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"The Help" (2009) is the debut novel by Kathryn Stockett, set in Jackson, Mississippi during the early to mid 1960s. It describes the situation of race relations in the South during this period in history, at the onset of the Civil Rights Movement. According to the Wikipedia bio stub about Stockett, she was born in the 1950s and grew up in Jackson herself, raised by an African-American domestic worker more than her own mother. This novel, therefore, has undoubtedly been based on many of Stockett's own experiences growing up. It is an impressive debut for Stockett, garnering best-seller status as well as a great deal of acclaim.
During this time, as we all know, segregation was not only the norm, but the law in the South. Violence against African-Americans was also commonplace. Options/opportunities for education and employment were very slim, particularly for African-American women. One of the few work opportunities open to them was that of a housekeeper/nanny in a white household, where they were often subject to the whims of their employers. "The Help" deals with two African-American domestic workers in particular, and the way they come to befriend a white would-be writer who wishes to tell their story, and solve a few mysteries in the process.
The story starts somewhat slowly, and at first, the characters seem rather token: The Mammy is represented by Aibileen, who becomes increasingly frustrated by her employer's neglect for her children. The Stuck-Up White Southern Princess is represented by Hilly (who is the novel's main antagonist), as well as her minions in the white ladies' social club. The Sassy Black Chick Who Takes No Bull From Nobody is represented by Minny, whose mouth is not well appreciated by the Stuck-Up White Southern Princesses, but you can't help loving (and laughing at) the things she says and does. The Bleached Blonde Redneck, a.k.a. the Anna Nicole Smith-Type Southern White Chick, is represented by Celia Foote, whose efforts to fit in with the Stuck-Up Southern White Princesses of Jackson are constantly rebuffed. The Remorseful White Person Who Wants To Change Things is represented by Skeeter Phelan, who grows increasingly disgusted with the actions of the Stuck-Up White Southern Princesses, and whose character seems as though it could be quite heavily based on the author herself.
However, about a third of the way into the novel, a lot of good action and tension starts to build, and I for one was not able to put it down. One must not also forget the important events and implications surrounding the action of the story. So it is definitely worth a read. Buzz is that this book is also in the works to be made into a movie, so it'll probably be worth watching out for.
You can purchase "The Help", as well as many other items mentioned on this blog, at my Amazon.com Associate store!
During this time, as we all know, segregation was not only the norm, but the law in the South. Violence against African-Americans was also commonplace. Options/opportunities for education and employment were very slim, particularly for African-American women. One of the few work opportunities open to them was that of a housekeeper/nanny in a white household, where they were often subject to the whims of their employers. "The Help" deals with two African-American domestic workers in particular, and the way they come to befriend a white would-be writer who wishes to tell their story, and solve a few mysteries in the process.
The story starts somewhat slowly, and at first, the characters seem rather token: The Mammy is represented by Aibileen, who becomes increasingly frustrated by her employer's neglect for her children. The Stuck-Up White Southern Princess is represented by Hilly (who is the novel's main antagonist), as well as her minions in the white ladies' social club. The Sassy Black Chick Who Takes No Bull From Nobody is represented by Minny, whose mouth is not well appreciated by the Stuck-Up White Southern Princesses, but you can't help loving (and laughing at) the things she says and does. The Bleached Blonde Redneck, a.k.a. the Anna Nicole Smith-Type Southern White Chick, is represented by Celia Foote, whose efforts to fit in with the Stuck-Up Southern White Princesses of Jackson are constantly rebuffed. The Remorseful White Person Who Wants To Change Things is represented by Skeeter Phelan, who grows increasingly disgusted with the actions of the Stuck-Up White Southern Princesses, and whose character seems as though it could be quite heavily based on the author herself.
However, about a third of the way into the novel, a lot of good action and tension starts to build, and I for one was not able to put it down. One must not also forget the important events and implications surrounding the action of the story. So it is definitely worth a read. Buzz is that this book is also in the works to be made into a movie, so it'll probably be worth watching out for.
You can purchase "The Help", as well as many other items mentioned on this blog, at my Amazon.com Associate store!
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