Rated of 5
by Artz the help-a work of art
I am enjoying it. This is not a history book. (If I recall correctly, my history text books were loaded with errors.) This is a novel. It is done by an artist who is painting a picture. A picture of an American landscape - the south. Something is missing from the landscape of the South. Some of it was hidden, some lost, some buried or forgotten. She has uncovered a small portion of the missing landscape and it catches our eye. Some of us stare at this abstract painting for hours. Others can only look for a few seconds (because we cannot understand why her sky is red instead of blue). Her style reminds me of the painter Norman Rockwell...I shall take this one home... and hang it on my wall... to stare at.
Rated of 5
by Jennifer Critique
I haven't finished reading this book, but a line on Page 6 stuck in my mind. "I spoon out the congealed salad and the ham sandwiches..." Really? No one caught this while editing?
Rated of 5
by Chocolate Lady General Opinion
I felt the book gave a true picture of what the maids endured during this time. My mother worked as a maid and I always felt she was not treated as a "human" because of what she did. Her employer reminded me of Hilly, it did not matter who the person was, Hilly felt she was helping because she employed the maid, not that there was a lesson to be learned from their meeting. Hilly's insensitivity is displayed today, those who have and the have-nots.
Rated of 5
by Rachelle deeper meaning
I think this is an important book because of the bigger picture it provides. Some have criticized it for dialect, inconsistency, and inaccuracy. The author addresses these issues in her note, and does not claim the book to be perfect. It is my opinion that she exposes the overt racism well, but she exposes the subtle racism in a masterful way. Subtle racism is still a large problem today, and this book brings attention to a still relevant issue by giving us a background of the attitudes our parents and grandparents had. Literary perfection is not the point of this book, although it is well written. I will read this book again in the future and watch the movie when it comes out. Reading this book gave me a glimpse into the lives of these black women (and their oppression) that I will never forget. I am sad that this is a part of our history as Americans, and I think it is important to talk about it, bring attention to it, and never forget how they were treated, and to recognize how wrong it was.
Rated of 5
by KC Scott Writing it Safe
I found the book enjoyable yet shallow. I was truly disappointed at the end. The platform was set for a real dialogue about race, class and equal rights and somewhere in the middle the opportunity was missed. It was as if the writer became scared and watered the issues down as not to offend anyone. The book lost its heart and purpose. The writing was safe.
Rated of 5
by caylalily Change
I think the book deserves the credit it has been receiving, now the movie...I'll see, that may be a different story.
Determination on Skeeter's part is what drives this book. What starts out as a quest to find an answer to a question, finds it's own path, in the context of the times.
It is understandable that one may want their voice heard, but because of circumstances they are unable or unwilling to express them.
The early sixties was a time that deserves stories such as this. It was a time when change was coming, the tree of segregation was being pruned - twig by twig.
Then in 1965, that tree was struck by lightning - The Civil Rights Act severed that tree.
The Help is just one story, on the branch of that tree.
That is what I liked about the book; most everyone in the book branched out and helped to change the times.
I sense that the movie is going to focus on the characters that were uprooted...I hope not.
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by Artz 
of 5
by Jennifer 
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by Chocolate Lady 
