The Help

The Help
by Kathryn Stockett

Set in Jackson, MI in the 1960′s, The Help tells a story about telling stories.  Any white family who can afford it has “help” in their home.  These are African American women who cook, clean, and raise the children.  While they are cherished in one way, they are scorned in others.  It’s the 1960′s in the south – there is racial tension.  Then enter Skeeter, white, a recent college grad, returning home while working to become a writer.  She sees her old friends differently – how they treat their help.  She wants to give the help their own voices (and hopefully use those writings to spur her own writing career).  However, it’s almost all-but impossible to get these women to open up.  Sharing what they know about these families with the rest of the world could cost them their jobs and their lives.  But sharing what they know may also free others.  Told from multiple points of view.

Very rarely do I read what I call a “grown-up” book.  Most of the time, I find them too thick, too wordy, or too hopeless.  I am glad I hung up my prejudice to read this book.  There’s a reason why everyone was talking about this book.  It has marvelous characters, none of whom really trump the others in importance, voice, or style.  It catches you up and doesn’t let you go until the end.  I’m not really any kind of authority to say whether or not everything about this book is believably accurate in terms of setting and plausibility, but even if there are inconsistencies, it was a fabulous read.  And I hear the movie is well-worth it, as well.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

Tags: book review, historical fiction, journalism, kathryn stockett, mississippi, perspectives, point of view, racism, realistic fiction, writing