2012 Book 8: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett (1/14/2012)
The Help was a well-written novel with an engaging (and endearing) story. Skeeter, a young Southern belle just returned home from college decides to cross racial boundaries and write a controversial book about how difficult it is being an African American maid in a white household in Mississippi. She doesn’t realize when she starts just how dangerous such a book could be. I think this book has an excellent theme (anti-racism and the pettiness of Southern White women in the 1960’s). However, it is very difficult to write a book about racism without making the defining feature of every character his or her race. This problem leads to excessive racial stereotyping—which is a pretty serious issue in this book. (The racial stereotyping applies to both whites and African Americans in this situation). Despite this problem, however, I think the book is worth reading for the sake of the story. 4/5 stars
Kathryn Stockett is definitely in for a long and lustrous career and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next. The only regret I have is that I kind of wish I read the end section about Kathryn (and her "help") first. It would have made me read the book a bit differently, but in a good way, I think.
ReplyDeleteA must-read!
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