The Help
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message 51:
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Liz
(last edited Oct 29, 2011 05:10PM)
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 29, 2011 05:09PM
A definite 10! One of my favorite books of the year ... just put the DVD on reserve at my public library and hoping it meets my expectations! ;o)
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What to me that is neat about the book and the movie is that they stand alone, even though they tell the same story. Think of Harry Potter as an example, first time they majorly "strayed" from the book I was furious, then I realized that the books and movies stand alone, they tell the same story, just in a different way. This one stayed far closer than most which I appreciate, but it's not the end of the world if there is some variation.
I rate it a 9 and it was not a "beach read" for me because we had an outside bathroom, our "help" ate in the kitchen, my father had a "Colored" entrance at his office and the book made me cry. Our "help" would be 100+yrs by now. We loved them. Our closest, last "family member" {for 70 yrs} was in the nursing home and told everyone I was her daughter when I wheeled her through the halls. In this book I'm glad she wrote the good relationships as well between Skeeter and Constantine and the friendship between Abiliene. Those are the healing moments. I am sorry for the past. After 45 yrs, this book was another revelation for me, so I am grateful for it. And I agree, the lesson Constantine gave Skeeter is the crux of the book.
I give it a 10 for the simple fact that I would read it again, and it takes a pretty good book for me to want to read it twice!
i would give it 9! this book was really intertaining, emotional, funny and mind openning, it made me know each character like they are our best friends, we understand them and understood why they did this and that, i loved them all! even Miss Hilly! LOL not loving the fact that shes kind of evil! but i loved the fact that she was unique in the book. i didnt give it a 10 because of one thing, would i want to read this book over and over again, maybe twice yes, but its not that kind of book that you want to read 6 times or 10 times! at least to me.
anyways i gave it 5 stars because i think it was amazing!
9.5 I could not put this book down! LOVED it
Brenda (Lansdowne) wrote: "I rate it a 3. It was fun book with a serious subject matter that was written to appeal to the masses, but in my opinion, it failed to do its job because it made people feel that things have chang..."they have changed.... and books aren't suppose to make people feel like a change in the world, they're for enjoyment. They're like a movie in your head, if you want to read about change then read a history book!
I haven't read a better book. It was like a rollercoaster! and everything was well thought out and you can tell a lot of time and research wen into this!! it is definantly a 10!!!!
I give it a 9. I thought it was a great read.
i rate THE HELP a 10 it was a great book,and it teaches you to be kind to your help or you will get a special pie...
I would give this an 8
9/10 - one of the best books I have ever read. Could not put it down.
Definitely a 10. I absolutely adore this book. Can't wait for something new from Stockett. I read somewhere that she's writing her next book about women during the Great Depression era.
I give it a 7. Enjoyed the book and the movie. The heated discussions around the book show very clearly the impact that it has had. I don't think the author intended to put a spotlight on racism in the present. Nor did she intend to say that racism has ended. But the book did show the complexity of racism and how it affects EVERYONE involved.
10 for the book, have not seen the movie yet.
10/10 for both the movie and the book. I enjoyed both of them very much.
I would probably give this book a 8.0-8.5. I think that people who dislike the book are taking it the wrong way. I never got the idea that this book was in any way stating that racism no longer exists in the present because there existed some empathy in the past. To me, this book was just a slice of life told from a certain point of view. In my opinion, it was not meant to be representative of ALL race relations either past or present, but to give the reader an idea of what some Black women (and peripherally, Black men) experienced in the 1960s south. There were awful people in the south who were very public and outspoken about their prejudice and hate (and there are many who still are but try to cover it up today). However, there were White people who did understand that prejudice was inherently wrong. My grandfather was one of them. He drove a school bus in the 1930s and 40s. Back then the bus drivers owned their own buses and contracted with the school system to transport the children. He was not supposed to pick up the Black students and when he did anyway, they threatened to terminate his contract. He said, "go ahead, where are you going to find another bus driver?" They grudgingly kept him on and he continued to transport the Black students. I grew up in 1960s Montgomery, Alabama. We had a maid and during the Civil Rights movement, my mother offered to march with her. There were many white women in Montgomery who assisted with the bus boycott by picking up their maids so they could get to work. Without alternate transportation the boycott would have failed. What this book does that is important in this day and time is remind us that racism is still very much with us and that the conversation needs to continue. To those that criticize Ms. Stockett for writing the book from the perspective of a white women, they need to understand that racism does not just touch the lives of Black (or Hispanic or other ethnic minorities). The pervasiveness of racism also negatively impacts white people because it makes them more callous, less empathetic and less willing to listen to the stories of those who still struggle with prejudice. It reduces our value as human beings. White people may not experience racism the same way minorities do, but they certainly are witness to it. I think it took a lot of courage for the author to write this book knowing she would probably receive criticism from all corners. So let the conversation begin. When Newt Gingrich uses buzz words like "poor children whose family does not teach them any work ethic," he is referring to Black children and playing into the race baiting that has so prevalent among politicians. When they scream about "welfare queens" they are not referring to white single mothers. As long as we allow politicians to use emotionally charged rhetoric to garner votes based on fear and a sense that someone else may be getting something for nothing, we play right into the racism hand and perpetrate divisiveness.
You go Mary...and I'm glad your grandfather stood up for them.
Thanks Anna. I am glad he did too.
This book was very emotional. It made me think a lot of how I treat people and how people treat me. It is really hard for me to relize that not long ago white people treated african american people with no respect for the exeption of some whites. I could never treat anyone that way and I think everyone else should agree with that. I definitly rate this book a 9.5 out of 10. The auther described the characters and the setting very well. I have also have seen the movie of the help. It was also very emotional to watch this torture towards the african americans. Despite all of the depressing things that took place in this book, I loved it and think that a lot of people should take some time and read this novel. You will be able to learn from the past and reflect on many things.
Def a 10 from me. I adored it! Loved the movie as well. It was so well written, amazing characters and plot line. Had me turning the pages. What more could you want!
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