Book Review: The Help by Kathry'n Stockett

I decided to jump on the bandwagon and read this book. It is so popular right now, and many of my friends on goodreads have given it four and five stars. After reading it, I too will recommend it to others.

To give you an overview, the setting is 1963 in Jackson, Mississippi. The civil rights movement has just begun, but things change slowly. There are still distinct lines that cannot be crossed in this society that is far from being color blind.

In this novel, the reader is privy to the happenings of both the young, white socialites and the black maids who serve them. Among this group of socialites, is one who is all of the sudden seeing things as they really are - not right and unfair. She coerces one of her friends' maids to tell her story. Pretty soon things really get rolling, and once they are rolling there is no turning back. Lives are changed and maybe Jackson, Mississippi will be changed for the better too.

I felt very much a part of this book from the beginning. It was easy to read and the characters were very well done. I enjoyed reading the story from the different points of view. It was easy to imagine all of the things that happened to these women, they didn't seem that far fetched. I think it made me realize that it hasn't been that long ago that this story could very well have been reality.

My Rating

Overall: 4.5 stars. It's really hard for me to give 5 stars. I loved this book, but the middle dragged a bit, and I would have liked to have heard more of the maids' stories.

Objectionable Content: There was some bad language throughout. Also, a scene that involved a naked man.