"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

[Loveabull]

I'm still reading this, want to see the movie eventually. What a terrific book! In a nutshell with no spoilers...It's about a group of maids and the families they work for. It's the early 1960's, significant because it's just the dawn of civil rights, women's rights, Roe vs. Wade, the pill...this however is Mississippi...some of the characters are still living in the philosophy of " Segregation now and segregation always", others see the new era coming and are still bewildered. Much of the tension of the novel centers on keeping secrets from the more radical characters.

All I can think of is how we like to think fifty years later that the attitudes and racism are historical fiction. It's disturbing to recall living in small town PA a decade ago. There was a storeowner who was a biracial woman, a professor from the local university who was openly lesbian. Both for reasons they were two fearful to discuss moved out of town within a year of each other. The college still maintained a morality clause about such things.

Trucks with huge prints of mauled looking fetuses would park in the town square to make their statement about pro-life. GLBT books and even textbooks about women's rights were kept in the back darkened storage area of the town bookshop. The town police, even the supermarket manager and school principals all ruled with iron fists. The largest faction of the KKK is the Northern states was a town away...They probably banned this book coming over state lines.

[MeganebuKris22]

LOVE the movie! haven't gotten around to reading the book yet but it's on my "To-Read" list definitely recommend the movie though! It's amazing and very well done!

[suzy1124]

I'm still reading this, want to see the movie eventually. What a terrific book! In a nutshell with no spoilers...It's about a group of maids and the families they work for. It's the early 1960's, significant because it's just the dawn of civil rights, women's rights, Roe vs. Wade, the pill...this however is Mississippi...some of the characters are still living in the philosophy of " Segregation now and segregation always", others see the new era coming and are still bewildered. Much of the tension of the novel centers on keeping secrets from the more radical characters.

All I can think of is how we like to think fifty years later that the attitudes and racism are historical fiction. It's disturbing to recall living in small town PA a decade ago. There was a storeowner who was a biracial woman, a professor from the local university who was openly lesbian. Both for reasons they were two fearful to discuss moved out of town within a year of each other. The college still maintained a morality clause about such things.

Trucks with huge prints of mauled looking fetuses would park in the town square to make their statement about pro-life. GLBT books and even textbooks about women's rights were kept in the back darkened storage area of the town bookshop. The town police, even the supermarket manager and school principals all ruled with iron fists. The largest faction of the KKK is the Northern states was a town away...They probably banned this book coming over state lines.

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All the above and yet in just a few decades our wonderful country voted for a Black president...

Read the book, loved it!...my daughter had put it on my Kindle as a surprise gift...haven't seen the movie yet...looking forward to it !

[Lauren_Bucci]

Loved the book and the movie! I think everyone should get around to reading the book and watching the movie.

[Aussie-reader]

I've read the book and seen the movie - and read some interesting 'denial' posts in the media about how we were not really racist down here in the South by people living there.

I highly recommend both book and movie.

[Loveabull]

I've read the book and seen the movie - and read some interesting 'denial' posts in the media about how we were not really racist down here in the South by people living there.

I highly recommend both book and movie.

Probably the same folks who deny the Holocaust too...

Excellent book, I just finished it...amazingly well done for her first book!

[InconstantMoon]

I bought this for a book club and then ended up not reading it. Not sure if I want to. I saw the movie and liked it.

[Oregongirl08]

Oh, I love this book. I'm reading it again right now because I love it so much (well that AND my husband has forbidden me to bring anymore books home til I get rid of some).

[monique_wllms]

i haven't had a chance to get to read this yet but if its anything thing like the movie its going to be great.

[shayna]

the move was great and really did the book justice, which I was very happy to see.

[troy_green]

LOVE "The Help!" on of my favorites! such a great movie too

[hasee]

I have read the book,but didn't get the chance to watch the movie yet. It was a wonderful book

[sophiachic]

The help movie is just brilliant. Need to read the book.

[ajmiller99]

The Help is one of my favorite books! I may just pick it up and read it again! I agree the movie did the book justice, which is not the norm when books are made into movies. I especially love the part about the pie!

I actually quote the main character once in a while to my kids, "You is kind, you is smart, you is impotant"

[snehal_gajbhiye]

Author weaves the story around three extraordinary women. These women are mothers, daughters, caregivers and friends. They all have the determination to start a movement to push for racial equality and the way the other people view one another. It is a deeply moving novel filled with humor and hope. Main Protagonist sacrifices her friendship and important relationships to push for racial equality and does so by writing a novel on her nanny and other caretakers in Mississippi. The best thing about this book is that the author is able to merge the facts and fictions perfectly into a story full of humor, hope and emotions. In the genre of Chick-lit fiction I would give this book 5 out of five stars.