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Book Review of The Help

The Help
The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Lateesha avatar reviewed on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4


I am so impressed by this novel. I wish I could give this book 10 stars and more. Words can't express the way that I felt when I finally got to the end of it. I just sat there thinking about all the characters. I felt as though I actually knew these people because they were developed so well. They jumped right off the page at you. She brought every single character to life. I enjoyed them all even Hilly with her evil self. Many of the white families were ignorant and didn't know any better. If you were a white child coming up during that time, you only knew what you've been taught. It was a blessing that many of the black domestics actually took the time to change some of the children's views about coloreds.

I can't believe this is the author's first novel. The story is so well written and much better than some of the novels that I've read by authors who have had several books published. There is only one other book so far that I've read within the past year that has had such a profound impact on me and that honor goes to Ms. Octavia E Butler's book Kindred. The Help has just been added to the list. This novel was absolutely amazing! If I could thank Ms. Stockett personally I would for writing such a beautiful story.

The author's descriptions of Jackson, Mississippi, the people and the times in which they lived during the 1960's are accurate. For anyone to say otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about or are just plain hating. I'm a 30 year old black woman so I didn't grow up during that time so all I know is what my own family has told me. My husband was born and raised in Jackson, Ms. He's only two years older than me so when I finished this book, I asked his mother about it and she stated that even though the story is fiction....Ms. Stockett hit the nail on its head and that she was right on about everything. She was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi as well as all her other relatives. She is reading the book now. It was nice to read about what actually might of happened versus reading what's in the history books. I loved the way Ms. Stockett incorporated some of the major events that happened during that era. She even got the vernacular of the people right. The author did an excellent job going back and forth between the many voices she had to write in. Some of my husband's people still speak like that to this day lol. I will probably be thinking about this book every time we go back to Jackson to visit his family.

I am so proud of this author for writing this novel and for not giving into to the fears she described in the (Too Little, Too Late) portion of the book. It was nice that she added her own words. She was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi so she knows what she's talking about. This is how she was able to provide much of the needed details that went into the book. You can tell that her heart and soul went into writing this novel. If you haven't read it yet, I would definitely go out and get it because if you don't then you're going to miss out on something really special! Thank you once again Ms. Stockett for writing such a beautiful story and I'll be one of the first in line to purchase your next book.