Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Help by Kathryn Stockett


Protagonists: Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny
Setting: Jackson, Miss., 1962
Rating: 5.0
During one of the most turbulent years in Mississippi during the Civil Rights struggle, 22-year-old Skeeter returns home and, wanting to be a writer, strikes on an idea: write about the lives of black maids, "the help." She does this with the aid of maids Aibileen and Minny. They have to do it furtively, though, since such a project could turn dangerous. Everyone who had read this book before me told me it was great -- and everyone was right. The dialogue, the story, the tension, the history -- all were done wonderfully.

I don't want to say much, so as not to spoil the book, but one note of caution -- if you listen to it on audiobook (as I did) be careful when driving. It's hard to see the road through the tears.

(Audiobook narrated by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer and Cassandra Campbell)

2 comments:

Sara Hinton said...

@katiecouric: Kathryn Stockett

Kathryn Stockett, bestselling author of "The Help," speaks with Katie Couric about her successful novel and her childhood in Mississippi. Stockett also answers questions from book club readers.

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6259944n

Lourdes said...

That really is a good interview with Katie Couric. Thanks for mentioning.