOOK!
I typically avoid reading the latest best sellers because I have this stupid idea that they are usually drivel. That attitude has certainly led me astray before and this time is no different. This book is not drivel. It is a beautifully written, character driven novel, definitely not drivel.
It’s the story of a young woman in Jackson, Mississippi, who challenges the status quo between whites and blacks, even in her own family. She was raised by a black maid, Constantine, who disappeared while she was attending college. In an attempt to understand her world, she begins talking to the maid of one of her friends. With the help of a New York editor, she stumbles around Jackson gets engaged and unengaged, learns a lot about race relations in the volatile 60′s, and a lot about her own feelings towards people of a different color, and, in the process writes a book.
What I loved about this book was watching the characters grow as people during the process. The maids, as well as the author find new ways to look at their world.
They become braver as the book progresses, more in charge of their own destinies. At the beginning of the book they are all trapped in their own limited world, but by the end all of them have attained a degree of freedom they never expected to enjoy.
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but plan to this weekend.
Buy this book!
xxoo,
RMW
Posted in She Loves | 9 Comments »
March 30th, 2012 at 6:43 am
I KNOW! Such a great book. I just loaded it up on my kindle to read AGAIN. LOVED, loved, loved this book! Thanks for visiting.
March 30th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I love, love, loved this book, too! And the movie is really excellent as well!
March 31st, 2012 at 9:27 am
No, I am the last one. I actually own the book and it is on my nightstand. It is my power outage treat I am saving. Kind of how some people save a really great bottle of wine. I figure when the power goes off for a long period, my Kindle’s battery runs down, I will have a real treat waiting for me. I know, weird.
April 1st, 2012 at 6:47 am
Read the book when it first came out and then saw the movie, twice. The second time with a real Southern Woman (I am a transplanted Yankee) who grew up in the 60′s with a black housekeeper. Interesting prospective. Hope you will enjoy the movie as much as I did.
April 1st, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Yes, you are the last person in America to read it! (Just kidding.) I haven’t seen the movie – tell us how you like it.
April 2nd, 2012 at 6:57 am
Yes, I think you may well be the last person to read this!
I feel that way about Hunger Games. Even my older sister told me to read it!
April 2nd, 2012 at 7:00 am
Barbara!
I haven’t read Hunger Games either! I guess I should try and read it before the sequel comes out…
xxoo,
RMW
April 2nd, 2012 at 7:06 pm
U might be the last person. hahaha
I read it a while back and enjoyed it. I thought it was better than the movie but most books are.
I also read the Hunger Games only because my son ask for the first one for Christmas so I was curious and read all of them. Pretty good.
I have not seen the movie yet.
How are you my friend.
I have been wanting to send you an email and have not. Maybe soon
Love
Maggie
April 4th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I am the same way about getting a book or seeing a movie with rave reviews–I tend to be disappointed. But this was a great book! Loved the characters and was such in a thoughtful state for a while.
Erika