Monday, June 28, 2010

Kimberly Gives the Dirt on:The Help



Book Title/Author: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Publisher: Putnam Adult
How I Got It: Downloaded the audio book from iTunes
Why I Read It: I’d had it recommended to me several times and had been looking for a good audio book to listen to on a trip.
Rating- Five Stars
The Help tells the story of three incredible women living in Missouri in 1962. We see the events of the story through the eyes of Aibileen, a wise black woman that has spent her life caring for the children of white families, Minny, a smart mouth, sassy black woman, and Skeeter a 22 year old white girl who has just graduated from Ole Miss.
Skeeter wants to write more than anything. Her mother wants her to get married. A series of events bring Skeeter, Minny, and Aibileen together and they decided to embark on a dangerous endeavor, something that will change everything they think they know about their friends, family, employers and life.
I highly recommend the audio version of this book. It is extremely well done and endears you to the characters even more.

This was an incredible read. It opened my eyes to what life was like in the south during that time. Sure, I've learned about civil rights in my High School and College classes but this book took it to an entirely new level.

The characters are vivid and real. Everything they experience, the good and the bad, you will experience right along with them. You...more
This was an incredible read. It opened my eyes to what life was like in the south during that time. Sure, I've learned about civil rights in my High School and College classes but this book took it to an entirely new level.

The characters are vivid and real. Everything they experience, the good and the bad, you will experience right along with them. You will laugh with them, cry with them and cheer them on when they overcome the trials that are placed in front of them.

Read this with an open heart and mind and I promise you will NOT regret it.
Also, I highly recommend the audio version of this book. It is extremely well done and endears you to the characters even more.

11 comments:

  1. I bought this book a few months ago at a book sale because it was 50 cents and I was too scared to buy it for full price even though I've seen people raving about it! I need to get to it soon! Your review is making me more intrigued!

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  2. Great review! I haven't read the book, but I've heard that the characters are almost too polarized--all the white people are "bad" and all the black people are "good." What did you think?

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  3. Thanks Jamie! You really should read it. It reminded me a lot of Secret Life of Bees.

    Ingrid-Thank you! I didn't feel like they were too polarized. The author really did a good job showing the good and bad traits of both. Although there are more white "bad" people, it's due more to ignorance than meanness, if that makes sense.

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  4. Good. I too have heard good things about this book. And as soon as I am done having Mr. Irons seduce my audial senses every evening commute, I'll look into this as a replacement.

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  5. I have this one on my to-be-read list and wasn't really sure about it, but I think I'll have to get to it in the near future after reading your review!

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  6. I've heard 'The Secret Life of Bees' is a very good read.

    And well done you for getting it at such a cheap price! Love it when I came across a 50p bargain book :)

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  7. First of all, love your blog! I discovered it today via goodreads. Also, this is a great review...i just started this book and have really enjoyed it so far. As a southerner, i really appreciate the cour!ge of the author who is writing about a still sensitive subject. One correction that you missed...the book is set in mississippi, not missouri. So glad i came across this site, im excited to read more!

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  8. Great review, Kimberly! Such an AMAZING novel with fantastic characters!

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  9. Oi, I can't believe I made that mistake! Thanks for pointing that out to me Megan!

    And thank you for all the compliments! I was a little nervous posting my first review. :-P Those of you who read it will have to let me know what you thought of it once you finish!

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  10. Ooh this book just moved up higher on my to-read list. :) I think I have it as one of my book challenge books too, so hopefully I'll get to it this summer.

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  11. I loved The Help! As you said it takes the civil rights movement to an " entirely new level." I reccomend it strongly for my 20 something generation...well, for anyone really! I was lucky enough to get mine signed! My library hosted Stockett and I got to hear her speak. She's amazing!

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