Book is now open for discussion - please share your thoughts on this fascinating book.

HERE

***BEWARE SPOILERS WILL APPLY***


**** I've edited the link - sorry it wasn't correct

This was a great selection because when it came up on book lists and I saw it was about the civil rights era, etc., I thought it would be another one of those books rehashing all of that inhumanity and prejudice. But luckily the audio version became available before the print one and different voices were used for each character which personalized it in so many ways. At first, I was really aggravated with Skeeter's character because I felt like she was using Abileen to further her career at Abileen's expense. Later when she paid her for the columns and set her up with the paper, she redeemed herself but throughout most of the book, I was not liking her in spite of the fact that she was losing her friends and was lonely. I thought that her boyfriend would redeem himself by being a closet liberal but he was a total disappointment and was glad to see her rid herself of him and more glad that her mother finally supported her.

Ok, Minnie, did she REALLY put You Know What in that pie???? Tell me she didn't really do that even though that witch with a capital B deserved it. Tell me it ain't so because everytime I think about it, I want to barf. Gives new meaning to the phrase, "Don't poop where you eat."

Someone said that this book is semi-autobiographical and I know that the author follows Skeeter's life path but looks too young.

Obviously, the one that I respected the most was Abileen and she had the most to lose in this relationship. And I liked Celia, the woman who hired Minnie. IMO she grew the most throughout the book. I wondered why when Skeeter was so ostracized and alone, she didn't strike up a friendship with her.

I'll chat more on this later.

Sassenach, is there a new thread for discussing The Help? The link in your post *HERE* takes me to a post reply box, but not to a new thread. Thanks.

don't know what I did with the the link -

try this one

HERE

Thanks, Sassenach. I thought I had seen a separate thread, but I did a search through the forum and couldn't find it. When the link didn't want to work, I thought it was either gone, or I had imagined it. The new link worked perfectly.

Pauline, I'm afraid Minnie did do that to the chocolate pie. I guess it's a warning not to mess with the person who cooks for you. Yikes!

I wish I could have found the time to reread this book, as I really enjoyed it. I can't help but think of The Help in conjunction with To Kill a Mockingbird and how Calpurninia was treated as one of the Finch family. In regards to having a better understanding of the times after reading The Help, I more understand Atticus' sister not being able to accept Calpurnia's place of honor in the Finch household.

I grew up during the 60's (born in the fall of 1961), but we were far removed from the lifestyle in this story. There were no housekeepers in my working class neighborhood, and honestly, very few black families in my home town. There had once been a segregated school, but it had long closed due to lack of students. We were pretty well integrated because there wasn't enough people to have a separate anything. As kids, we all played together, and if there had been racial disharmony, I never saw it. Economically, we were all pretty much in the same boat. There were a few wealthy families, but most of us had fathers who were blue collar workers (my dad was a welder) and moms who were "housewives". SAHM was not a phrase anyone used in those days.

The author of The Help did a wonderful job bringing the reader into the world of the black domestic in the early 60s. It was such an interesting time period to chose due because it was at the threshold of the civil rights movement. These women who had quietly accepted their role as second class citizens were beginning to realize that they could have a voice and change could occur, but they also understood that it sadly wouldn't happen without pain.

I haven't reread the book, and I read it originally more than a year ago, but the part about Minnie's pie definitely stuck with me. I think she really did it. And, gross as it was, it couldn't have been given to a more deserving person. I also remember the toilets put on the lawn.

It seems like a lot of characters in the book were isolated from one another because of societal structure and it showed how difficult it could be to bridge the gaps. I think that's why Skeeter didn't become friends with Celia even though they were both so lonely.

Dallis, I had the same thought re TKAMB and how it relates to The Help. What I am enjoying is reading about the strong will of the female characters in both books, including Skeeter who is also an underdog and treated unfairly by her family and friends. As Costantine tells her: "ugly live up on the inside. Ugly be a hurtful, mean person." All of the narrators in The Help are beautiful people in my eyes.

As I am in the process of rereading The Help, I will comment more thoroughly when I have finished. I am noticing the subtle hints and forshadowings during the second read that I originally had missed. For instance, there is a short scene where Celia tells Minnie that she hates mimosa trees because they remind her of the the hairs on a baby's skin. Oh, how sad is that.

One thing that still puzzles me is the the identity of the naked lunatic who attacked Minnie in the yard? Do we find out who he was and what happened to him?

I'm a bit late in my discussion !

I found the book incredibly insightful into a way of life I knew very little, if anything about - my main delight was in the strength of the women - all with very different characteristics, but all forthright and funny in places ....and quite horrible in other scenarios - I don't think I ever want to eat chocolate pie !

I noticed similarities between The Help and TKAMB - overall I thought it was a really thought provoking read....and deserves the accolades it received...

I agree, Sassanach. The Help is an outstanding work that made me realize how much times have changed, and for the better. My favorite character was Aibileen Clark. She was an intelligent woman who suffered personal tragedies and many injustices, yet persevered and was able to make a difference by helping Skeeter write the book. She was also determined to help the children she raised become decent human beings. I was delighted that she gets a fresh start by the end of the book as the writer for Miss. Myrna, hopefully the first of many writing opportunities.

My heart goes out to Skeeter, who loses so much by following her dream -- her friends, her standing in society and her first love. Stuart was not the right man for her, but what are the odds he would be involved with two Civil Rights activists and not even know it. If Skeeter had married him, she would have never moved to NYC and found herself. Although her mother was very critical of Skeeter, she does provide her daughter with some useful advice when she tells her not to cheapen herself for Stuart. "If Stuart doesn't know how intelligent and kind I raised you to be, he can march straight on back to State Street. Frankly, I don' care much for Stuart. He doesn't know how lucky he was to have you."

Mae Mobley is also one of my favorite characters, who done paint herself brown because she loves Aibee so much -- she is the future. I was laughing out loud when she is teaching Lil'Man about the Woolworth counter and pouring her crayons on her little brother's head. The best is when she tells her father that it was her nursery teacher, Miss Taylor, who taught her about such things. Bravo, Mae Mobley.

I love the last scene where Aibileen says goodbye to Mae Mobley and tells her to remember what she told her. "She still crying steady, but the hiccups is gone. 'To wipe my bottom good when I'm done?' 'No baby, the other. About what you are.' Law, she got old-soul eyes, like she done lived a thousand yers. And I swear I see, down inside, the woman she gone grow up to be. A flash from the future. She is tall and straight. She is proud. She got a better haircut. And she is remembering the words I put in her head. Remembeing as a full-grown woman. And then she say it, just like I need he to. 'You kind,' she says, 'you smart. You is important.' "
Now, that is just beautiful.

, Sassenach! I loved how some of the women in this book were so strong in their beliefs, and were so brave as to act upon those beliefs.

Lady Jayne, I, too, am glad that things have changed since the era of that novel, but I get so sad when I realize how much things STILL need to change in terms of racism. I guess that's why I loved the characters in the book who took it upon themselves to be strong enough to do what they thought was the right thing to do, even when it wasn't "the popular" or "socially acceptable" thing to do. I especially liked some of the ideas Abilene tried to convey to Mae Mobley, and the stories / ways she used to teach her to be accepting of others.