The Help

I seen the movie but i want to read the book. Is it worth buying?

i i watched the movie before readung the book,which waas probably not the best thing to do, but i still loved both the movie and the book

it was amazing to realize that this happened in our lifetime. it reinforced that women are the ones to make the changes in society. I have been saying Law, ever since reading this.

i love the movie and it is the best movie ever

I had just finished the book it was a really good book I couldnt put the book down

I'm torn on this book, because, on one hand, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would; it's an entertaining, often humorous read, and the pacing is terrific. On the other hand, I couldn't help but think Kathryn Stockett missed the point of her own book.

The book is set in the early 1960s, and told from the POV of three women, Skeeter, a young white woman writing a book called "The Help" about the lives of African American domestics; and Aibileen and Minny, two of those aforementioned domestics.

I don't have a problem with a white woman writing in the voice of a black woman. As a woman writer I've written in the voices of men, and people of other races. I believe a writer can pull it off if she does it well, with compassion and knowledge. I did wince occasionally when the African American characters talked in thick "Lawd-ain't-it-sure-enough-hot" dialect, but overlooked it since it didn't rely on the dread phonetic spelling, and may be the author's recollection of the period.

What's more problematic for me is the question at the heart of this novel, which I perceived this way: is Skeeter, or is she not, exploiting the very women she enlists to help her write this book? Stockett doesn't completely ignore the issue, but she gives it very short shrift indeed. A young maid, Gretchen, does confront Skeeter by calling her "Another white lady trying to make a dollar off of colored people." But the matter is quickly dropped when Aibileen says that no, she's not. Skeeter becomes less of a writer than a typist as the maids tell their own stories, publishes the book anonymously in order to protect the maids, shares the profits...and in the end the book's publication is the impetus for transformation in the lives of all three women.

Still, it feels very much like Skeeter's book. Her POV is the most nuanced, and the most similar to the author's own life. (They both grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and both go off to NYC to become writers.) The scenes with Aibeleen and the little girl she cares for are the most poignant, which I suspect also reflects the author's experience. Fair enough. And yet, I can't help but feel there is some depth missing here. Why was I made a little uncomfortable, for example, when the maids continued to refer to the white women who treated them like garbage -- forcing them to wash their hands in bleach, use separate toilets, fire them at will, even have them imprisoned -- as Miss Hilly or Miss Elizabeth?

The characters are likable, the plot entertaining and the author's afterward shows her intentions are clearly in the right place. I am a white Canadian woman who grew up in the sixties. Thus, I can't say how accurate this portrayal of black women's lives in 1960 in Mississippi is. Still, it feels a little too sweet somehow. Yes, a young man is blinded for accidentally using the wrong restroom, and there is anxiety among the woman that they may be targeted for similar violence if their identities are revealed, but the overall tone is perhaps a little too sweet, even with the shadow of fear Stockett often refers to. As I read, I couldn't help but wonder how the tone might have changed if it were written by someone on the other side of the paycheck. I found myself curious about how a co-authored book might have turned out. Of course, perhaps those are not questions I have a right to ask. An author's vision is what it is, and I applaud Stockett for exploring her feelings toward her upbringing. It's a good place to start. I'll be curious to see what she does next.

truly one of the most amazing books ive ever read and i will deffinetly stay with me forever. i think ive actually read the book at least 6 times. I never get sick of it

i saw the help and it made me cry

i loved the book is the best

This is an excellent read- makes you rememebr how things once were

One of the best books I've ever read - the characters are so alive one feels like being right there with them. I loved how the story is told through the eyes of 3 very different strong and brave women - which in effect gives a true understanding of the whole era and really captures the atmosphere. A brilliant book I would recommend to anyone who is after a good read.

I loved this book.Very touching and thought provoking..

the help is my new fav movie it was soooooo cute and sad and very touching1

How do you read this online??

fantastic read. Really sets out the problems and segregation that happened all those years ago. A wonderful, funny read which I would definately recommend to my friends and family.

I loved this book. The characters were so real. You couldn't help but feel for them and what they went through during that time. It is definitely a book everyone should read.

I loved this book. The characters come to life before your very eyes. I really felt as though I knew each and everyone of them. When I finished the book I was actually sad because I didn't want to let go of it. It is definitely one of the best books I've ever read. If you're a woman you will enjoy it, if you're a man you'll probably enjoy it too!

So enjoyed this book. I love this era and setting. Recommended this to many friends who have loved it just as much.

this is my favorite book in the whole wide world

Might have to be one of my all time favourite books, sorely disappointed it's

her first book, I want to read lots more by her!

I hope its as good as the movie!

I'm from the UK and wondered if I was going to be able to relate to the characters in this book..no problem. The wonderful women here just spoke to me in a way I've seldem experienced in a novel..so real and inspirational.

What a wonderful story.

Am just reading The Help.....after seeing the movie of the same name LOVED it SO much...had to buy the book an can say so far its great ...its funny an sad in parts but have only read 70 pages an looking foreword to getting into the rest of it .....

like the person below I would like to know how I go about reading this or other books from my bookshelf

Loved it. I was laughing at times and very sad at others. It depicted the time when blacks were not accepted as equal to whites in Louisianna. Loved how the story unfolded.

Loved it. I was laughing at times and very sad at others. It depicted the time when blacks were not accepted as equal to whites in Louisianna. Loved how the story unfolded.

Absolutely WONDERFUL Book! I was laughing one minute and crying the next! So sad when I finished it because I didn't want it to end! Can't wait to see the movie!

I can't wait to see the movie now as I didn't want the book to end, I just hope it lives up to this fantastic read.

A great book about a very difficult time in our country's history. The characters are so real, it is hard to believe this is a first work. I can't wait to see the movie.

This is a typical book that I like to read for my own relaxation. The problem: I become addicted and stay up reading when I should be asleep. The development of the characters is so well done, that I feel like I know these people in real life. I love when authors turn their work into something more than just a story, and into something so realistic when we all know it's the total opposite. I want so much to give the book 5 stars, but I wish that Skeeter would have ended with a little more. Without a doubt, this is a book I could read again and again without losing any of the emotions I felt while reading it. Great job for the author's first novel.

I read this book last year and I must say it is now one of my all time favourite novels! I fell in love with its characters and found myself laughing and crying along with them throughout - the strength and softness of Abileen, the bossiness and egotism of Minny and the passion and rebelliousness of Miss Skeeter all make this book one of the greats. I loved this book so much that I think people are sick of me telling them to read it but I really feel that this is a must read for all book lovers out there.

this book had me howling out loud!!! I absolutely loved the character development - this author made this story come to life!

A very realistic novel about life between whites and african americans in the south in the sixties. Well written, and good character develoment.

This is by no means the type of book I normally enjoy, but all I can say is...wow! The author kept my interest throughout the book, and I happily recommend it to anyone looking for a fabulous read.

I was on the waiting list for this book for almost 6 months. When it came through, I have to admit that I thought I might not like it. And if I would have based my review on the first 30 or 40 pages, I would have let it go. I just couldn't connect with the story. I really struggled with dialect of the black servants. And I felt like I was thrown into the middle of the story with no background.

Around page 50, the character of Minny finally got my attention. I was genuinely interested in what happened to her. And then the very next chapter was Skeeter, the white woman who does so much good in the book. I can only hope that if I lived back then, I would have been as brave as she was. She did not back down, and she was willing to do whatever it took to change things.

There were some classic moments in this book that really drew me in--I am still talking about one interesting little pie recipe in the book. And not all things in the book happen like you think they should. There are moments that will outrage you and probably even cause you to cry.

I enjoy the way the author wrote the book. She writes from the perspective of three people, I think. And you can tell that the author knows much of what she is talking about. And her note in the back of the book confirms this. She grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and the author herself had a black servant.

If you would have asked me last week about my rating of the book, I would have given it four stars. I give it five because once I got into it, I really didn't like to put it down. The author knows just when to switch over to a different perspective, and the reader has to wait to see what happens in that situation a few chapters later.

No sex is in the book--I like that. There is some bad language, but the concept of true Christian faith is also in the book. The women are strong, and the blacks are so willing to stand up for their rights in spite of the consequences. In fact, some of them see it as a chance to have a fresh start.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this book would suit you. If you have strong feelings about civil right and equal rights for women, you would like the views of this book. If you like a good romance, sorry, this book really doesn't have that. And if you come into this book with racist/prejudiced views, you will probably hate it as the woman who runs the town, Hilly, did. It is definitely one that will stick with you!

Oh my gosh! This might be my all time favourite. I have told every single person who's interested to buy this book. Even my daughter who doesn't want to admit Mom is right is enjoying it. I was just very, very sad that this is her first book, as I always google the author and buy her other books.............get writing Kathryn!

I enjoyed the book a lot. It's set during the 1960s and strange to think how much has changed since then. Really not so long ago.The Constantine storyline seemed somewhat strange and a little odd to me however. When I'd finished the book I realized I wanted to know what happened to the women especially Minny and her new employer.

I have it but have not read it yet. As soon as I finish Mr. Pip I will read it. Enjoy your comments very much.

I just started this book... am really enjoying this view of a way of life that growing up in the Northern part of

the country I never really knew much about. I love all of these characters so far......

I'm torn on this book, because, on one hand, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would; it's an entertaining, often humorous read, and the pacing is terrific. On the other hand, I couldn't help but think Kathryn Stockett missed the point of her own book.

The book is set in the early 1960s, and told from the POV of three women, Skeeter, a young white woman writing a book called "The Help" about the lives of African American domestics; and Aibileen and Minny, two of those aforementioned domestics.

I don't have a problem with a white woman writing in the voice of a black woman. As a woman writer I've written in the voices of men, and people of other races. I believe a writer can pull it off if she does it well, with compassion and knowledge. I did wince occasionally when the African American characters talked in thick "Lawd-ain't-it-sure-enough-hot" dialect, but overlooked it since it didn't rely on the dread phonetic spelling, and may be the author's recollection of the period.

What's more problematic for me is the question at the heart of this novel, which I perceived this way: is Skeeter, or is she not, exploiting the very women she enlists to help her write this book? Stockett doesn't completely ignore the issue, but she gives it very short shrift indeed. A young maid, Gretchen, does confront Skeeter by calling her "Another white lady trying to make a dollar off of colored people." But the matter is quickly dropped when Aibileen says that no, she's not. Skeeter becomes less of a writer than a typist as the maids tell their own stories, publishes the book anonymously in order to protect the maids, shares the profits...and in the end the book's publication is the impetus for transformation in the lives of all three women.

Still, it feels very much like Skeeter's book. Her POV is the most nuanced, and the most similar to the author's own life. (They both grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and both go off to NYC to become writers.) The scenes with Aibeleen and the little girl she cares for are the most poignant, which I suspect also reflects the author's experience. Fair enough. And yet, I can't help but feel there is some depth missing here. Why was I made a little uncomfortable, for example, when the maids continued to refer to the white women who treated them like garbage -- forcing them to wash their hands in bleach, use separate toilets, fire them at will, even have them imprisoned -- as Miss Hilly or Miss Elizabeth?

The characters are likable, the plot entertaining and the author's afterward shows her intentions are clearly in the right place. I am a white Canadian woman who grew up in the sixties. Thus, I can't say how accurate this portrayal of black women's lives in 1960 in Mississippi is. Still, it feels a little too sweet somehow. Yes, a young man is blinded for accidentally using the wrong restroom, and there is anxiety among the woman that they may be targeted for similar violence if their identities are revealed, but the overall tone is perhaps a little too sweet, even with the shadow of fear Stockett often refers to. As I read, I couldn't help but wonder how the tone might have changed if it were written by someone on the other side of the paycheck. I found myself curious about how a co-authored book might have turned out. Of course, perhaps those are not questions I have a right to ask. An author's vision is what it is, and I applaud Stockett for exploring her feelings toward her upbringing. It's a good place to start. I'll be curious to see what she does next.

One book that talks about the daily life of colored housekeepers etc. Having been around during those years (1960 s) it shows the back door of someof the ritzy southern familes.

One of the best books of read in a long time. I would put in on my top ten list of books. Would make a GREAT book club selection.