On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

I'm reading The Help right now and I think it's amazing! It has a bit a of To Kill a Mockingbird feeling. The characters are great too!

I will do so!
A friend recommended it to me. She read it and said it was one of her favorite books. As she has nobody to discuss it with, I volunteered, as it sounded pretty interesting.

The Help should definitely be on the list. I couldn't point to one specific reason why I liked it, it was just a good story and well written. And sometimes that's enough.

I'd add "Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks" by Donald Harington to the list.

@Sarah C - In my opinion, "The Help" wasn't intended to be a study on all the underlying causes of southern racism. It was intended to tell the story of black southern housekeepers in the 1960's south; and it does that very well. I wouldn't call it "good modern fun"; while there were some funny parts, the story itself is not a funny one. I think the funny parts are what made the story real - who among us hasn't tried to find the humor in a bad situation in order to survive?

If you approach it looking for an in-depth study of racism in the south, you will be disappointed. If you approach it looking for a well-written book that tells the story of black housekeepers in the south and their friendships, then you will thoroughly enjoy "The Help."

Everitt wrote: "Marlene wrote: "I'm reading The Help right now and I think it's amazing! It has a bit a of To Kill a Mockingbird feeling. The characters are great too!"

Did you decide to pick it up..."

Butting in here to share my personal opinion of The Help. I saw the movie first (pre-Oscars), figuring I wouldn't like the book because it was a bestseller and I was feeling snobbish, but something about the plot made me want more. I found the book for sale for really cheap one day, so I picked it up for fun. I was hooked on page one.

Stockett's narrative skills are superb. She has a talent at creating a vivid scene where you actually feel like you're there with it. I read it while it was snowing here and I could feel the Mississippi heat. I could say more but I don't want to give away any spoilers.

Her characterisation is excellent, as well. The book is split into three narratives, by three different characters, and they are very realistic and unique. I could go on and on about this book (I think I am, haha). I just love it so much. Highly recommend!

Mary wrote: "@Sarah C - In my opinion, "The Help" wasn't intended to be a study on all the underlying causes of southern racism. It was intended to tell the story of black southern housekeepers in the 1960's s..."

This sums up my feelings on The Help quite well. I have read criticism of Stockett's work being patronizing based on the unfortunate fact that a white woman dared to tell the story of black housekeepers. I think that's quite unfair. I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s. Stockett's story rings very true. I was a white baby raised by black housekeepers. They loved me and I loved them. I was taught to call them "Ma'am." I know that was not what happened in all Southern households. But it was that way in mine. As a result, I never judged a person by the color of their skin. There are still people in this country who do and you do not just find them South of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Below is a short piece I wrote some time ago. It sums up my feelings regarding a wonderful woman who cared for me very much.

Roses are red, violets are blue...

It was about this time of year over fifty years ago. It was summer. But we took the heat better back then. Air conditioning wasn't something you took for granted. We had a big box fan at one end of the house in a little neighborhood called Circlewood. You opened up the doors and the windows and the fan pulled the air through the house. The drone of the fan was constant. The sound of it put me to sleep at night. To this day, I have to have a fan going in the bedroom to ease me into sleep.

A lady named Violet worked for us back then. She took the bus out from town to the stop up the street and walked to our house each day. The main thing I remember about Violet was how she kept me entertained while she worked. She told me stories while she did the ironing. I'd be sitting on the kitchen floor pretending the table cloth was a tent. My main view of Violet was her feet moving a little side to side as she ironed. I'd hear the hiss of the iron as it came into contact with whatever she was pressing. She sprinkled the clothes from a Pepsi bottle that had a red corked sprinkler top. All the time she'd be talking to me. She simply called me her "Man." It came out "Mane." I loved her.

Sometimes, usually on Sunday, Papa would get a call from the Police Station. I'd hear him say, "We'll be down." We would pile into his 1955 Oldsmobile and drive down to the jail to bail Violet out. Of course, I didn't know what that meant. But I'd be glad to see Violet when she walked out of the yellow brick building with Papa. I didn't notice that he was steadying her walk with his hand on her elbow. But he was.

When Violet got in the car in the backseat with me she smelled of something I didn't recognize. She didn't smell that way at our house. And when she looked over at me, it took her a while to say, "How are you, Mane?" At some point, before we let her out at her house, Violet would always say, "Thank you, Mister Mack. It won't happen again.." Papa would tell her it would be all right.

But it wasn't all right. It was a Saturday morning about this time fifty years ago. Violet was supposed to keep me at the house while my Grandparents attended a big meeting down at the Stafford Hotel. But Violet didn't show up. My mother was working, so there was no option other than my Grandmother take me to the meeting.

That Saturday morning Papa came over to my Grandmother and whispered for a while. I caught something that sounded like "cut to ribbons." At five I had no idea what that meant. All I ever knew was that Violet couldn't come to our house anymore. That's what my Grandmother told me.

Now I know what cut to ribbons means. I've seen it, and just about everything else one human being can be to another.

Looking back, I realize I never knew Violet's husband. We never saw him. I don't have any idea what happened to him. Frankly, I don't care. I hope it was something that made him think about what he had done and he had to think about it an awfully long time. But I do understand why we'd have to go down to the old yellow police station to take Violet home some Sundays. I wish she had said she didn't want to go. But she never did.

Roses are red, Violets are Blue. Violet, this is to say, I loved you, too.

To Life--
Mike

SarahC wrote: "My question about The Help --

In all fairness, my statement was "not really looking at the underlying issues." Mary reflected it as "a study on all the underlying causes of southern racism."

If w..."

Dear Sarah,

I really don't think your post regarding "The Help" gave anyone offense. You merely triggered some good discussion which is the main purpose of the group. By all means, never feel that you are prohibited from commenting on a subject. I look forward to your future posts as I do those from all our members.

Lawyer Stevens

@SarahC, I didn't take anything you said as a strong statement. I was simply taking you up on your offer to comment on what you said.

Two of the books I just read that would be in this category is Cold Sassy Tree and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Both are surprisingly good books actually. I would recommend them.