Am I the only one who thinks this book is overrated?

[Bridget]

I meant to write "like"; you know what I was trying to say.

[Airynn]

Sharon wrote: "Like anything else, the value of a book is to the reader. It doesn't matter what anyone else felt. If it was earth-shaking in one's perception that's all that need be said. :)"

I love this. Couldn't be more true!

[Marietta]

Sheena wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Okay, I know this book was really good and all, but there's people who consider it "life-changing" and "the best book they've ever read".

I felt as if it didn't live up to its pote..."

It has my vote for one of the prettiest dust covers I've seen in a long time!

[[deleted user]]

Bridget wrote: "Yes, this book is way over-rated!!!!!!! A white lady wrote a book about black maids and in southern dialect and she gets praise. If a black woman had wrote this book it would be collecting dust so..."

That's a good point and most likely and unfortunately, would be true if the writer was black.

[Cjpeffer]

Robert wrote: "The edition I read/listened to was from Audible. It was narrated by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell. Sometimes books on Audible are made to seem better by the narrat..."

Just wanted to add that I also felt the narrators added beautifully to the story for me. It made it a fun story with powerful moments.

[Bonnie]

Cjpeffer wrote: "Robert wrote: "The edition I read/listened to was from Audible. It was narrated by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell. Sometimes books on Audible are made to seem bette..."

I also listened and agree Robert and CJ, it was very well read.

[Laura]

Judy wrote: "For me, an excellent book is one that pulls me into the stories and evokes strong emotions toward the characters (positive or negative) and this book did that. I couldn't put it down. I read purely for enjoyment and escape (learning is optional but a plus) and this book provided all of the above."

I agree completely.

I'm just now reading The Help and really enjoying it (about 2/3 through the book). I knew it was popular, but I never paid much attention to all the hype; so I really didn't have any expectations built up.

I read fiction for enjoyment and don't have any desire to over analyze a book. Judy said it well....."an excellent book is one that pulls me into the stories and evokes strong emotions toward the characters (positive or negative)".

I don't see this book being "life-changing"; but then I wasn't expecting that anyway in a fiction book.

[Antoinette]

Am I reading a different book because The Help that I know is the absolute best book of all. Hands down my favorite book.

[jaadhimalli]

Definitely not over-rated.

[Russell]

I wasn't expecting much when my friend recommended the book to me. But it's been a long time that I read a story that made me laugh, angry, and sad. I live in Canada and have faced racial discrimination too, not to the same extreme as the maids in THE HELP, but it was a topic we were still taught in school. The POV of the maids for me, I must admit, I was less familiar with. Still, I loved the story, both the book and the movie. Then again, not everyone will share my opinion. That's just the way it is with stories. You'll either love them or hate them.

[Mel]

I think the best part of the book was the POV of the maids. I love to step into someone else's shoes for a little bit and see what they can see. That is one of the reasons that I enjoy reading. Even though it is a work of fiction, I have gained some knowledge of the time period in an enjoyable way. That is exactly what I hoped to get! Not overrated in my opinion.

[Amanda_DJ n' Zac]

Alannah wrote: "Okay, I know this book was really good and all, but there's people who consider it "life-changing" and "the best book they've ever read".

I felt as if it didn't live up to its potential. I was w..."

I agree totally! I would love to see the movie soon, but yes i read it and felt the same. I expected the book to be a page turner with the way the characters were discussed. It was a good book as you said, but yes i agree with your opinion.

[Margaret]

I feel that it was a good, well written book. It had a good story line and kept me interested while reading it. However, I felt that the ending was rushed and abrupt and that it could have developed more of a solution as the end. It seemed to me like the author had a deadline that needed to be reached, and rushed the end. The entire book is detailed and developed untill you get to the very end. I felt it just ended in the simplest way possible.

[Kathy]

Alannah wrote: "Okay, I know this book was really good and all, but there's people who consider it "life-changing" and "the best book they've ever read".

I felt as if it didn't live up to its potential. I was w..."

[Kathy]

The best thing I did was listen to it on tape. The voices were so rich and perfectly casted I didn't want to get out of the car. It will really change your opinion of the story. Please give it a try.

[Maria B.]

not exactly life changing, but it changes the way we think...

[Jean Paul]

The fact that she touched that many people and succeeded makes everyone a little jealous I would assume. It might not be life changing but it was well done. If the characters were not well developed, she intended for them to be the way they are. Jut enjoy the book.

[Maria B.]

no h8ing

[Sharlene]

I loved it!

[Global]

It was a good book...it allowed us to peek into some skeletons inthe closet and also allowed us to see redemption for those who were oppressed in many ways duringthat era.

[Diane]

I couldn't stand this book.

[Shawn]

I never made it through the first chapter. I found it depressing. I caught the movie on yesterday and watched a little of it. I love the actresses in it and I'm sure they did a fabulous job but I still couldn't stay with it for long. Knowing these things happened doesn't mean I want to be entertained by them.

[Emma]

No, you're not alone, but the subject matter and the way that the author presented it was what made it good for many people, I think.

[Global]

Shawn wrote: "I never made it through the first chapter. I found it depressing. I caught the movie on yesterday and watched a little of it. I love the actresses in it and I'm sure they did a fabulous job but I s..."

I don't beleive that it was meant to be entertaining... how can a subject like that be entertaining...but it just reveals skeletons in the closet... The book maybe a bit hard to get through but the movie brought alot of things home...

[Cynthia]

I couldn't get past the vernacular at the beginning. Never read past page one.

[Renee]

Greengirl wrote: "I loved it, and as far as it changing my life....In No way would I ever be anything like these foolish women except Skeeter and ...oh my I've forgotten her name...the blonde one who was so sweet ....."
I think her name was Celia Foote but I might be wrong.

[Nisha]

I think 'The Help' was definitely one of the 'good' books to come out during recent times. It was not an excellent one by literary standards or even content wise. But it was certainly worth the effort and time and undoubtedly a unforgettable book. The characters were lively and are likely to stay back long after one has forgotten their names. The book may not be categorized as one of the authentic fictional accounts of black history, but would for sure go down in history as one of those rare books which made you feel one with the trials and tribulations of the characters. Certainly a good read.

[Sharlene]

Maybe I'm weird but I read for the sheer enjoyment of it. I don't expect a fiction book to "change my life". And frankly would be shocked if any book changed my life. I enjoy most books even the ones that are not that well written if the story line is good

Yes I liked "The Help" but I like most books :)

[Nichola]

I don't think the book was over rated, I think some people were just a litte dramatic in their reactions towards it.

[Laura]

Sharlene wrote: "Maybe I'm weird but I read for the sheer enjoyment of it. I don't expect a fiction book to "change my life". And frankly would be shocked if any book changed my life. I enjoy most books even the on..."

I agree and I also agree with Nichola that many reactions were overly dramatic..... it's only a book!

[Global]

It's a book that included real life challenegs that we today can't even begin to understand... It all depends on a person's perspectives... I worked with a lady who had a black woman look after her due to her parents being divorced and her mother had to work.... The housekeeper didn't even eat with them...


Whether entertainment or not... this book isn't for everyone...

[Shawn]

Sharlene wrote: "Maybe I'm weird but I read for the sheer enjoyment of it. I don't expect a fiction book to "change my life". And frankly would be shocked if any book changed my life. I enjoy most books even the on..."

I love what you said here! I've enjoyed some books that weren't that well written but had a great storyline! Sometimes you just look past it.

[Tamara]

I preferred the movie and I NEVER prefer a movie to the book.

[Global]

gdg wrote: "This book is well written fairy tale about racism that allows the readers to imagine something that never happened (as if it did).

If you really want to stop racism, then do something real!"

This book may be a fictious book regarding the South but many things were alot worse than portrayed in the book...and that particular state was the worse for these situations...

[Global]

gdg wrote: "This book is well written fairy tale about racism that allows the readers to imagine something that never happened (as if it did).

If you really want to stop racism, then do something real!"

What are you referring to as not happening?....

[Global]

gdg wrote: "And racism is so entertaining."

nothing entertaining about it...

[Global]

Society has truly not evolved if one thinks racism is entertaining...

[Judy]

Very interesting commentary, I liked the book, and felt that is was very true to the time and the "silly southern ladies" that I was aware of during those years. Was it life changing, no? but, it was another time and place and hopefully it was life changing for those of us who never realized that we treated one another with such disdane.
It was entertaining and funny , but then again it is fiction and if you want fact read non-fiction.
I would recommend it and did to many. I thought it
did not translate well to the screen.
That was silllllly.

[Shawn]

I hope no one thinks I meant that racism would be entertaining! It's absolutely not. Maybe it just makes me a bit uncomfortable. The ignorance and hate of those days is disturbing. I count myself lucky to have grown up a little later (I am a southern girl). We're not perfect but we've come a long way.

[L.V.]

It was a good book, and like all novels, it is a work of fiction. I believe Ms. Stockett treated her subject matter with as much respect as a girl raised in the south, who was a different ethnicity than most of her characters, could.

I don't consider the book life-changing, although I enjoyed it immensely, and as an African American woman, was not offended by her audacity to tell this story.

We are all entitled to our opinions about the book and this is why I love living in America. You can have an opinion without be vilified for it (most of the time).

[Julia]

I suspect that many of the people who say the book changed their lives only said that because it might make them look bad if they said otherwise (I'm not saying everyone so don't jump in and attack). Personally I think I gave it three stars and I still think that was too many.

[Global]

gdg wrote: "We may have come a long way and the reality is that in every major city in the US there is a large financially impoverished section (or sections) of town that is dominated by people who are not whi..."

The whites who can afford to keep their kids out of the system pay dearly to keep them out as well keep in behind close doors...then ofcourse the media has a field day with the rest of the population

[Johannes]

I would not recommend this novel to a casual reader, so to answer your question, you are not the only one who thinks this book is overrated.
It is sort of a fun read, but not gripping.
It is a novel that is well done, but not a classic.

[Carey]

I loved the book. I loved how the maids (one in particular) would retaliate against the white women bosses. Especially, the part where the maid after being fired brings her old boss her favorite chocolate pie as a peace offering. I won't say anymore about since some people may not have read the book. That part was so funny. I thought it was ingenious. I would not say that the book was life-changing. I have read books that I consider life-changing but this was not one of them. I did give it a 5 star rating and it is in my Favorites folder so I do think highly of the book.

[Sue]

I also loved the book and gave it 5 stars. I actually had read it soon after it was published, BEFORE all the hype, and had recommended it to everyone I knew. I felt it touched on the same themes as To Kill a Mockingbird (one of my all time favorite books), and that it was an engrossing and fascinating historical fiction read. Did it change my life? Well, no. But it made me think and reflect upon my upbringing, although I was raised in an upper middle class community on Long Island, where many families had live in help (not ours), and we were also insulated from the diversity in other parts of the country. We were Jewish in a primarily Jewish neighborhood, and although I don't regret anything about my childhood, I wasn't exposed to diversity until I was in college and then teaching in NYC. I like to read novels which are set during my lifetime, and if I relate to the characters, setting, and events, if I FEEL something, then the book is successful. Before I saw the movie last summer, I reread the book, and enjoyed it as much, if not more, than first time around. A great book, and a great movie adaptation (which, as we all know, doesn't always happen)....Even if you don't think this book is a classic, it is a solidly good book for readers like me, and I do not make excuses for enjoying it immensely!

[Sharlene]

Well said Sue

[Diana]

I think the movie was better than the book. I don't say that very often.

[Briyana]

Greengirl wrote: "I loved it, and as far as it changing my life....In No way would I ever be anything like these foolish women except Skeeter and ...oh my I've forgotten her name...the blonde one who was so sweet ....."

i know who you are talking about but, i can't remember her name either it always slips my mind.

[Ann]

I read this book before all the hype as well. I thought it was a solid book. I gave it a top rating. In my own opinion, it was well written, and brought awareness to how dangerous it back then. I also thought that her characters were well developed and believable.

[Markland]

I didn't think this book was as amazing as many people. There was excessive dialogue where there could be more exposition and at some point I felt disengaged with the narrative. It became more flat and one-dimensional than I thought.