I made a commitment to read more this year and I just finished my second book of 2011! I decided to read The Help after watching the trailer for the upcoming movie. I read some reviews here and there and decided it would be a great read. I used to read all of the time and I’m trying to get back to that point. But alas, a career in social media requires a different kind of reading. Anyway, The Help is a great work by Kathryn Stockett. She was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi where the story is based. The book is told from three different point of views. Skeeter Phelan who is a white, recent college graduate and the only unmarried childless person amongst her friends. Skeeter is opinionated and aspires to be a journalist as opposed to a wife and she’s articulate about her opinions against the treatment of maids in Jackson. Another thing about Skeeter is that she’s incredibly honest and vocal about her opinions and this makes her an outcast amongst the town of Jackson, MS. I admire her ability to articulate what she believes. Aibileen, an African American maid gives a different point of view of race and frustration in Jackson. She works hard and is respectful to her employer. Despite the circumstances, she is optimistic and hopeful in prayer that things will change soon. What I admire most about her character is her prayer list. She makes a list of people that she wants to pray for at night and her “prayer power” is known amongst church members including her friend Minnie, who offers the third point of view in the book. Minnie, is opinionated an not holding her tongue has cost her countless jobs. The three of these women get together to write a book from the perspective of maids in the south. They fictionalize the book featuring stories from several maids in the town unsure of how it will change things. I highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a good summer read. It reminded me of The Secret Life of Bees. So if you enjoyed reading that. I say this is a great novel to pick up. I definitely plan to check out the movie too:
