The Help in Womankind Worldwide Book Group

Oct 11, 2009 Phyllis | Mocha Drop rated it did not like it

While I am a fan of novels with Southern settings, I opted to quickly skim this book after Chapter 1 -- a true rarity for me, especially considering that this is a Vine Voice book I am obligated to review. Perhaps my expectations were too high after reading the synopses and praises heralding it as a "lush, original" story told "through authentic voices..." I was really looking forward to reading it along with my book buddy, but unfortunately she must proceed without me.

The story's setting is 19 While I am a fan of novels with Southern settings, I opted to quickly skim this book after Chapter 1 -- a true rarity for me, especially considering that this is a Vine Voice book I am obligated to review. Perhaps my expectations were too high after reading the synopses and praises heralding it as a "lush, original" story told "through authentic voices..." I was really looking forward to reading it along with my book buddy, but unfortunately she must proceed without me.

The story's setting is 1962 Mississippi and Aibiliene works as a domestic for white employers. Having lost her only child tragically and unexpectedly, she pours her heart into caring for her white charge (the seventeenth one) as her own. She has a sweet, non-threatening disposition and has seemingly worked diligently, obediently, without protest in the homes of some disrespectful (and I suspect) racist women -- the same women (and their children) that she knows better than they know themselves. The author coats Abiliene's diction with broken English (which is acceptable considering the region and era); but her attempt at the African American vernacular left me a bit frustrated and insulted. She uses a somewhat different choice of words using phonetically yet functionally incorrect substitutes (if there is a literary term for this, I obviously do not know what it is). It may be a nit that bothered only me, but to clarify, here's an example: Law = Lord, a course = of course, spec = expect, and doe-nob = doorknob. This "pitch perfect voice" (as described on the back flap) of the the childless, faithful, church-going, make-everything-all-right-for-the-white-folk, black maid -- was a bit too much for me in roughly ten pages. I was sorely disappointed in Aibileen's voice and her story from the onset; I lost interest immediately. I closed the book attempting to flush the stereotypical modern day "mammy" image from my mind!

While this review is obviously in the minority, I must rate it low per Amazon's scale -- I did not care for the characters (or their voices) I met and heard in Chapter 1 and could not fathom spending the time and energy reading another 400 detailed pages of it. Maybe I was not the target audience? I am not sure. I finished the book by skimming through the following chapters and sadly there was nothing that I read within the pages to make me reconsider reading the novel in greater detail. Maybe fans of Clara's Heart, The Secret Life of Bees, and other similarly themed works will enjoy this offering. While I did not care for the content and themes, I will note that mechanically the author writes well and is a good storyteller. ...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Pamela (slytherpuff) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, chick-lit, library-book, favorites, z-complete-2012-wbc, audiobook, pimp-out, stickies, strong-heroine

See more of my reviews at Bettering Me Up.

Amazing. Wonderful. Heartbreaking. ...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Simay Yildiz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Review soon.

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Aug 29, 2011 Leah rated it it was amazing

I was taken with this book from the moment I started reading it. Stockett does a fantastic job of capturing the essence of race tensions and social divisions in the 1960's. Her pull from personal experience (growing up with a black maid in a similar time period and location) gave a realistic voice to the characters Aibileen and Minny. However, the focus of the book was not just on racial struggles, but also on class distinctions and women's struggles.
Stockett puts her characters in situations t ...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Karen Nelson rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in two days, and found myself thinking "omg, is it really 3 a.m.?" I couldn't help myself. I love the southern setting, and also the period. Overall a 5 star rating. Nice work. ...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Sherry rated it it was ok

a bit cliched for me... good to raise public consciousness though.

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Mar 09, 2011 Sam Tocchini rated it it was amazing

This is a great book. I read it in 3 days. Couldn't help it... It was such a great story and each character had a unique voice. ...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Anne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, fiction, mylibrary, kindle

currently reading - I was concerned about the voicing of black women by a white author. I thought there might be study questions in the back; instead there is an essay by the author about precisely my concern. For me, it makes a big difference in the reading.

I finished reading/listening to this book this evening. It was amazing - riveting, especially in the audio version which is exceptionally well done.

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Aug 01, 2009 Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-2011, read-2011, audio

I loved this book! It was especially enjoyable on audio, the characters voices were very well done and the setting and time were vividly portrayed. As I read, I felt like alternately cheering, smiling ear to ear, groaning, cringing or crying and spent most of the drive to work over the past month listening and nodding my head at the spot on portrayals.

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