The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Product details
Web ID: 15623694Better than the movie
This book was definitely better than the movie. It focused more on the character and lives of both Aibileen and Minny - who were my favorite perspectives to read about. And the relationship between Minny and Celia felt more satisfying at the end of the book when compared to the movie. Granted, there were scenes in the movie that improved some situations and dialogue, but the book was definitely better. It dove a lot more into the mistreatment and racism that I feel the movie was too afraid to show. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Help
Such a good book. Would love to have a sequel. Will keep lookig for it.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved this book
The book was so much better than the movie, which I thought was very good as well. But the book actually makes you feel nervous for some of the maids, as if you were right there. The book felt more real. Excellent writing.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
No, no, no
Disappointed by this. Sinking to evil's level to get revenge is not victory or funny.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good book
Catty women start bickering over matters of race.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Must Read!
The book I have chosen to critically analyze is, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. The Help tells the story of African American maids working in white southern households in the 1960s. Stocketts intentions were to show how awful life was for house maids living in the South; more specifically, Jackson Mississippi. This is done through the use of Stocketts characters such as Skeeter. Skeeter is a 22 year old graduate from Ole Miss who returns to her family’s cotton plantation to find that her beloved maid Constantine, has left and no one will tell her why. Skeeters life long dream is to become a writer but the only job she can find is with the Jackson Journal writing a housekeeping advice column called “Miss Myrna”. Skeeter knows little to nothing about housekeeping so she turns to her friend maid Aibileen for answers and sees the truth about how life is as a maid. The author, Kathryn Stocketts main objective for this book is to put out a story on how hard life was for African Americans in the 1960s. Through story telling she is able to share realistic and frightening stories about these Mississippi maids. Although the book shares a fictional story, it still does a good job expressing these scenarios that have happened throughout the past. The main arguments in the novel, The Help, are a bit foggy due to the fact that it is a story rather than something persuasive. With that being said, the main arguments I found to be were that people were not and still are not educated enough on racism. Specifically back in the 1960’s, a lot of these maids were very poorly treated. For example, when Skeeter came home from college, and interviewed Aibileen, she expected to learn about housekeeping just as anyone would expect. She soon finds out the horrors that all of these maids were dealing with. Growing up in a household that was white and very wealthy, Skeeter only saw the good things in life because she was fortunate enough to grow up with no worries. Even when Skeeter would interact with some of these maids on a daily basis like her beloved maid Constantine, she never saw the truth behind how her parents treated her. Another main argument that I found was how tough these maids in the 1960s really were. All of the maids in Jackson were living in poverty, making little to no money, and working extensive hours daily. While managing all of this, they had to take care of not only their own children, but the children of these white families. I mention all of this to get the point that throughout all the obstacles in their way they still manage to make strong relationships with these kids knowing that their parents treat them like so poorly. Even though the maids have so many worries in life they don’t let it affect the way that they treated these families. Stocketts purpose for writing, The Help, was ”to help her understand why she couldn’t see through the duplicity of things in the south.” After the book was published, Stockett went on to press the fact that she felt mortified that it took her 20 years to see the unjust treatment of black people. I think Kathryn was very successful with the whole novel in entirety. She was able to express a point about the black community being wrongfully treated in the 1960s and how we as a community should be more mindful about how important it is for people to know this. In conclusion, The novel, The Help, is a must read for everyone. Specifically, the young adults of America who are in high school. Stockett couldn’t have done a better job spreading what really was happening back in the 1960s to African American people, especially the people who weren’t alive to witness it which is most of us. This novel was also very entertaining to read in general. The many stories that were told were either shocking, suspenseful, or believe it or not, hilarious. All in all, if you haven’t read, The Help, I most certainly would recommend you doing so.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Just POWERFUL
This book is fearless, bold, and speaks its mind! I remember reading the first page, because I had seen the movie, and it immediately sucked me in. The depth of its message is so powerful. Kathryn Stockett was not afraid to give the hard stuff straight to you. She really opened my mind to the painful truth of history and she made me want to get up and change the world! When I finished this book I cried. It was so beautifully written and I wanted everyone to read it! I remember when I had finished I was too afraid for a while to read any other novels because I knew nothing could measure up to The Help. If you read this novel—which I really hope you do—it WILL change your life! See if it doesn’t! 5 stars all the way!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com