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The Help [Hardcover]

Kathryn Stockett
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6,841 customer reviews)

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Book Description

February 10, 2009
Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel (and maiden publication of Amy Einhorn's new imprint) set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine

In writing about such a troubled time in American history, Southern-born Stockett takes a big risk, one that paid off enormously. Critics praised Stockett's skillful depiction of the ironies and hypocrisies that defined an era, without resorting to depressing or controversial clich√©s. Rather, Stockett focuses on the fascinating and complex relationships between vastly different members of a household. Additionally, reviewers loved (and loathed) Stockett's three-dimensional characters—and cheered and hissed their favorites to the end. Several critics questioned Stockett's decision to use a heavy dialect solely for the black characters. Overall, however, The Help is a compassionate, original story, as well as an excellent choice for book groups.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (February 10, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399155341
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399155345
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 1.4 x 6.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6,841 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years. The Help is her first novel.

Customer Reviews

Very well written, great characters and great story. Marie  |  1,767 reviewers made a similar statement
I read the book and then saw the movie. Shopping Minnie  |  735 reviewers made a similar statement
This book had your interest from page one till the very end! trisha711  |  542 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2,934 of 3,105 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book in Years! An Instant Classic! January 28, 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
The Help is about a young white woman in the early 1960s in Mississippi who becomes interested in the plight of the black ladies' maids that every family has working for them. She writes their stories about mistreatment, abuse and heartbreaks of working in white families' homes, all just before the Civil Rights revolution. That is the story in a nutshell - but it is so much more than just stories.

This is the best book I have read in years! I can't recommend it enough! It is fabulous and I think they will make a movie out of it. I would compare it to the writings of Carson McCullers, Harper Lee, Truman Capote and even Margaret Mitchell. The story grabs you and doesn't let you go. You can smell the melted tar on the Mississippi roads, the toil in the cotton fields, the grits burning on the stove. The theme is the indomitable will of human beings to survive against all odds - because of the color of their skin. It is a heart-wrenching account and you will never fondly remember the times of the Jim Crow laws (if you ever did). The pure, down and out bitchery of the white ladies who become dissatisfied with their maids and proceed to ruin their lives is portrayed vividly. The desperation of the maids' circumstances is truly touching. I have laughed and cried my way through this book and plan to re-read it. I highly recommend this book because it is going to be talked about as the best book of the year.
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1,384 of 1,464 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A New Classic for America March 1, 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
A new classic has been born. Kathryn Sockett's "The Help" will live in hearts and minds, be taught in schools, be cherished by readers. The three women who form its core, idealistic Skeeter, loving Aibileen, and sarcastic, sassy Minny, narrate their chapters each in a voice that is distinctive as Minny's caramel cake no one else in Jackson, Mississippi, can duplicate.

These stories of the black maids working for white women in the state of Mississippi of the 60s have an insiders' view of child-rearing, Junior League benefits, town gossip, and race relations.

Hilly is the town's white Queen Bee with an antebellum attitude towards race. She hopes to lead her minions into the latter part of the century with the "enlightened" view of making sure every home in Jackson, Mississippi, has a separate toilet for the help. Her crusade is, she says, based on clear hygienic criteria, which will save both blacks and whites from heinous diseases.

Despite the fact that the maids prepare the food, care for the children, and clean every part of every home, privy to every secret, many of the white women look at their black maids as an alien race. There are more enlightened views, especially those of Skeeter, a white, single woman with a college degree, who aspires to more than earning her MRS. Skeeter begins collecting the maids' stories. And the maids themselves find the issue of race humiliating, infuriating, life-controlling. Race sows bitter seeds in the dignity of women who feel they have no choices except to follow their mamas into the white women's kitchens and laundries. Aibilene says, "I just want things to be better for the kids." Their hopes lie in education and improvement, change someday for their children.
... Read more ›
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728 of 792 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars a treasure of a book January 20, 2009
Format:Hardcover
I was lucky enough to come across an advanced reader copy of this book. Set in Mississippi during the civil rights movement, the story is narrated by the three principal characters...Minny and Aibileen, two black maids, and Miss Skeeter, a young, white woman newly graduated from college. The characters are wonderfully developed, as are the historical background and setting. As each character took her turn at narrating, she became my favorite character until the next one took over again.I was torn between not being able to put the book down and not wanting it to end.
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217 of 236 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give more than five!! February 23, 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I LOVED this book. I mean I LOVED this book. I could not put it down, and when I had to, I was thinking about the characters and could not wait until I had time to read again.
I grew up in the South in the 60's and my whole neighborhood had housekeepers or "Help". We had someone who worked for us, we called her Nursey, and she was my friend, and my caretaker. After my parents got divorced, she was my rock. This is way to personal, but my stepmother was a witch, and when I think what Nursey had to put up with to stay with me and my sisters, to help take care of us, I just don't know how to express it. She did not leave because of us kids. This book gave me so much to think about and brought up so many feelings, so many good, and so so many not so good.
I'm grateful when I think about the last conversation I had with Nursey before she died, I was married already, living out of town, and I talked to her on the phone. I was able to tell her I loved her and to say thanks for everything she did for me. Was it enough, did it matter? Who knows, but I'm glad it was said.
This is such a beautifully written book, so absorbing..and I don't know how else to describe it. But I do want to say thanks to Ms. Stockett for this wonderful book, that even though I closed it the other day, I cannot quit thinking about.
By the way, I read this on Kindle, and I have decided to buy a hardback copy as well to put on my bookshelves with all my other favorites. I find it hard to believe this is her debut work, I look forward to whatever else Ms. Stockett has to offer us, she is a wonderful storyteller.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
I admit, I saw the film first. Truth to be told, the book doesn't compete with it. They both hold their own greatness. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Emily Brand
3.0 out of 5 stars Great characters and style, so-so plot and theme
I read this book mainly because Larry Brooks is doing a deconstruction of it. So, before reading his deconstruction, I'll do my own according to Brooks' six core... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Sean Murphy
4.0 out of 5 stars not another book
I will committ to say that the book is great read but I have read ita long time ago and the movie enough to say that i would look at the movie again but wow now here it is by... Read more
Published 1 day ago by evelynbrownsugar58
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
I read this book in two days. I laughed and cried and laughed some more. You will love these women.
Published 2 days ago by Joy a.k.a. Schmo
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
This was one of the best books I have ever read. It made me embarrassed to be white but proud that I don't share the beliefs of these narrow minded people. Skeeter was so brave. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Melissa L. Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful storytelling
I avoided seeing or hearing anything about the movie so I could appreciate the book on its own. The description and storytelling are so powerful that when I think back on scenes... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Teresa
5.0 out of 5 stars southern(charm?)
Being a souhtherner, I could read this very tongue in cheek so to say, because I grew up in the truth of every single word. Read more
Published 2 days ago by patricia fountain
5.0 out of 5 stars The help by Kathryn Crockett was great
I was completely absorbed with this wonderful book. It is well written and the characters capture your heart. Sad that there was so much hate and bigotry. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Edie S
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and interesting!
This is a beautifully written book full of characters and history that grab you and don't let go. I really enjoyed this book.
Published 3 days ago by Scott Winters
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to show how far we have come!
I really liked this book! The author has a way of bringing you into the story and great character development. It's hard to believe sometimes how divided we were as a nation. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Ellejean
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frozen kindle
There's another link about this--hold the power button down longer. I held mine down for 30 seconds, decided it didn't work, set it down, and voila! It recovered!
Jun 30, 2012 by Valerie Norris |  See all 45 posts
Kindle 2 Frozen Screen - Tried everything!
I have just had to solve this problem again, for the third time.
What the instruction do no tell you is that after holding the power switch for at least fifteen seconds and then letting go, NOTHING may happen at first. Your instinct is to try again, and then after several goes give up. Mine... Read more
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A Dissenting view of THE HELP
Onyx,
I really appreciate your opinion on this. I just finished this book and my book club meets in a couple of days so I got on line to see what people were saying. And pretty quickly I started wondering what people from the south who had actually lived in this situation had to say about it... Read more
Jan 18, 2010 by rebecca |  See all 3274 posts
How do I view "real" page numbers on my Kindle books?
This is a real issue. I'm reading books for my Masters Project and I'm having problems with my citations because there's no page numbers ! Not good...
Dec 28, 2012 by Katya S. Stubing |  See all 67 posts
Frozen Screen
I haven't seen what you describe but I too have had the whole screen feeze up. I have a K1 and I fix it by taking the back off and using a safety pin, push the reset button. That's from Steven Windwalker's book and it's always worked. Try plugging it in like Nurse Katt suggested, but if that... Read more
Nov 15, 2009 by Sara S. Pearce |  See all 80 posts
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