'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett

[Evapohler]

Five stars! I would rank this novel among the very top picks on my list. I loved reading the various points of view during a time in history after slavery but before integration and civil rights. Various perspectives are juxtaposed among the black help and the white female employers who are all struggling against their different forms of oppression.

I would highly recommend this book! Has anyone seen the movie? Can't wait!

[Rypbookfan]

I can't wait to see the movie because the book rates among my top 10 all time favorites. It will be a challenge for the actors to pull off the depth and wit of these characters.

[Evapohler]

I absolutely agree with you, Ryp.

[Gatsby'sGreenLight]

I actually listened to this as an audiobook on a long car ride. Each of the characters had a different reader and different voice. It really brought the book alive. Definitely one of my favorite books in a long time, and I don't usually like "period pieces". Each character's voice/style (written) was so unique, which is hard to accomplish as a writer. I hope the movie does it justice!

[Gannon]

Anyone read The Help? I've just finished it & it's a marvelous read IMO. Anyone who enjoyed To Kill a Mocking Bird would like it ... extraordinary the casual cruelties of day to day life inflicted under segregation. The strength of these women leave me breathless with admiration.
Definitely gets a 10/10 from me

Would love to hear opinions of other readers.

Hey Fran, my favourite book if all time is "To Kill a Mocking Bird" so to compare a book to this all-time classic it must be pretty good. So far everything you have recommended to me has been right on the money so I will give it a try. Fingers crossed.

[Fran]

Anyone read The Help? I've just finished it & it's a marvelous read IMO. Anyone who enjoyed To Kill a Mocking Bird would like it ... extraordinary the casual cruelties of day to day life inflicted under segregation. The strength of these women leave me breathless with admiration.
Definitely gets a 10/10 from me

Would love to hear opinions of other readers.

Hey Fran, my favourite book if all time is "To Kill a Mocking Bird" so to compare a book to this all-time classic it must be pretty good. So far everything you have recommended to me has been right on the money so I will give it a try. Fingers crossed.

@ Gannon ... We are as one on Mocking Bird so I am 'quietly confident' you will like 'The Help' says she touching wood (I'm not supersticious but you can't be too careful)

[HM]

I absolutely loved The Help. It was definitely an enlightening book...but without being completely depressing or preachy.

Did anyone else feel like Elizabeth (Aibleen's boss) didn' t really like Hilly that much? I can't wait for the movie.

[CSG]

Fran - I loved "The Help". When I first read the plot summary, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but ended up enjoying the story immensely. I just hope the movie does the book justice.

[Kezz22]

Yes I recently read this book and loved it, in fact it did remind me of To Kill a Mockingbird so much I went out and ought that too and have just started to read it tonight! It is a truly, deeply moving book. I would recommend it too!
I would also recommend A Long Way From Paradise by Leah Chishugi, another book that shows women rising from prejudice and adversity to survive. It is set in The Eastern Congo to start and takes you through the genocide of Rwanda. Challenging at times but well worth the read.

[Puglove]

I fell in love with the characters in 'The Help'. The book was written well. It took a chapter or two to get used to the southern dialect...but it was fun once I caught on. I enjoyed the relationships between Skeeter and the maids. I related to Skeeter in that she was different from most among her and she knew it, but she was different in such a way that she made ripples in the stagnant water that was Jackson, Mississippi. She followed her heart, fighting for what she believed needed to come out (with regards to the maids and their relationships with the white ladies) Skeeter also ran toward her desired career even though it wasn't the norm for women to be successful in their own right. Loved it.....

[Mlp]

Good, but not great, IMO.

(And To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all time favorites.)

[Kezz22]

Definitely have to agree with Fran The Help does compare very favourable with To Kill a Mockingbird - which I just reread again after many years - and I think you will enjoy it Gannon! Let us know what you think!

[flyinghigh450]

I read this book for my book club a few months back. I really enjoyed it as well, but I did have one problem with it, after finishing it anyway.

I made the mistake of reading up on Kathryn Stockett's life. She is pretty much Skeeter. That's not to say that I have a problem with people who use their lives as a model for a book or whatever, but don't DENY that you based a lot of stuff on your own life. Maybe it was a misquote somewhere, but I know I read that she claimed it wasn't that autobiographical.

Didn't really change my view on the book, just on the author.

[Meka]

I just started reading it and so far I love it, I find it very entertaining. I had been wondering if To Kill a Mockingbird was any good, now that I have read on this thread that it is comparable to The Help I will add it to my to be read list.

[Linz]

The Help is one of the best books I've read so far this year. I love that time period as well. It is such a feel good story! I can't wait to see the movie. But i would definitely reccomend reading the book first before going to see it. Its interesting to hear people compare The Help with To Kill a Mocking Bird. I've always wanted to read that story. I think I just might next!