When my schedule gets busy but I still want to make time to read, I give myself little reading assignments. Last week, I figured out that if I read forty pages of The Help each day, then I would be able to finish the book before it was due at the library.Despite my busy life, I'm surprised that I was able to finish this book way before my deadline. The writing was so compelling and the story was so interesting, I had a hard time putting it down.
The Help is the story of several black domestic maids who work in the homes of white families during the 1960s. The story is written in the first-person, from the perspectives of three different women (two black maids and a white woman). When I started to read this book, the feel of it reminded me a little of Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible.
This is a really interesting book, and it made me not only think about the issues of segregation/discrimination that took place in the 1960s, but I also learned interesting historical facts too: did you know that the zip code was invented in the 1960s? And did you know that the classified ads were divided into positions for males and females? Although it completely makes sense that the ads were divided that way, I never considered that before.
Oh, and there is one completely strange incident in this book. I'm still trying to figure out the scene when a naked man tried to break into Miss Celia's house. It was so bizarre and strange - I laughed out loud one time, because I didn't know how to react otherwise. I wonder if there was some sort of historical precedent for that incident, because it seemed so strange. That being said, though, I can see how the scene is really important to the novel, since it becomes a turning point in the relationship between Miss Celia and her maid, Minny.
Has anyone else read this book? Did you like it?
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7 comments:
M! this was one of my FAVE books that i read last year. glad you liked it. i'm hosting our book club in June and this was the book i picked.
and yes, that scene was horrendously bizarre - i think i can understand why she included it though. this story really opened my eyes and i would really like to read more about this subject
I skimmed your review because I'm planning to read it next. It's sitting next to me on the desk as I write.
So glad you liked it. I might write back with my review when I'm done.
i LOVED this book. I read it in two days, I couldn't put it down!
I LOVE the idea of something in the 60's with race issues. It sounds like something I'd enjoy.
I'm going to see if it is on hold at the library right now!
Sounds interesting. You might like a book called Passing Strange by Martha A. Sandweiss. It's about race differences during the Guilded Age. "Passing" by the way, refers to someone trying to pass themselves off as different race. In this case (a true story, too!), a wealthy, prominent white man passes as a black man, leading a secret double life. Really interesting story and so is the peek into society during that time period.
I'm glad to hear that so many people have liked this book. And thanks for your comment, Jane! It's good to hear from you. I hope all is well (doesn't our time at EIZ seem like forever ago?). You'll have to let me know what you think of "The Help."
e (#1): I think you'd really like this book. They actually talk about the Woolworth's sit-in a couple of times, and I jealously thought about how you got to go see the counter recently.
And e (#2): That "Passing Strange" book sounds so interesting! I just recorded it on my "to read" list for Goodreads. Once I work through the other books on my nightstand, I'm going to request this one from the libs.
I just started reading this book yesterday after my sister sent it to me. I am glad that you liked it, we seem to like a lot of the same books. I am excited to read it even more now.
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