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Thursday, March 10, 2011

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."



Have you read The Help? You should. It is amazing. I really can't say enough good things about this book. I loved it more than anything I've read in a long time, and when I finished it, I couldn't get it out of my head. I also totally let my late fines at the public library stack up as I kept it several days past its due date {sshhh! don't tell anyone!}. I simply couldn't give it up before I got to the end, and then I wanted to hold onto it just a little bit longer. It is that good.

The Help is the story of three woman- one white, two black, in 1960s Mississippi. Privileged Skeeter Phelan is just home from university and itching to write for a newspaper, though her mother is far more interested in seeing her married off. Aibileen is the negro maid of Skeeter's friend, Elizabeth. She's practically raising Elizabeth's young daughter, but isn't allowed to use the bathroom in their house because of the colour of her skin. Minny is Aibileen's feisty best friend, out-of-work yet again for sassing her white boss, and then doing a "terrible, awful" thing in revenge. The lives of these three women become entwined as they begin a secret project together, one that scares them to death, but gives them hope for something better. What these women set out to accomplish is brave. It made me cry, it made me angry, and it made me laugh out loud. I don't think I will ever forget this book.

The review on Kathryn Stockett's website says, "In pitch-perfect voices, {she} creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women- mothers, daugthers, caregivers, friends- view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope. The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't." 

You really must read it.

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I'm currently reading Garden Spells {lovely so far} and am still working my way through The Happiness Project {full of good ideas}. Next on my bookclub reading list: The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak. I'm excited about it, and dreading it at the same time {books about Nazi Germany don't usually have a happy ending, now do they?} Have you read it? What did you think? Will I be able to cope? And finally... do you have any wonderful books you'd like to recommend? After reading something that moved me like The Help did, not just any old book will do. So tell me, what book do you love? And why?

5 comments:

  1. the help is pretty much close to perfect for me when it comes to books. it has such a special place in my heart. i am glad you read it. we're discussing it for book club next week and i can't wait to hear what everyone has to say.

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  2. Haven't read the help, but your review sure has me intrigued. I am a voratious book reader, and try to read all kinds of things, though I do profess to prefer if not a happy ending certainly not a terrible one. One of the best books I have ever read was Dandelion Soup by Babs Horton. A little bit historical, a little bit magical, a truly good read. Probably not as thought provoking as your selection but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  3. I loved "The Help"! And, "Garden Spells" and "The Book Thief" are both sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. :-)

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  4. I keep meaning to read this book, I need to add it to my list!

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  5. the help has been on my radar since it first came out and i couldn't wait to read it for book club [we have a paperback-only rule!]. we are finally going to talk about it this month! it is definitely a book that has stayed with me in a way that most books don't.

    the book thief is wonderful and haunting. i listened to the audio version last year sometime and couldn't get little liesel meminger out of my head for weeks after. i think you'll enjoy this book, even with the heavy subject matter.

    i'm still listening to ceeccee honeycutt...thanks for the rec!

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