The Help

AMAZING! 2010-07-31

Reviewer: ekh32

What a wonderful book. I couldn't set it down! Not only does it keep your attention and in suspense, but it sends a wonderful message. The characters in the story are so real and you fall in love with them (well most of them).

GET THIS BOOK, you won't be disappointed!

Intense. 2010-07-31

Reviewer: K. Kenyon-Berry

I bought this book on impulse, and I am so glad I did! It is an awesome story and an eyeopener, especially to those of us who did not live in the era the book was written in. It is hard to imagine that people were treated this way, in the USA, in the 1950-60s. Yay for Miss Skeeter, who against all odds, liberated her friends! I could not put this book down once I started!

Fabulous Book 2010-07-31

Reviewer: Tamara L. Torbleau

I was thrown in to the story as soon as I started reading and couldn't put this book down. I finished it in 24 hours and then was sad that it was done. If you're interested in other stories involving the treatment of African Americans after they were considered "free", I suggest you read "I, Alex Cross".I, Alex Cross

The Help needed help 2010-07-30

Reviewer: Sheldon Laskin

I liked much of this novel but can't say it is a great book. The main problem is that the author never found a consistent tone for the novel. I call this the "reverse Irving" effect. John Irving is a master at underscoring the ultimate horror in his novels by initially setting a very humorous tone and then suddenly shifting gears. Comedy to horror works; horror to comedy does not. The Help early on does manage to convey the fear of being either an "uppity" black or a pro-civil rights white in the South of the early '60's. But the author throws that away by interjecting humor (childish, bad humor at that), starting with the fundraising gala. The book just loses all credibility at that point. The "dramatic" confrontation between Celia and Hilly at the gala is just silly and the Terrible Awful is ridiculous. While it was apparent that the Constantine story would have something to do with her daughter, the resolution of that plot line lacked all credibility -- this is the early 60's, not the late 60's and the daughter came across as a Black Power radical about five years too soon (speaking of authenticity, no Jew would ever describe Christmas by saying "we call it Hanukah" as Stein did to Skeeter).

Also, the author's treatment of Celia is puzzling, given that this is a book about prejudice and stereotyping. As written, Celia just confirms all cliches about poor, white trash -- her brains are entirely in her boobs. I wanted to see Celia really see Hilly for what she was at the gala, not kiss her ass. Similarly, it is inconceivable to me that Skeeter would care for a nanosecond that Hilly and Elizabeth had dumped her -- she had already moved far beyond them by that point.

Finally, and this may be a bit unfair, but my feeling all along while reading it is that this book was written forty years too late. One of the things that makes To Kill a Mockingbird so enduring is precisely that it was written at the time; as such it was a gutsy book to write, and the writing of it shaped history. The Help is "merely" an historical novel -- not terribly courageous to write now and with no new insights on the times about which it deals. In forty years, people will still be reading Mockingbird. But not The Help.

Down to earth and heart-warming 2010-07-30

Reviewer: E. Chan

Amazing book -- great read! I had to slow myself down because I dreaded coming to the end and not having any more to read. It's written in a down-to-earth, raw manner without being over the top and insulting. Aside from the main storyline, it speaks to being a woman [of many kinds] and being a mother. There were many moments where I felt compelled to pause and just reflect. Beautifully written, very entertaining.