This review can also be found here - http://thebookboudoir.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-help-by-kathryn-stockett.html



I'd been wanting to read The Help for a while, especially since it was made into a movie. The big draw for me was it's southern roots, plus it's based in Jackson Mississippi, where I've been multiple times and have great memories of.

I loved that it has southern vernacular and little sayings that I'm so familiar with. There weren't too many (fake) "y'alls" thrown in just for the heck of it. It was all more 'old south' with phrases like "a goin" and "fixin". I laughed my way through most of the book because it all seemed so familiar to me, especially parts that reminded me of my grandmother or great grandmother.

The relationships between the ladies and their help was interesting. Some of them were nicer than others. What I really found fascinating was that in private a few of them were nice to their maids, but in public they were dismissive or rude. Keeping up appearances and all of that, you know.

Skeeter is such a great character, as are Aibileen and Minny. They truly came alive and jumped off of the pages for me. Miss Skeeters manuscript is almost like reading a book with-in a book. You get her journey of writing her novel as well as the stories the maids shared with her for her book.

I think if you are from the south, have southern roots or just enjoy the 60's you might like The Help.