The Help

This book by Kathryn Stockett was kind of, sort of recommended to me by a student. She had just finished reading it when we got to the independent book project in my Contemporary American Lit class and wanted to use it as her book of choice. I wouldn't let her because I hadn't read it yet, but now that I have it can definitely go on the list.
The book is about three women. Aibileen is a black woman in her 50s who's only son Treelore was killed in an accident at work. Treelore's father is long gone and Aibileen works as a maid for Elizabeth Leefolt, a member of the junior league.

Minny is a younger black woman--late twenties or early thirties--who also works as a maid for the junior league crowd. Minny has a tendency to speak her mind which often causes her to get fired and then beat by her husband. As the book opens Minny has been fired from her job tending to Mrs. Walters, a deaf old woman who couldn't hear when Minny sassed off. However Miss Hilly, Mrs. Walters daughter and the president of the Jackson Junior League, spreads a rumor that Minny was stealing the silver so Minny gets even with the Terrible Awful thing she does.

The third woman is Miss Skeeter, best friend of Miss Leefolt and the editor of the Junior League newsletter. Miss Skeeter is tall and awkward--not the classic beauty who goes off to college to find love. Instead Miss Skeeter has managed to complete all four years at Ole Miss and much to her mother's chagrin graduates with a degree rather than a husband. Miss Skeeter returns home to afternoon teas and friends with husbands, children and Old South beliefs. What she does not find at home is her beloved nursemaid, Constantine who has mysteriously disappeared under circumstances Miss Skeeter's mother refuses to discuss.
The three women's lives intersect in the midst of the civil rights movement when Miss Skeeter decides to tell the story of the maids and their lives working for white women. Despite it all being done anonymously Miss Hilly figures out who has done the writing and who has done the telling and spreads the news around Jackson until she reaches Minny's story at the end of the book. Minny has revealed the terrible awful and Miss Hilly backtracks to keep it quiet, but not before most of the damage has been done.
The novel was very good, but as is the case with rotating points of view there is one story that I wanted to read more than the others. There were also several incidents taht seemed too convienent. Miss Skeeter goes off to NYC in job all too easily won, Miss Minny finds a job guaranteed for a lifetime with Miss Celia all too easily, and Miss Celia's life is crafted with a certain amount of mystery that is never fully satisfied. I would happily read the sequel if it were to be written about Miss Celia!
All in all though it was a good read laced with historical events and authentic voices that I will add to the independent reading list. Thank you Anna Mae!