It's a lucky reader who realizes that she has most likely completed two of her yearly top 10 back to back, and in February no less. Or maybe this is just going to be a banner year and my top 10 will be a top 20 or 50. THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett will definitely be one of my top reads of 2009 and it may well be "the top read". It is a marvelous book about a not so marvelous time in history and certainly about a not-at-all marvelous topic, race relations in the South. But it is so much more than that.THE HELP is told in three voices and from three viewpoints. Two voices belong to Aibilene and Minny, African-American maids or "help" assisting white families with housework and raising the children in Jackson, Mississippi. The other viewpoint is Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a 22-year-old graduate of Ole Miss, white daughter of a cotton farmer, unsure of her place in life. She's unmarried and wants a career, and her mother's primary goal in life is to get her settled close to home, married and pregnant with "help" of her own. The setting is the South (you can feel the heat and humidity) and the time is 1962-1964, the years of Medgar Evers' murder, Martin Luther King's "I have a dream.." speech, the March on Washington, and great civil unrest. Each woman is unique and completely memorable. In fact, this entire book is peopled with characters that are vivid, well-rounded and seem to jump off the page. As different as their lives are, Aibilene, Minny and Skeeter will come together to write a book in secret (oh, very much in secret) about the lives and stories of black maids in Jackson. During this process, each woman will change, grow and learn so much about the others and also, more importantly, about herself. The reader is privileged to take this journey with these wonderful women and share their discoveries. It is a rare treat.
I loved this book. I loved these women. I want to know them and follow their lives after this book. I think that Kathryn Stockett has written a very compelling debut novel and believe it is headed for bestseller status. It would be a great book for book groups with lots of discussion potential. Please pick up this book and read it. I guarantee you will be glad that you did.
I've been trying to get my hands on this since the first time I saw it. I'm so glad to see that you loved it. That makes me want to try a little harder to get it. :)
ReplyDeleteSQUEE!! I loved this book too! Glad to see someone else thinks this book will be a bestseller. I'm going to see her in March and I couldn't be more excited.
ReplyDeleteFantastic review, Kay! I have an ARC and will get to it in March.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am having a banner year, thus far. I've just finished The Likeness (Tana French) and believe it is my #1 read of the year. Lots of winners in January and February! Amazing.
You know, the publisher promised he would send me an ARC months back, and I haven't heard from him since! Dangit! Sounds really good and might make a great anchor for the Southern Reading Challenge! :D
ReplyDeleteA top read--that's a pretty impressive. I will have to add it to my list. I also picked up my first Louise Penny mystery at the bookstore last night--am looking forward to reading her finally.
ReplyDeleteJoy, your library should have this soon. I know you'll enjoy it when you find it.
ReplyDeleteTrish, I'm so excited that you get to see the author. I wrote her a note telling her how much I enjoyed it and received an email back from her right away.
Les, I think you will like this one. I'm sorry to confess that I am having a hard time getting into THE LIKENESS. I really, really want to read it so I think I will set it aside for a few weeks and then come back to it. I may have started it too soon after IN THE WOODS. That happens to me sometimes.
Maggie, I think it would be a great anchor for your reading challenge. I've lent my copy to my branch manager or I'd send you mine. Hope you can read it soon.
Dani, I'll be glad to hear if you get to this one. I hope you like Louise's mystery books. I'm her biggest fan!
Wow! What a great review, Kay. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI waited to read this until I wrote my review of the same today! I also thought it was terrific. I hope it find its way into many pairs of hands.
ReplyDeleteI hope to read this one within the next week. I have the library copy. Great review.
ReplyDeleteNan, thanks!
ReplyDeleteTara, I read your review as well. I agree that this one was terrific.
Diane, hope you like it. I think it will be a big hit soon.
I'm listening to the audio version right now, and it is wonderful...there is a different reader for each narrator, and each is terrific. I'm pushing this book on all of my friends.
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