The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
Genre: Women's Lives and Relationships;
Historical Fiction; Literary Fiction; Books to Movies
Historical Fiction; Literary Fiction; Books to Movies
Publication date: February 2009
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam
Pages: 464 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-0399155345
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam
Pages: 464 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-0399155345
Pace: Fast-paced
Tone: Moving; Strong sense of place and time;
Upbeat
Style: Descriptive; Dialect-rich,
presenting African-American vernacular; Stylistically complex
presenting African-American vernacular; Stylistically complex
Storyline: Character-driven
Plot Summary:
The bittersweet novel centers around a group of women in racially segregated Jackson, Mississippi in the early to mid 1960's. Most of the women are employed as maids for haughty, insensitive white women who meet for extravagant bridge club luncheons and Junior League soirees.The white women think nothing of degrading their maids and firing some with no good reason. The maids have been trusted to polish the silver and help raise the children yet they are not allowed to use the restrooms in their employer's homes. Seeing the injustice that the African-American women have had to endure, Skeeter, returning to her family's plantation after graduating from college, plays social activist and strives for change. Skeeter and the maids plot the ultimate revenge against the employers: a scathing book depicting the maids' mistreatment that causes much attention in Jackson and the entire country. There is a memorable chocolate cream pie that is also used for revenge!
List of Main Characters:
The bittersweet novel centers around a group of women in racially segregated Jackson, Mississippi in the early to mid 1960's. Most of the women are employed as maids for haughty, insensitive white women who meet for extravagant bridge club luncheons and Junior League soirees.The white women think nothing of degrading their maids and firing some with no good reason. The maids have been trusted to polish the silver and help raise the children yet they are not allowed to use the restrooms in their employer's homes. Seeing the injustice that the African-American women have had to endure, Skeeter, returning to her family's plantation after graduating from college, plays social activist and strives for change. Skeeter and the maids plot the ultimate revenge against the employers: a scathing book depicting the maids' mistreatment that causes much attention in Jackson and the entire country. There is a memorable chocolate cream pie that is also used for revenge!
List of Main Characters:
- Skeeter - She just graduated from Ole Miss and moves back to the family plantation. Her mother is hoping Skeeter will find a suitable boyfriend and marry "well" just like her friends, the haughty white women. Skeeter begins to see how her friends mistreat their maids and is encouraged by a New York editor to write a book about the maids' experiences with their employers.
- Aibileen - Sweet and subservient, she is grieving from her son's tragic death. First, Skeeter receives information from Aibileen regarding housekeeping advice for a news column she is writing for a local paper. Skeeter also uses Aibileen's stories of life as a maid for her revealing book.
- Minny - Aibileen's brazen friend who has a tendency to speak her mind thus causing her to lose jobs. Her most recent employer is trying to blacklist her so she can't work again. Minny reluctantly shares her stories working as a maid for arrogant, condescending white women with Skeeter.
My Opinion:
The characters in this novel are vibrant with many of the African-American women portrayed as endearing. Their lives are full of struggle, verbal abuse, and heartbreak; however, it is wonderful reading how the women bond together as a group seeking empowerment in an environment where many view them as inferior. I cheered for them throughout the book and loved the ending, the only exception of one sad ending for one of the maids. The haughty white women are people I love to "hate"! The chapter describing the assassination of Medgar Evers as seen through the eyes of the maids is very powerful.
The characters in this novel are vibrant with many of the African-American women portrayed as endearing. Their lives are full of struggle, verbal abuse, and heartbreak; however, it is wonderful reading how the women bond together as a group seeking empowerment in an environment where many view them as inferior. I cheered for them throughout the book and loved the ending, the only exception of one sad ending for one of the maids. The haughty white women are people I love to "hate"! The chapter describing the assassination of Medgar Evers as seen through the eyes of the maids is very powerful.
Title Read-alikes:
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
Right as Rain - Bev Marshall
The Postmistress - Sarah Blake
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg
Yesterday at work a visibly upset teenage girl came up to my desk and asked, "Mrs. Melfi, did Skeeter die?" My first thought was, "Who's Skeeter?" But then I saw the book in her hands and I realized what she was talking about. She was reading it for her English class and a couple of her friends were messing with her.
ReplyDeleteKathryn Stockett came to Evansville several years ago to speak about The Help as a part of the One Book, One Community program. She was a great speaker and my husband (who I dragged with me to the event) decided to read the book after listening to her talk.
I had an amazing experience while attending the film version of "The Help." Before the movie began, people in the theater were talking about the book and the conversations grew beyond the clusters of folks who had come to the film together. Strangers from different rows and sections were joining in to talk about casting choices and their favorite characters -- careful to avoid any spoilers that might lessen the enjoyment of audience members who hadn't read the book. After the movie ended, dozens of people stayed in their seats to talk about the film and the book. It was like a spontaneous book discussion! Eventually the ushers had to boot us out, but the conversation continued in the lobby and out in the parking lot. I love the idea that books have such power to connect people!
ReplyDeleteI have never read the book or seen the movie so I guess I've been missing out. Your description of the main characters was helpful and the storyline seems optimistic. Sounds like an interesting read and worthy to be checked out.
ReplyDelete