The Help by Kathryn StockettThis is a somewhat difficult book to write about partly because so much has already been written on it, but also people it deals with a controversial subject matter. In case you've been in hiding the past year, it's about a white woman in Jackson, Mississippi who decides to interview the black ladies maids, aka the help, and write a story about what their lives are like.
It's an interesting feeling reading the book, knowing so much to expect and yet not everything. I haven't seen the movie yet, but have seen the previews, and even just that hit all the vital scenes of the book. Also since I've seen how the characters are going to be portrayed in the movie, I can't help but picture them that way in my mind while reading.
I was a little surprised by how young the central characters are in the book. I was expecting to read about middle aged woman but all of the matriarchs of the book are only in their mid-twenties or so. It feels odd to be reading about a this high society wife with 2 or 3 children and then realize she's the same age as me! It's definitely a change of society, for example it's mentioned several times how many girls drop out of college as soon as their married since that was the real reason they went their in the first time.
I was also surprised how much I loved some of the characters. My favorite had to be Celia Foote and her story, someone who I hadn't heard about in all the casting news, and who I believe is absent from the trailer. And the little Mae Mobley sounds absolutely adorable and I can't wait to see her in the film.
I realize there is also quite a bit of controversy surrounding the book, and given it's subject it's not too surprising. I think the big question mark on the book is how accurate is a book that's supposed to show the point of view of African-American women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s if it's written by a white women. That's not really a question I'm qualified to answer, but I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts.
But to finish things up, I loved the book and once I started I had to know how everything was going to end up. I finished it in only a few days and now I'm just eagerly anticipating the movie!
5/5
I loved The Help! Celia was one of my favorite storylines in the book and I loved Mae Mobley too!
ReplyDeleteThe Help is next on my list to read! I have heard so many great things about it. I hope to finish it before the movie is out.
ReplyDeleteThis book is so good, I really loved it! We're reading it for the book club I started this month - I don't even care that I have already read it. I want everyone else to read it too!
ReplyDeleteI just picked up this book from the library yesterday :) I can't wait to start reading it, especially since the movie looks so good!
ReplyDeleteLOVED THIS BOOK!
ReplyDeleteDefintiely on my top 10 books that I've EVER read list :)
It's funny, because I didn't love this book. I read it, I liked it, I enjoyed it, but I didn't LOVE it the way everyone else seems to have LOVED it! I am interested in seeing the movie when it comes out.
ReplyDeleteI still need to read this. It looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour question about the controversy... You know, I see how it's a valid concern, but really, people write all the time from the p.o.v. of all sorts of groups that they can't possibly know what it's like to be a part of: men writing women, women writing men... I think writers just have to do the best they can to research and empathize, and readers should probably be aware of who is doing the writing.
And, yeah - I should read the book before I make any more comments like this.
I enjoyed the book and am eager to see the movie as well. I read the book before I saw anything about the movie, but I was surprised by the casting. From what I've seen in the trailers, the characters did not seem to fit what I had in my mind for each of them. I don't know... maybe it's just me and I'll feel differently when I watch it. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI saw the trailer and instantly wanted to see the film! partly because I'm a journalist, partly because I love Emma Stone and mostly because it sounds like an amazing story. I should try to read the book first but, c'mon, we all know I won't. haha!
ReplyDeleteI've seen the trailer for the movie and it looks good but I don't know if I could read the book like I normally do. It's hard to read a book when there's been so much hype.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a glimpse of Celia in the trailers but I agree. I can't wait to see her story brought to life. Actually I can't wait to see the whole book brought to life.
ReplyDeleteGreat review - I LOVED this book as well. I also can't wait for the movie, hopefully I can convince some of my friends to go out and see it together!
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