Nancy's Reviews > The Help
The Help
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Posted at Shelf Inflicted
One of my co-workers, a guy who isn’t much of a reader, borrowed The Help from the library based on his English professor’s recommendation. The guy just couldn’t stop talking about the story, so I decided to borrow the audio book. It’s not very often I get to discuss books with people in real life and I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by. Audio books are good for me. I was so engrossed in the story and characters that I drove the speed limit on the highway and took the scenic route while running errands. Sometimes I went out at lunch and needlessly drove in circles, or sat in the parking lot at work, waiting for a good place to stop.
It is 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi. Twenty-two year-old Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan has returned home after graduating college to find that Constantine, her family’s maid and the woman who raised her, has mysteriously disappeared. Aibileen is a black maid in her 50’s who works for the Leefolt family and cares deeply for their daughter, Mae Mobley. She is still grieving for her young son, who died in a workplace accident. Minny is Aibileen’s closest friend and a wonderful cook, but her mouth keeps getting her into trouble and no one wants to hire her, until Aibileen helps secure her a position with Celia Foote, a young woman who is new in town and unaware of Minny’s reputation.
The story jumps back and forth between the three characters, all of them providing their version of life in the South, the dinner parties, the fund-raising events, the social and racial boundaries, family relationships, friendships, working relationships, poverty, hardship, violence, and fear. Skeeter’s mother wants her to find a nice man and get married, but she’s more interested in changing the world. Her plans to anonymously compile a candid collection of stories about the maids’ jobs and the people they work for will risk her social standing in town, her friendships, and the lives of the maids who tell their stories.
I loved this story! The characters really came alive for me, and the author did a good job acknowledging actual historical events which lent richness and authenticity to the story. I laughed and cried, felt despair and hope. This is an important story that is a painful reminder of past cruelty and injustice. It shows how far we have progressed and how much more we still have to accomplish.
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Nancy's review
bookshelves: audio-books, historical-fiction, made-me-cry, race-relations, favorites, library-books, shelf-inflicted, award-winners
Dec 01, 2010
bookshelves: audio-books, historical-fiction, made-me-cry, race-relations, favorites, library-books, shelf-inflicted, award-winners
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
One of my co-workers, a guy who isn’t much of a reader, borrowed The Help from the library based on his English professor’s recommendation. The guy just couldn’t stop talking about the story, so I decided to borrow the audio book. It’s not very often I get to discuss books with people in real life and I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by. Audio books are good for me. I was so engrossed in the story and characters that I drove the speed limit on the highway and took the scenic route while running errands. Sometimes I went out at lunch and needlessly drove in circles, or sat in the parking lot at work, waiting for a good place to stop.
It is 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi. Twenty-two year-old Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan has returned home after graduating college to find that Constantine, her family’s maid and the woman who raised her, has mysteriously disappeared. Aibileen is a black maid in her 50’s who works for the Leefolt family and cares deeply for their daughter, Mae Mobley. She is still grieving for her young son, who died in a workplace accident. Minny is Aibileen’s closest friend and a wonderful cook, but her mouth keeps getting her into trouble and no one wants to hire her, until Aibileen helps secure her a position with Celia Foote, a young woman who is new in town and unaware of Minny’s reputation.
The story jumps back and forth between the three characters, all of them providing their version of life in the South, the dinner parties, the fund-raising events, the social and racial boundaries, family relationships, friendships, working relationships, poverty, hardship, violence, and fear. Skeeter’s mother wants her to find a nice man and get married, but she’s more interested in changing the world. Her plans to anonymously compile a candid collection of stories about the maids’ jobs and the people they work for will risk her social standing in town, her friendships, and the lives of the maids who tell their stories.
I loved this story! The characters really came alive for me, and the author did a good job acknowledging actual historical events which lent richness and authenticity to the story. I laughed and cried, felt despair and hope. This is an important story that is a painful reminder of past cruelty and injustice. It shows how far we have progressed and how much more we still have to accomplish.
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Reading Progress
December 1, 2010
– Shelved
February 25, 2011
–
Started Reading
March 15, 2011
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 55 (55 new)
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kwesi 章英狮
(last edited Mar 29, 2011 02:47AM)
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![Fiona](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1663306262p1/4007437.jpg)
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
Fiona: I think this very character-based story would make an excellent film with the right cast. I wonder who will direct it.
![Fiona](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1663306262p1/4007437.jpg)
I'll let you know if I manage to find out. I agree that, with the right director and cast, the film adaptation could be very special indeed.
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
Thanks, BarkLess. I haven't listened to audio books in quite a while and am glad this was the first I picked up after such a long absence. The narration was excellent!
Kwesi, I have The Secret Life of Bees and plan to read it soon. Did you enjoy it?
![Stephanie *Eff your feelings*](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1656092544p1/1085121.jpg)
![Ellie](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1399799985p1/2908629.jpg)
So many thanks.
![Fiona](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1663306262p1/4007437.jpg)
Nancy, I'll be happy just as long as this novel is skilfully and sensitively adapated. And as you are quite aware, my love of film focuses away from the gloss of Hollywood, so yes I agree with you that it would be better, more appropriate to cast some less-predictable, less well-known actors.
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
![Ellie](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1399799985p1/2908629.jpg)
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
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![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
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A fun and often funny story design, a different approach conceptually, a study of courage that leads to revolt and a gripping telling of a horrible world of the abuse of humans by humans who have power/wealth on their side...
It is the type of read that will age wonderfully and will someday, be right up there with Harper Lee's, "To Kill A Mockingbird" on all the "Jim Crow" reading lists..
I happen to believe, the book's theme and body of work transfers perfectly forward until this very day - to our Dreamy N.P.R. Yuppie Culture of Separation.. With its acceptance of ugly myth and injustice - that are right in front of us all in our daily lives... It paints the mouth breathing privileged class of today just as well as did those of the Jackson Miss. of the early 1960s.. For today, the theys, as usual, choose to ignore the issues of the abuse of others - issues, that enable their special lives - otherwise it would just ruin their day.. Wouldn't it!!!
I protest...The inclusion of history was necessary and well timed - it was not forced.. You want forced history - read the digressions of pre-Wiki Melville or Hugo.. YIKES!!!
There is a new book released that you'd probably like: Jade Conquer http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KDX3QK0
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
![Gretchen](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1330441287p1/7964552.jpg)
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
No, he's not majoring in English. But this book has made a reader of my former co-worker. Even though we no longer work together, we still keep in touch occasionally and chat about books.
![Cecily](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1480285828p1/1199525.jpg)
It also goes against a line I just read in Atwood's "The Blind Assassin" (but didn't note in my review), along the lines of there being nothing like a bit of smut to encourage reading.
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
![Cecily](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1480285828p1/1199525.jpg)
Yes, but even if it doesn't, they've still learned to read for pleasure (and although this may not be high quality literature, it isn't trashy, either).
![Cecily](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1480285828p1/1199525.jpg)
![Lawyer](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1603672493p1/3025547.jpg)
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
Thanks for your kind words! I'm sorry I'm only noticing this now.
![Evan](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1488574589p1/1248986.jpg)
Nancy wrote: "$1.99 on Amazon!"
![Nancy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1435597527p1/763271.jpg)
![Evan](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1488574589p1/1248986.jpg)
Nancy wrote: "I didn't pay for it! Just informing friends of the deal. I borrowed the audio version from the library."