The Help
discussion
What a Great Book! Thoughts? What do you think becomes of HIlly?
Joseph wrote: "What happens to Hilly? She loses the campaign for League president, gets extremely fat and loses all her friends yet STILL doesn't see how she is a conniving racist bitch. She throws herself into t..."
Very good! I hope those things do happen to her. I would much rather read more about Skeeter, Abilene or Celia any day.
What was in that chocolate pie?
Very good! I hope those things do happen to her. I would much rather read more about Skeeter, Abilene or Celia any day.
What was in that chocolate pie?
I think you don't want to know.
I think Hilly stays bitter and racist, but I believe others around her changed.
Robin wrote: "I think you don't want to know."
That is what my sister told me!
That is what my sister told me!
that is why it is chocolate...
Unfortunately, I think people like Hilly never change. I think whatever causes them to be the way they are is usually some deep rooted personal problem. Some lack within self that causes them to spread this hate. They are unhappy. They have no self love. They hate themselves and so they can’t stand to see anyone else happy. Whatever her issue is, her inadequacies, she must be in control, in charge, important and have her way. The reality of people like this is that they most times are not in control, they are really not important and only want their way because it gives them a false sense of self worth. It makes them feel good by breaking someone else down. Sad! Hilly, was sad and she deserved to eat that Terrible Awful _____ pie! Lol If I could go into the book, I’d feed her a few more pieces and take a picture.
Farrah wrote: "I just finished it this morning. I couldn't put it down. I like the open style of the ending...Abilene can go off and do anything but most importantly she knows she has to just keep going. I apprec..."It makes you wonder if there will be more.. a series of Abiliene books maybe?
Alicia wrote: "I also love the research Stockett put into the book. Very detailed and not over the top. I felt like I was in every scene. I don't know what to think becomes of Hilly. I suppose she didn't change."Me too! I guess that is why in some parts I was steaming mad!
Farrah wrote: "My friend saw the previews last night and she got a little weepy at the previews. She said it looks amazing"Yes, I got a little weepy at the previews too but I laughed also. I can't wait.
Debbie wrote: "Farrah wrote: "I just finished it this morning. I couldn't put it down. I like the open style of the ending...Abilene can go off and do anything but most importantly she knows she has to just keep ..."I don't know but that would be a great story to read. Abilene's story.
Melissa wrote: "Great book! I agree that Hilly will eventually lose it and become a lonely bitter old woman.Did anyone have a problem with the speech colloquialisms? I have lived in the south, but not Mississi..."
I’ve never lived in the south but my grandmother and other ladies transplanted from the south of that generation at church.. in the neighborhood sound just like that. It actually endeared me to the book because it reminded me of them.
ughh sometimes I wanted to go inside the book at slap that Hilly some sense into her. she's so horrible to the help... absolutely LOVED the book thou!!! must read for those who haven'tt!
I love the book...can hardly wait for the movie to come up. I love Minny's character...sassy and with a point/ :-)
I think that Hilly ends up bitter and lonely.
The question says: What do you think becomes of Hilly?I think Hilly will never change in her heart. The times have changed and maybe in reality there are some people who were "Hilly's" and the world has forced them to act differently. Maybe more "politically correct". But when hate is in one's heart...unless they have a renewal of heart, spirit, something to jar them into a different way of thinking, there is no change. It's just a covering, cloaking of the same. I think, Hilly, stays the same. Maybe cloaked but the same. Unless Hilly became a hippie in the late 60’s…lol… hmmmm Hilly the Hippie? ;o)
What do you think happens to Elizabeth? Do you think she changes her viewpoints and separates herself from Hilly?
Farrah wrote: "What do you think happens to Elizabeth? Do you think she changes her viewpoints and separates herself from Hilly?"See, I always thought Elizabeth seemed so wishy-washy. So on the fence, so to speak. All her actions seemed to be based on peer pressure. She only did anything to be a part of the in crowd, even when she fired Aibileen it didn’t seem as if she agreed with Hilly but she did it because she wanted to do what her ring leader told her to do. Her hesitance showed she didn’t agree but the fact that she did it showed that the peer pressure made her acquiesce. Will Elizabeth change? Maybe she will grow a back bone. Maybe she will get tired enough of Hilly telling her how to live her life. Maybe she will find a new leader to follow, which is more believable. Hopefully, it will be a leader that guides her to love/acceptance vs. hate.
you know, Elizabeth was the kind of person who scared me more..at least with Hilly you knew exactly what you were getting - Elizabeth was willing to go along with the crowd, change her mind based on what other people were doing/saying - that kind of person is much worse IMHO
Not a keeper. Can find a much better book to spend my reading time--something more positive and uuplifting.
Jackleen wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "This book was very excellently done. The characters were crafted well and had authentic voices."I had not heard that they were making this into a movie. Do you know who the actors..."
I don't knnow about all of them, but I know Emma Stone is one.
Andria Lynn wrote: "This is by far my favorite book! i couldnt put it down and i never wanted it to end. im so happy they are making it into a movie because i cant get enough of this story and its characters. does any..."If you like historical fiction I 100% recommend The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, both by Kate Morton. They were so well done and I felt as if I was there. They are set at the turn of the century, plus or minus a few years. It's not Civil Rights Era, but still SO good!
Emma Stone; Sissy Spacek; the surfer guy who was on private practice is steward; Octavia Walker is Minnie (Ithink)Ashley wrote: "Jackleen wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "This book was very excellently done. The characters were crafted well and had authentic voices."
I had not heard that they were making this into a movie. Do you ..."
I have listened to the audio book twice now - it is awesome! There are four different women who read and two are in the upcoming movie, so I am very excited to see how the movie turns out - it has a lot to live up to! I cried both times I listened to the book and had a hard time exiting the car when I got to my destination because I didn't want to stop listening :) I highly recommend this for a long road trip.
I loved this book my friend gave it to me and was very shocked how good this was....this is not my norm by I was very pleased and touched by this and LOVED HILLY...crack me up she did;)
It was a very good though-provoking book.
Amy wrote: "I loved this book my friend gave it to me and was very shocked how good this was....this is not my norm by I was very pleased and touched by this and LOVED HILLY...crack me up she did;)"Why did you love Hilly?
Ashley wrote: "Andria Lynn wrote: "This is by far my favorite book! i couldnt put it down and i never wanted it to end. im so happy they are making it into a movie because i cant get enough of this story and its ..."I just ordered Forgotten Garden from the library. Should be starting it soon. Looking forward to it. Heard some great reviews!
I loved this book and hated for it to end too. Also can't wait for the movie and this is one I will be buying. I don't buy or watch that many movies but this one will def be a keeper.The only thing I didn't like was the speech..as I saw some others make mention of. I thought it was too over the top for one but mostly thought that if she was gonna use it for the black characters she should've shown the white southern accent too.
I grew up in the south..born 1962 and while we never had a maid...I saw the injustice and never understood why anyone treated so bad because of their skin color. None of us choose to be born whatever color we happen to be born...so why treat someone so bad just because their skin color is not the same as yours? Whats that saying...but for the grace of God..
Oh forgot to add...I would love to see a "follow-up" book.
I had not heard that they were making this into a movie. Do you know who the actors..."I think the casting may not be complete. Who would you like to see in the various roles? I think the woman who starred in Precious, Gabourey Sidibe, would be good in Aibleen's role. I can see Whoopi Goldberg in the role of Minnie. I am trying to think who might play Hilly.
Heathercheryl wrote: "I had not heard that they were making this into a movie. Do you know who the actors..."I think the casting may not be complete. Who would you like to see in the various roles? I think the woman ..."
The casting is complete. The previews are already being shown as commercials on TV.
go to www.thehelpmovie.com
i'm hoping casting is complete - its scheduled to open next month ;)
Debbie wrote: The casting is complete. The previews are already being shown as commercials on TV. go to www.thehelpmovie.com "
Thank you! I just watched all the trailers. The movie seems less serious than the book. I didn't expect them to do it this way; it is almost a comedy.
Heathercheryl wrote: "Debbie wrote: The casting is complete. The previews are already being shown as commercials on TV. go to www.thehelpmovie.com "
Thank you! I just watched all the trailers. The movie seems less s..."
The book did have it's comical moments as well. That is one of the reasons I loved it. I remember laughter being one of the emotions this book stirred in me as well. It was great.
Unfortunately, Hilly is alive and well and still doing her damage.
In the book;Minny points out that her mother didn't want her to talk "Black" so that's why she had less of a Dialect than Aibileen. She did however,speak her mind,something her mother told her never to do as well,which was what was so great about her(although she had trouble holding down jobs as a result.) I am not from the South,so my opinion might not mean anything to people who are,but I found the characters speech patterns in The Help convincing enough.the point of the book is how were all human anyway & that is what makes it (the book) an effective story.
As little as 11 years ago I lived in an isolated rural Virginia town, and reading The Help was a reminder of why I left there.The hoity -toity Women's Club was alive and well,the KKK existed and going anywhere by yourself as a single women was frowned upon as possibly promiscious. There were White churches and Black churches and if you were local you knew which ones where which. One of the first questions I was asked as "one of those Northern Women" was if I dated Black Men. I had no problem getting into the speech patterns. I heard them. I knew the story Kathryn Stockett wrote was probably a very accurate representation of the early 60's social morays.
I imagine that she becomes old and people begin to avoid her because she is such a poor sport and a spoiled brat. I believe she softens, grows wiser and passes away with the lesson learned at the very end of her life. However, right before her lids fall and she is surrounded by people that slightly car , she realizes she has been happy but cant remmber it because her mind is cluttered with other unimportant people and their business and she realizes that she has totally missed out on peace.
On Hilly - I believe she becomes more isolated and although the Woman's Club survives, its' numbers become fewer and fewer and thus her influence is minimized.This does not make her a happy camper,but she is too proud to pretend anything has changed and eventually the "polite" ignoring the women of the community becomes active head shaking and people see her of a symbol of the way things used to be. Again depending on the viewpoint of these women, Hilly is seen as a "grand ole Dame" or a "grand bigoted b***"
:D to the chocolate pie comment.
I know, I think I saw some trailer about the movie, and the maid just walked away with a smirk on her face, that must be the chocolate pie episode.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved all three diverse perspectives. So excited for the movie. Hope it lives up to the book (which, let's face it, probably won't). It made me laugh and cry out loud. :)
At the end, I pitied Ms. Hilly. She lost her one true love, doesn't have any true friends, and the world that she holds onto is disintegrating. Unfortunately Hilly is a product of her times and didn't have the smarts or common sense to question it.And I wonder how women like Hilly faced the '60s and the women's rights movement.
Zaneta wrote: "At the end, I pitied Ms. Hilly. She lost her one true love, doesn't have any true friends, and the world that she holds onto is disintegrating. Unfortunately Hilly is a product of her times and did..."I share your view
The great thing about a good book like this is that awakens these discussions within us. It causes us to discuss issues that we might not readily discuss or maybe not discuss frequently enough. It is wonderful to have a thought provoking, moving book. The good thing about fiction is that even though it’s based on some reality, at the end of the day it’s still a book so we can feel free to read and enjoy the “book-ness” of it all. It’s serious but it’s still a fun book. ;o)
Debbie wrote: "The great thing about a good book like this is that awakens these discussions within us. It causes us to discuss issues that we might not readily discuss or maybe not discuss frequently enough. It ..."I completely agree. I have enjoyed the plot andcharacters without having to confront Civil Rights myself.
Alicia wrote: "I also love the research Stockett put into the book. Very detailed and not over the top. I felt like I was in every scene. I don't know what to think becomes of Hilly. I suppose she didn't change."Hi
Is this book going to be a classic?
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OR...she develops a secret devilish addiction to "chocolate" pie and dies from related causes. yeah!