The Help in Audiobook Junkies

Mar 27, 2010 Sara ♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, historical, humor, multicultural, books-i-own, audiobook, book-group, suspense, general-fiction, challenge-spring-2010

January 4 - 8, 2011

Again, such a great book, and a LOVELY audiobook. I picked it to read for book group this month, and people really seemed to enjoy it! (Not that that surprised me!) It's a book I'm not afraid to recommend, even to people who read "real" books! ;)

March 29 - April 2, 2010

I'm always a bit worried when I see that my friends have all rated a book 5 stars, because then I feel this increased need to like a book and end up having higher expectations than I should... But this book was January 4 - 8, 2011

Again, such a great book, and a LOVELY audiobook. I picked it to read for book group this month, and people really seemed to enjoy it! (Not that that surprised me!) It's a book I'm not afraid to recommend, even to people who read "real" books! ;)

March 29 - April 2, 2010

I'm always a bit worried when I see that my friends have all rated a book 5 stars, because then I feel this increased need to like a book and end up having higher expectations than I should... But this book was incredible, so no need to fear on that account!

Gosh, I don't even know what to say about this book, because it's one of those that you really just have to read for yourself. But it takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in 1963/1964, during the time in US History when "separate but equal" was the South's catchphrase. (That phrase thoroughly pisses me off, by the way.)

There are three main characters: Aibileen and Minny are black maids who work for white families. They're best friends, but have completely different personalities. Aibileen is in her 50s... she's calm and dignified and cares deeply about the white children she essentially raises for the white women she's worked for. Minny... heehee... At one point, she's called "every Southern white woman's nightmare"... haha... Oh boy. She's been fired like 19 times or something ridiculous like that (she's in her 40s, I think), because she's a back-talker, and sometimes just can't conform to the silent and obedient standards for maids and just says what's on her mind. And she is ALWAYS thinking some sarcastic remark about things... It's fabulous. The third main character is Miss Skeeter, an unmarried 23-year-old white society woman who wants to be a writer... a woman was raised by a super-loving black maid, who she loved and respected... a woman who realizes that things around her aren't as hunky-dory as everyone around her seems to think they are.

Miss Skeeter applies for a writing position in NYC, but is totally rejected... But a woman at the company decides to give her some advice about how to get ahead in the field. So she applies at the local newspaper and lands a job writing a weekly advice column in the paper about keeping house (cleaning, etc.). Except she's a society lady, so she doesn't know anything about that kind of thing, so she ends up going to her friend's maid, Aibileen, for answers to questions readers have written in. Another piece of advice the NYC woman gave her was to look for things around her to write—things that bother her that don't seem to bother anyone else. And one of those things is the way that maids are treated in Jackson. Through these experiences, Miss Skeeter gets this idea to write a book about what it's like being a black maid to a white family. And it all starts from there.

There are so many supporting characters in the books... Ones that are really nice and ones that you just want to punch in the face repeatedly. HILLY. I went through the whole spectrum of emotion during this book, from the time my mouth dropped open in disbelief to disgust to tears to laughter... But the story really makes you think about how you treat people who are different than you and what we're teaching the rising generation. We've come a long way in the nearly 50 years since this story took place, but we have a long way yet to go... ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2010 Angela Carr rated it really liked it

Very good read!
As I've said before this is not my type of read(reading book with coworkers).

But as I read on, I could not put the book down. I found myself teary eyed at some parts and frustrated the others due to thier sitch.

It was inspirational and would recommend it.
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2010 Darcy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010, 2011, audio-book, chick-lit

This is not the type of book that I normally read, but in doing a buddy read with a friend she threw this one out there. I am so glad that she did as I really enjoyed this book and fell in love with the characters and the struggles they went through. In my head I know things like this happened, but it is hard to really think about that and understand them with the way the world is now.

Had this been real people I wish that I could have know Skeeter and the maids. In such a turbulent time they to ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 27, 2011 Natasha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lendables

I really enjoyed the story. I fell in love with the characters Aibeleen, Minny and Skeeter and was rooting for them the whole way through! The ending was bittersweet in closing one door another has opened for each of these phenomenal women. I also saw the movie and enjoyed it as well. I know movies can't fit everything in them, so I'm glad I read the book and got the whole storyline the author had written. Very well written book, it definitely drew me in. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2010 Debbie Stone rated it really liked it

Shelves: general-fiction, book-club

I really liked this book. I can understand why it's on the "hot list" for bookclubs. And I understand they are making it into a movie. Hmmmm... I hope it is "well" made and doesn't ruin the integraty of the books. ...more

Like · see review

Apr 15, 2011 Emma rated it really liked it

I’m usually VERY cautious with best sellers, and hardly ever rush to put a hold on them when they are available at my library.

I would probably never have read this one, but my neighbor didn’t leave me any choice and put it categorically in my hands one day. So I did open it, and had a hard time closing it!

It sounds so true, and it’s extremely well written, in a very dynamic tone.

This summer, they started working on a movie. I can’t wait.

original post:
http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/20...

Emma ...more

Like · see review