The Help
Kathryn Stockett
I realize it sounds trite, yet in this case trite is true for me. Every once in awhile I run across a book that I can't put down, one I will stay up all night to finish. I believe book reviewers call these books 'readable'; I call them thoroughly enjoyable.
The Help is the debut novel of Mississippi-born, University of Alabama graduate,
Kathleen Kathryn
Stockett. I mention this because I, too, am a Mississippi-born, University of Alabama graduate so I feel I have insight into that world. Having a white person write in the voice of a black person can be tricky and, to some people outside the area, audacious. I can speak to the authenticity because I experienced 1960's Mississippi: packing care baskets at a Baptist Church for people in Africa, the same church who wouldn't allow the black family across the street to worship there; living through the silver counting and accusations; and, of course, the dialect, segregation,
integration, terrible losses, and significant gains of that time.
Stockett takes these experiences and weaves the story of three remarkable women, who together begin to change the course of history and, in the end, their own.
Skeeter is a recent Ole Miss graduate, who returns home to live with her parents and the confines that entails for an unmarried female. Once there, she learns that Constantine, the maid who raised her and whom she loved, has left the household and no one will tell her how to find her. Skeeter goes through the motions of visiting with her lifelong best friends, Hilly and Elizabeth, by attending Bridge Club and the League meetings. As editor of the League newsletter, Skeeter gets to practice her passion for writing. It is with this newsletter that she and Hilly begin to openly differ. Hilly wants her "Home Sanitation Initiative" advocating separate bathrooms for the domestic "help" published in the newsletter.
After initiating contact with a New York publishing company and on their advice, Skeeter lands a job at the local newspaper writing household cleaning tips. It is with this job that she makes contact with Abilene, Elizabeth's maid and the primary caregiver to Elizabeth's children. Skeeter is given permission to briefly speak with Abilene routinely, as long as it doesn't interfere with her job responsibilities.
Abilene is still mourning the death of her son,
Treelore, following an accident while his bosses watched. She is rightfully wary of white people who try to engage her, yet is struck by a question Skeeter whispers to her privately in the kitchen: "do you ever wish you could...change things?" Wanting to write something more substantial than cleaning tips, Skeeter gets the idea to write a book from the view of the domestic help and approaches Abilene to contribute. The risks of such an endeavor are real and frightening.
Minnie has lost numerous jobs for speaking out and then is ultimately accused of stealing, making it difficult for her to find a job. She finally lands a job with newcomer, Celia, which introduces the subject of class into the book. Abilene enlists her best friend, Minnie, in the clandestine meetings with Skeeter and a book begins to take shape.
Stockett writes a wonderful cast of characters - from her three heroines to the racist Hilly to the Senator's son - all descriptive of the incredible restraints of segregation and fear. I have already begun recommending this book and consider it the best book I've read this year.
Pick it up at an independent bookstore or here at
Amazon.
I am submitting this for the August 15
th book review at
Maggie Reads for the Southern Reading 2009 Challenge.
