The Help

The book I read was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This novel is Stockett's first book. It took her 5 years to finish. The book was rejected by 60 literary agents before it was published. She previously worked for Writers Digest Magazine in New York City. The Help is the only book she has written. It is about racism in the 1960's in the South when African-Americans predominantly worked as maids. The novel connects to Stockett's life because she was very close to an African-American worker in her house when growing up in Jackson, Mississippi. It's a story about friendship and justice. 

   

The main character, Skeeter, is a southern society girl who comes home from college with the dream of becoming a big-time writer. Her busy-body mom, Charlotte, won't get off her back about how she wants grandchildren and how Skeeter needs to find a man. Skeeter just ignores her mother and focuses on work. She chooses to interview the black women in her community who spend their days taking care of white families which creates quite the controversy in her small town. Aibileen, Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to talk to Skeeter. As Skeeter continues to interview her more women decide to come forward & speak their minds. One of her favorite maids to interview was Minny Jackson, a sassy maid who doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. Skeeter's eyes are opened when she hears what these ladies have to say about their lives working for white families in Jackson, Mississippi. As Skeeter befriends these women she feels an obligation to help them and do what is right. Does she speak up or keep quiet? What does the rest of the community have to say about Skeeter's actions? Will her interviews of these ladies ever be published?

   

I would definitely recommend this book to any reader. Personally, I don't enjoy reading very much but I never got bored reading The Help. I enjoyed the way Kathryn wrote to make the characters sound southern and I loved reading all the individual stories the maids told Skeeter during interviews. One of my favorite stories was told by Minny, she talks about a time she got revenge on her employer of many years who treated her horribly. She brought her a pie & the employer thought it was a amazing. She asked what was in the pie and Minny replied, "That good vanilla from Mexico..." and told her the "special ingredient" she used. I can't say what it is because that'd be a spoiler! You'll have to read it yourself. I think anyone would enjoy this book, but especially people who are interested in racial rights or the history of African-Americans in the United states. Its a hilarious, heart-warming novel that will have you hanging off of every word and flipping pages faster than you could ever imagine. You will never want to put the book down!

Book Review by Samira S.