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Haileychellis

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Haileychellis is currently reading

Winger (Winger, #1)

by Andrew Smith

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(page 44 of 439)
— Apr 28, 2015 11:54AM

Apr 20, 2015 11:54AM

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The Help

by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author)

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Haileychellis said: " I remember when The Help by Kathryn Stockett first climbed the bestseller list. It was all that anyone talked about. Talk show host would rave about the brilliancy of the yellow and purple book. At the time I was only 9 years old, too young to unders I remember when The Help by Kathryn Stockett first climbed the bestseller list. It was all that anyone talked about. Talk show host would rave about the brilliancy of the yellow and purple book. At the time I was only 9 years old, too young to understand the concepts and beautiful writing of the book. My neighbors would all sit and talk about the books they had read, and as they gossiped about how wonderful a book The Help was, I put in my mental list of books to read. I began this book during the summer, but sadly had never finished it. After reading the iconic To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I remembered how much I had wanted to pick up The Help again.
Immediately after I began reading, I fell in love with the characters and soon remembered why this book had been something I wished to pick up again after so long. Because I read To Kill a Mockingbird this month, I haven’t yet finished The Help. Although I haven’t finished the book cover to cover, I still think that this is probably one of my favorite books that I have ever read. The story takes place in 1962 Jackson Mississippi, racial tension and violence full blown.We follow the three women, Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter, throughout the days of segregation and inequality. Aibileen and Minny, both maids for higher class white families, have raised white babies for as long as they can remember. They have cooked, cleaned, raised white children, and dealt with the roaring problem of racism since they can remember. On the other hand, Skeeter, a white, tall journalist with a judgemental mother, was practically raised by the help. Her family's maid Constantine was the closest thing she had to a loving, caring mother. Throughout the story, we see Skeeter (guiltily) longing for Constantine as she goes through the ups and the downs of life in the south. Having the story told from the three different perspectives, showcases the different experiences, hardships and stances of each lady in dangerous city of Mississippi. You can see all three of the main characters develop within their social, mental and political views. Stockett uses a southern tone of voice while keeping the characters real and not the stereotypical, cheesy southern voice. I also think that Stockett does a wonderful job capturing and expressing the feeling of tension and distrust in the south. In this passage, Stockett describes the streets of a “black neighborhood” from the perspective of Skeeter.

I guess I thought it would be like visiting Constantine, where friendly colored people waved and smiled, happy to see the little white girl whose daddy owned the big farm. But here, narrow eyes watch me pass by. When my car gets close to him, the little colored boy turns and scats behind a house a few down from Aibileen’s. Half a dozen colored people are gathered on the front yard of the house, holding trays and bags. I rub my temples. I try to think of something more that might convince Aibileen. ( Stockett 104)

Here, Stockett really give the author a feel of the lifestyle and typical things a character like Skeeter faces everyday. I think that this small passage of the entire book really represents the balance that Stockett beautifully between the details of small everyday issues that we face while still embracing the main, larger issue of this time period. The character Skeeter faces similar problems to girls all around the world, making her easy to relate to. On a small scale, Skeeter struggles with her mother’s high expectations, rather conceited best friends and her own desire to be liked. Her lanky arms and her frizzy hair, have always been an insecurity that in her mind, sets her apart from the rest of her beautiful, flawless friends. Stockett’s ability to compromise the small social bumps and bruises between characters with the main theme is brilliantly worked and is only one of the many reasons I adore this book so far. I am really looking forward to finishing the rest of this book, and as of now, this is most likely my favorite book I have read this year. I would give The Help by Kathryn Stockett 5 out of 5 stars. ...more "

progress:

(page 268 of 451)
— Mar 05, 2015 11:54AM

Feb 16, 2015 06:47PM · see review