The Help in Oly Reads

Jan 11, 2010 Sara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, adult-books, historical-fiction

This novel had the readability of The Da Vinci Code, except that this book was very well written, did an excellent job of creating the setting, and had amazing characters that will stay with you for a very long time. I very rarely get a chance to read adult fiction, and I'm glad I chose this one :) I was craving a character book, and I would say that at its core, this is a character book. Also, I'm glad I read it, as I think it would be a great recommendation for older teens who can handle some ...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Janie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

semi-spoilers. ye be warned.

The ++

• I read it in a single day.
• I had almost zero trouble moving between the three narrators (and this is a place where I go looking for it, too). It wasn't so much from distinction in characters' voice or outlook so much as fast-established context patterns. Tricksy magicksy!
• Stockett adds a blurb at the end about her motivations and misgivings about the book. I 'preciate it.

The --

• The Stuart sub-plot.
• The departure to neutral narrator for the The Benefit.
• ...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Susie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Help is a lovely book that is tender and moving. Growing up in the south in the 60's I can recall the attitude of people that were close to me and being white, I wondered how their words and actions could be tolerated by folks of color. Reading some of the passages of how Abileen had to listen to the falsehoods that white society was perpetuating and be still and accepting with only the slimmest hope that she might be able to teach tolerance to the young children she was responsible for real ...more

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Feb 06, 2011 Patty rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I laughed, I cried despite my intentions to not follow along with the mainstream. But, this book is so wonderful in so many ways. At first I thought it was set in the 1930's or 40's and then I figured out that this was 1962! What! No, I've never lived in the south and don't really want to. Some of the book was a bit contrived and I'm not so sure why the issue of Minnie's abuse was important to the story. It was almost like Stockett wanted to cover so many issues (racism, feminism, child abuse, e ...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Rena Searles rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Best book I've read in a while. Since I grew up during those times in which the book is set, I related very much to the feelings and philosophies of the period. This book is about a group of Southern women (mostly) who find themselves smack in the middle of the civil rights movement. I fell in love with the main characters and wished they were real and that we were friends. I especially appreciated how the story was not wrapped up into a neat little package and tied with a bow - very realistic s ...more

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Dec 19, 2010 Keri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-group-reading

I went into this book thinking I would not like it. I know horrible things happened to Black people in the past. It makes me angry and I don't enjoy reading about it. Boy was I wrong! While this book doesn't get too deep, it is a really nice story. I really connected with the characters and had a hard time putting it down during the good scenes. And, man, do I want to slap Hilly!! Personally, I think the maids should have all agreed to not work for her. I know they needed work but it would have ...more

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