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Sunday, January 17, 2010

"The Times They are a Changing" Book Review: The help by Kathryn Stockett

Posted by Melanie at 10:26 0 comments

The best book I have read lately is called, The Help, written by Kathryn Stockett. I put it on my hold list at the library back in November. Five days ago I bought it home and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish reading it.

All the action in this story takes place in Jackson Mississippi from 1960-1964.

The story unfolds from the eyes of two black domestic workers, Aibileen and Minny, they spend their days cleaning up after white families, cooking their meals and raising their children.

Skeeter, a young white woman just returned from college, is struggling with the racial inequalities she sees all around her. As well, her mother would like her to be like her friends and settle down with a husband and kids. But Skeeter is desperate to become a writer.

Following her curiosity and passions she becomes embroiled in writing a manuscript, which, given the conservative almost fascist views off the white majority, needs to be kept secret.

As the story evolves and historical events such as president Kennedy’s death, the 1963 march on Washington DC and Martin Luther Kings, I Have A Dream, speech, unfold, other events, like Skeeter’s boyfriends confusion, over the shortness of her skirt, and a scene in the car, when she listens to Bob Dylan sing the words,

'…you’ll sink like a stone
for the times they are a changing’,

remind me that is wasn’t just the racist tumult in the southern United States but increasing liberal attitudes everywhere, that were turning the world upside down.

Dylan’s words, leave Skeeter with a feeling of relief, like she’s “just heard something from the future.”

Stockett's exceptional writing and engaging story telling, are reasons why you should get this book. You will not be disappointed. I’ve added it to my Amazon wish list, because I’m definitely going to want to read it again.

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