Monday, June 29, 2020

The Help Book Review

Book: The Help

Author: Kathryn Stockett

Start Reading Date: June 18th 2020

End Reading Date: June 27th 2020

My Goodreads Rating: 5*



First Thoughts

I can’t remember if I’ve done a book review on The Help, and if I have it’s probably been years. When I go into reading the book I always go into it with an open mind. 


While Reading


Aibileen 

I really like Aibileen. I’d love to be her friend. For me Aibileen is that kind of friend that everyone needs in their lives. She’s kind and loving, yet when she’s mad or angry you’ll know about it. I love the friendship between Aibileen and Minny. 


Minny

For me Minny is one of those ladies that would get to old age, and tell people what it was like as a maid and not hold anything back. She’d be that grandma that everyone would love and go to for advice. 


Skeeter 

I really wanted to like Skeeter, but she has some really big flaws in her character. I know that’s the charm of her, but there’s something about her that bugs me. Sure her doing the book is a great idea, but I think she is really naive about things and not really understanding about how other people think of her especially people like Minny and those who help her with the book that are scared. She redeems herself by writing the book. I feel bad for her when she finds out about Constantine. 


I liked her a lot more when she stoped being friends with Hilly and became her own person that she was hiding deep down. 


Extra

So if you know anything about me, you’ll know I have love hate relationship with multiple people narrating a book but this is one the few where I think it works really well. 


Hilly is one of those people that I would’ve hated to be around. She is such a bully and you could tell from the second she’s introduced into the book. She’s one of those people who thinks she’s better than everyone else and needs others to make her feel better. I always feel sorry for Hilly. I know I shouldn’t but I feel like she’s so insecure that she has to being other people down to make herself feel better. 


Even though Elizabeth’s mother makes a small cameo in the book, her actions are heartbreaking. 


With Elizabeth I feel really sorry for her. You can tell that she really trusts Aibileen and that what Hilly says isn’t right but she’d much rather have white friends and be popular than actually thinking for herself. I think if she was a lot more like Skeeter then I think she would’ve been more understanding. 


I don’t know if all the books are like this, but when it comes to The Benefit, I’m so confused but the writing of the book. It feels different than the others, and it looks and reads like a newspaper in the past and the present.  


Celia is one of my favourite characters within the book. Just like Skeeter she is ahead of her times and doesn’t see Minny any differently even though she’s employed her as Help it isn’t the same as how the other women see their help. I feel bad that she is this woman who is so kind to Minny, yet wants to be friends with Hilly. 


I find Skeeter’s mother rather annoying. I know that’s a really bad thing to say considering that she’s ill, but she just annoys me. 


I find it funny how even back in the 1960’s just how much women think of their appearance and try crazy hair experiments. Even with friends we try and please them and sometimes when enough is enough we just snap and realize that sometimes their friendship isn’t needed in our lives


Conclusion 

I wish that racism didn’t exist. I think we live in a toxic world. 


I think that The Help should be read in schools. 


Every time I read the book I always have a different opinion on Skeeter. I don’t know why. Sometimes I really like her and other times I don’t. 


Lauren x

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