November 2011 to January 2012 Book Club - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have read this book. I thought it was an excellent account of the lives of the black maids during the 50's and 60's. I was interested in the book because of my love of African American fiction, their feminist writing and socio-political writings. I've recommended the book to my local book group and we are due to read it in February. One of our members is a white American woman who had the lived experience of being emotionally attached to her maid, as a teenager she began to wonder about the maid's life experience especially about the lack of time the maid could give to her children.

I'm expecting a lively debate as we usually read fiction but I think The Help is useful in that it crosses over into other genre's even if it is only for reference. The film does not do the book justice.

I have read this book. I thought it was an excellent account of the lives of the black maids during the 50's and 60's. I was interested in the book because of my love of African American fiction, their feminist writing and socio-political writings. I've recommended the book to my local book group and we are due to read it in February. One of our members is a white American woman who had the lived experience of being emotionally attached to her maid, as a teenager she began to wonder about the maid's life experience especially about the lack of time the maid could give to her children.

I'm expecting a lively debate as we usually read fiction but I think The Help is useful in that it crosses over into other genre's even if it is only for reference. The film does not do the book justice.

I plan on purchasing this during the festive holidays and will post my review of it in the new year.. I look forward to reading this book :-)

Hello I ordered this book from my local Library before Christmas and started reading it over Christmas. It's so good I can't put it down! I'm half way through already and looking forward to reviews and discussing this with others.

I have just read this book. It shows the duality that underpins the human mind. Here is Mrs Hilly who is diligently organising fund raising for children in needs in africa but treats the maids that look after her children and her poorly mum as if they were not worthy of empathy; Mrs Skeeter who befriends the black maids and wants to change racist mentalities but yet cannot fathom a white woman sleeping with a black man, and Aibileen who loves dearly the white children she looked after but finds it difficult to hug or share personal space with a white person who wishes to befriend her. It makes me wonder if, after all, racism is really about race or ignorance and the fear of loosing social status or own identity as part of a social group.
 

I find it hard to read  modern fiction but I wanted to participate in this online book club since there isn't one near me. So I started reading and reading and I could not stop. Mainly because it's written in a vivid way that I felt that I was watching it all on TV. The book is basically about black maids working in white homes. It's interesting how many of the maids ignore the rascism surrounding them. The main focus for them is survival, having enough money to pay the bills. However it's not all misery. I found it quite touching when a grown man stops his now elderly black maid on the street to hug her. These woman really were appreciated. It also helps that the author lived through this era and has accurately re-created this vanished world. The book depicts the divisions in society but they take many forms. It's not just the race divide there is also the one between the rich and poor. I didn't really like it when the story swapped from one person to the next. Once I'd started on Minny's story I just flicked through the book and continued to read through to the end. Skeeter's version was pretty dull- we've all seen the high society 1960s drama's on TV. Although it was integral to the plot, showing us the story from the other side. The next thing I intend to do is to watch the movie.

Hello I finished reading this book 6th January, absolutely brilliant! I couldn't stop reading and it really made me think and reflect on how cruel people can be just because of a different colour. Equally heartwarming reading at the end of book the Authors comment 'But trying to understand is vital to our humanity. ' The whole book made you feel ashamed that humans can behave in such a way.  Although it was not all bad and the stoic way the women who were maids carrried on with calm bravery. Definitely a book I would recommend.

Thank you for suggesting it. Look forward to reading others observations.

This is a story that bubbles with suppressed feelings in a neighbourhood that is symptomatic of the race situation in America in the early 60's. It lays bare the prejudices, promises andpossibilities for a different society exemplified in the chronicle composed by Miss Skeeter.The complexities of what is involved in "The Help"are explored via fascinating dialogues that portray larger that life figures. There is heart rending cruelty alongside heart warming self sacrifice and hilarious scenes of huge human interest. A serrious subject given subtle treatment - a great read for those who are able to identify with big characters as well as laugh and cry with these same people.

The Help is an excellent read which explores the subject of racism and class with compassion and humour.  I enjoyed the tension as Skeeter strove to write her book without being discovered as to be discovered put not only the maids and their families in danger but herself too.  The book's theme of prejudice not only relates to the blacks but to those like Skeeter who were sympathetic to their cause.  The issue of class distinction was also interesting as the women seemed expected to adhere to a particular code of conduct and it felt as if anyone who didn't fit in was ostracised.  I can highly recommend The Help.  I haven't managed to see the film but it seems to be attracting a considerable amount of oscar buzz.

I have just finished reading this book and I was unable to put it down. My lasting impression is of how well it describes what seems a relatively recent but totally alien (to me) period of history. Even more than this it shows how we all have multiple personas which we unwittingly present to the world. Only those closest to us such as our dearest friend or relative know the real us. 
 
We are shown that personal revelations can change the world we live in. When Skeeter revealed her writing project to Stuart he just couldn’t carry on seeing her even though he had just proposed marriage. Skeeter remembers Elizabeth as sweet but Aibileen sees her treatment of her little girl, Mae Mobley, as cold and unfeeling. Elizabeth does not recognise herself in the book at all. I also wonder whether Elizabeth was unable to bond with baby Mae because in her world it was the done thing for  her baby to be whisked away her from birth to be cared for by Aibileen, her maid. The bridge players also misjudged Lou Anne who showed compassion for her maid, when her son was injured and Lou Anne revealed to Skeeter that her maid was the person who kept her going through her depression.
 
The bond between the three women Aibileen, Skeeter and Minny is beautifully and sensitively depicted. It is a story of a sisterhood beyond race and of optimism and hope in dark times.