The Help By Kathryn Stockett
Amazing Journey
Skeeter Phelan just graduated college and is trying to go about her day to day living, like a good white Southern woman should. She is a active member in the Junior league, she plays Bridge with her friends, and even goes out on a date that her best friend Hilly set her up with. Her over bearing mother wants nothing more for her daughter than to marry, live in a nice house, and have a black maid. So what' s wrong with her? Why isn't this enough?
Skeeter has her own aspirations and dreams big, for a southern white woman. She wants to actually make use of her college degree and become a writer. She sends her resume to Harper and Row in New York City. Amazingly she actually hears back from the editor. Not with a job but with some sound advice. Skeeter quietly follows it.
On her path to becoming a writer, Skeeter starts to question the norms of the southern society she lives in. This is when she forges an unlikely friendship with two black maids. The book is narrated in turn by Skeeter and the two maids, Aibileen and Minny.
This is an amazing book about race relations in the south during the Civil Rights era. Reading this book was like Kathryn Stockett put me in a rocket and transported me back in time to the 1960's south! I lost hours of sleep and had a hard time prying the book out of my hands.
The character and plot development were stellar, that of a seasoned writer. Imagine my surprise when I learned that this is Stockett's first novel! I rarely read a book more than once because there are so many that I want to read however, this book is worth a return visit! I see quite a promising writing career ahead for Kathryn Stockett and cannot recommend this book highly enough!
5/5
Thanks so much to Bronwyn Kienapple of Penguin Group (Canada) for answering my plea to read and review this book!
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I have got to make time to read this book. Great review!
bermudaonion said... May 10, 2009 5:26 PM
I've never read anything by the author - this story sounds interesting! I wonder how she approached writing it. It sounds worth checking out! Thx!
gaby317
gaby317 said... May 10, 2009 5:38 PM
I LOVED The Help so so much; glad you did too.
Diane said... May 10, 2009 5:58 PM
I've heard such great things about this novel. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for your great review, Teddy!
Literary Feline said... May 10, 2009 6:43 PM
A friend of mine was asking me if I'd heard of this book. I hadn't heard of it until recently. I can't wait to read it now after your great review!
Kristy said... May 10, 2009 7:13 PM
I loved this book, as well. Here is my review: http://anovelmenagerie.com/ghost/2009/04/03/book-review-the-help/
Sheri
A Novel Menagerie
ANovelMenagerie said... May 10, 2009 9:21 PM
Kathy, you must! I know you will like it.
Gaby, this is here first novel.
Diane, I haven't heard of anyone not liking this one.
Wendy, I think you will really like this one!
Kristy, I know you will like it!
Sherri, I knew I was missing someone! Thanks for the link!
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2009 10:12 PM
I loved this book too! It's so hard to believe that it was written by a debut author. She has amazing talent. My review is here:
http://chikune.com/blog/?p=420
Meghan said... May 11, 2009 2:47 AM
I did review this a while back and I just loved the book. Like you, I can't recommend it highly enough. I just lent it to one of my friends and she ended up going to the hospital but took the book with her because she couldn't put it down! It is very hard to believe this is a debut novel.
Kaye said... May 11, 2009 7:40 AM
This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year.
Red lady-Bonnie said... May 11, 2009 8:54 AM
So good to see you loved this book - I need to read this one SOON!!!
Wendy said... May 11, 2009 3:25 PM
Meghan,, Kaye, and Bonnie, I couldn't agree more!
Wendy, I know you will love it!
Teddy Rose said... May 11, 2009 8:56 PM
Wonderful review. Yet another person loving this book and me with no time to read it yet although it's sitting on my shelf. lol.
Dar said... May 13, 2009 5:15 PM
I hope you can find time soon Dar. I know you will love it!
Teddy Rose said... May 13, 2009 9:21 PM
Isn't it the best when you come across a book that you hate to put down! Reading your review makes me happy you and this novel found each other. :D
My list grows again with another must read!
Wanda said... May 15, 2009 4:25 AM
Wanda, it is!
Teddy Rose said... May 15, 2009 1:25 PM
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