The Help by Kathryn Stockett - a Book Review

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Please note: There are a few spoilers here.  I will be sure to write any spoilers in brackets {} so that you can avoid reading sections that give away parts of the book.

A novel: Published in February, 2009.

One of the books I read during 2011 was The Help.  I was inspired to read it because I saw the movie trailer on trailers.apple.com.  Wanting to see the film when it came out in December, I decided to read the book first.  Usually if I see a film before I read the book I will like it better, and vice versa.  Since it was a novel originally, I decided to start there.

I found that the book was a quick read, partially due to my interest in the subject, but also because it was written in a very simple literary/writing style.  Although Ms. Stockett worked in magazine publishing and marketing prior to writing this book, I found that the writing clearly reflected the fact that it was her first novel.  It was good writing, but simple and easy to understand.  In my opinion, many books that make it into the New York Times Best Seller list tend to have this in common.  They're written in a language that can be read and understood by the masses.

The book is divided into 34 chapters, and every few chapters is narrated by one of the following main characters; Aibileen, Miss Skeeter, or Minny.

I don't usually enjoy reading books which are written in dialect and I was nervous when I started the first chapter narrated by Aibileen, but overall it was very easy to get used to, and I thought it was done well.  Unlike in some cases, it did add to the atmosphere and style of the book.

The Help had a slow start, but picked up pace toward the middle and had me racing to the end.  In general, it left a good impression on me.  I would not name it the best book I've ever read, but I considered it an entertaining read and would recommend it to those interested in American history, racial equality, and civil rights.  I also believe that it is an inspiring story of a young woman who had a passion for writing and followed her dreams depsite the obstacles and social pressures along the way.  I suggest this book to writers who need motivation to pursue their goals.  With three female protagonists, this book may apeal to women more than it would to men, but I think that men should also give it a try.

{One complaint I have about the book is the inclusion of an unnecessary scene in which a deranged man in the nude attacks Minny and Celia Foote.  I wonder if it was added in order to show Celia and Minny's loyalty to one another, as well as the strength and guts that these two characters possessed?  But, the scene seemed like it was added as an afterthought, and was out of character.  I wanted to see how they would portray this scene in the movie however they left it out.}

{I could also tell that I was basically reading about the author's life while I was reading the novel, and I wondered if this was a good or a bad thing.  Ive been told that we're supposed to write about what we know, but is it OK that the reader can easily recognize a biography disguised as fiction?  Then again, many of the great authors have done this, and some of them do it in every novel.}

Now also a major motion picture.

Although I was captivated by the book, I never felt particularly moved.  I may have watched the film on a particularly emotional day, but I found myself choking back and wiping away tears on numerous occasions during the 146 minute rental.  In general, the story narrative was able to keep the same plot as the book more or less, but I think that the actors, especially Viola Davis who played Aibileen, were able to bring a deep emotional side to the story which I found lacking in the novel.  "[Viola Davis'] role has garnered her critical acclaim, and has started buzz for various awards nominations." - Time Magazine, Glen Levy.

{In the film I wish they had delved more in Ms. Phelan's illness, Miss Skeeter's relationship with Stuart Whitworth, Skeeter's rejection from society, the personal stories of the maids, and Celia Foote's miscarriages.  It's understandable that they couldn't get to all of this though, since it's difficult to fit a 464 page novel into a 2.4 hour film.}

Overall, The Help was definitey an enjoyable although not overly intellectually stimulating read.

Please feel free to post your thoughts, comments, and personal reactions to the book or film in the "comments section!"  You do not have to be a blogger member to post.  If you're going to reveal any spoilers, please clearly indicate so.

Happy reading!

Lana

Book image: http://tiny.cc/4wdj1
DVD image: http://tiny.cc/rdtsm