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stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
5.0
This book is why I love fiction....an amazing storyline, totally relatable characters, made me laugh, made my cry, hated to see it end. Highly recommend!!
dnandrews797's review against another edition
2.0
This book read exactly like what it was: a white woman trying to write about what it’s like to be black. She played into all the main stereotypes of black people in the south in the form of the mammy figure and the fiery black woman. It also help like she inserted herself as the “white savior” of the novel as “Skeeter” the “I’m not like other girls” white protagonist who swoops in to tell their stories for them. Not a great book if you want an accurate depiction of what it’s like to be black in the 1950’s south, though it’s perfect for white people who have done very little to help black people and profit off their misery to feel good about themselves.
curiousintrovert's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful. Vivid. Full characters that you fall in love with that tackle controversial topics of race and gender with grace. I read it fast and furiously.
air_bear5568's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
andreea27's review against another edition
3.0
The Help este un roman ce se poate incadra in categoria "historical fiction" publicat in 2009 de catre Kathryn Stockett. Am ales sa-l citesc pentru ca mi-a fost recomandat si aveam nevoie de o astfel de carte mai usoara pe care s-o folosesc pe post de "pauza" in timp ce citeam un alt roman ceva mai solicitant.
O sa incerc sa nu dau vreun spoiler si mentionez doar ca romanul spune povestea a 3 femei foarte puternice, adjectiv raportat la vremea si locul in care se petrece actiunea - 1962, America de Sud. Se stie deja ca rasismul era o problema atunci, intr-o perioada in care a fi negru insemna a avea diverse boli, a fi neingrijit, murdar, si tot felul de alte prejudecati de genul.
Actiunea debuteaza odata cu intoarcerea lui Skeeter Phelan in oraselul Jackson (Mississippi), dupa ce a absolvit facultatea. Ceea ce o diferentiaza pe ea de restul prietenelor sale deja casatorite si "instalate" intr-o viata burgheza este dorinta ei de a deveni scriitoare. Acest lucru contrasteaza puternic cu conceptia mamei sale despre viata unei femei care se rezuma doar la a o vedea maritata cu vreun barbat cu o situatie financiara si, de preferat si sociala, buna.
Aibileen este o servitoare de culoare, insa inteleapta si materna, care a crescut 17 copii albi la diversele familii unde a fost angajata. Minny este cea mai buna prietena a ei, caracterizata in linii mari de o franchete incredibila, raspunzand mereu urat stapanilor si sfarsind mereu prin a fi concediata.
Impreuna vor incerca sa schimbe lucrurile, intr-o lume in care culoarea pielii era cel mai important factor in a decide ce fel de om esti. Iar daca erai negru, nu erau prea multe variante: erai pur si simplu inferior.
Autoarea descrie cu o mare sensibilitate toate aceste lucruri, folosind tehnica personajului-narator care este reprezentata pe rand de Aibileen, Minny si Skeeter. Am fost uimita inca de la inceput de atitudinea celor doua femei de culoare, Aibileen si Minny. De fiecare data cand stapanii lor fac vreo remarca cu privire la faptul ca sunt negre, niciuna din ele nu se simte nici macar ofensata. Imi este greu sa-mi imaginez o astfel de societate, facand parte din lumea "inferioara", in care esti jignit in fiecare zi si nu esti cel putin indignat, enervat. Atat de adanc erau inradacinate aceste prejudecati, incat oamenii de culoare le considerau normale si nici nu le trecea prin gand sa faca ceva pentru a schimba aceste conceptii.
Romanul a fost ecranizat deja in filmul omonim, care o aduce in prim-plan pe Emma Stone in rolul lui Skeeter. Urmeaza sa vizionez si filmul dupa ce termin romanul, dar avand in vedere ca am incredere in talentul actoricesc al Emmei, sper doar ca nu ma va dezamagi.
O sa incerc sa nu dau vreun spoiler si mentionez doar ca romanul spune povestea a 3 femei foarte puternice, adjectiv raportat la vremea si locul in care se petrece actiunea - 1962, America de Sud. Se stie deja ca rasismul era o problema atunci, intr-o perioada in care a fi negru insemna a avea diverse boli, a fi neingrijit, murdar, si tot felul de alte prejudecati de genul.
Actiunea debuteaza odata cu intoarcerea lui Skeeter Phelan in oraselul Jackson (Mississippi), dupa ce a absolvit facultatea. Ceea ce o diferentiaza pe ea de restul prietenelor sale deja casatorite si "instalate" intr-o viata burgheza este dorinta ei de a deveni scriitoare. Acest lucru contrasteaza puternic cu conceptia mamei sale despre viata unei femei care se rezuma doar la a o vedea maritata cu vreun barbat cu o situatie financiara si, de preferat si sociala, buna.
Aibileen este o servitoare de culoare, insa inteleapta si materna, care a crescut 17 copii albi la diversele familii unde a fost angajata. Minny este cea mai buna prietena a ei, caracterizata in linii mari de o franchete incredibila, raspunzand mereu urat stapanilor si sfarsind mereu prin a fi concediata.
Impreuna vor incerca sa schimbe lucrurile, intr-o lume in care culoarea pielii era cel mai important factor in a decide ce fel de om esti. Iar daca erai negru, nu erau prea multe variante: erai pur si simplu inferior.
Autoarea descrie cu o mare sensibilitate toate aceste lucruri, folosind tehnica personajului-narator care este reprezentata pe rand de Aibileen, Minny si Skeeter. Am fost uimita inca de la inceput de atitudinea celor doua femei de culoare, Aibileen si Minny. De fiecare data cand stapanii lor fac vreo remarca cu privire la faptul ca sunt negre, niciuna din ele nu se simte nici macar ofensata. Imi este greu sa-mi imaginez o astfel de societate, facand parte din lumea "inferioara", in care esti jignit in fiecare zi si nu esti cel putin indignat, enervat. Atat de adanc erau inradacinate aceste prejudecati, incat oamenii de culoare le considerau normale si nici nu le trecea prin gand sa faca ceva pentru a schimba aceste conceptii.
Romanul a fost ecranizat deja in filmul omonim, care o aduce in prim-plan pe Emma Stone in rolul lui Skeeter. Urmeaza sa vizionez si filmul dupa ce termin romanul, dar avand in vedere ca am incredere in talentul actoricesc al Emmei, sper doar ca nu ma va dezamagi.
lindc9's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jessicabkbc8443's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
gisellef_7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful story, that really left a mark on my mind. Reading about racism in the south, the cold attitudes and discrimination - my heart went out to the characters in this book. The narration was beautiful.
laurenmichellebrock's review against another edition
3.0
In 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, Kathryn Stockett introduces readers to Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter, three women whose lives become intricately woven when Skeeter decides to write a book about the colored women who raise and look after white families' babies and houses. With this idea, Skeeter Phelan starts a subtle revolution in this small southern town to change the system of life regarding blacks and whites. Reluctant at first, other women agree to help Skeeter with her book and expose the tales of working for the towns' white families. Filled with scandal, heartache, joy, and inspiration, these women bond to create a time-changing piece of literature that rocks the small town of Mississippi to its core.
I could relate to Skeeter in that she pursued something she was passionate about, and she went after it determinedly. She is also misunderstood by her family and friends, which is something I can empathize with, moreso when it comes to my family, though. For all the trouble Minny had with keeping jobs, I think her quips at her white bosses were actually brave. I couldn't see myself taking crap from someone who thought they were better than me, and especially to look at me with such a racist eye. Aibileen, though, she's the way I should be - collected and mindful of her situation. Although, there is that gray area she starts to see, which is what Skeeter begins to see, and what I think Minny has seen all along, that tends to blur the lines between whites and blacks, the help and the bosses. It's like what she says at the end of the book - there are no lines between people, not really, we just create them and let them control the way we perceive the world.
I really liked the way Katheryn played out the mysteriousness of her characters in regards to what was going on with Ms. Celia, what the Terrible Awful Thing was that Minny did to Hilly, and what on earth happened to Skeeter's mother's help, Constantine. Those secrets tugged readers along through their unveiling, and she exposed them right when I was about to explode with impatience. And that Terrible Awful Thing was terrible indeed. All through the book I kept thinking, "Now, she couldn't have done anything that bad," but, boy, was I wrong. The Terrible Awful Thing was...ugh...yeah, it was terrible. I mean, you'll stop reading and get this mental image and then your face will cringe up, and you'll be like..."No...oh my God, really?" Yeah, it's that bad. But Hilly had it coming.
I've seen in several places where other readers try to accuse this book for trying to be another To Kill a Mockingbird, and failing miserably. I thought that was harsh before I even read the book, and I think that's especially harsh after experiencing these characters' stories. This book is still highly relevant, and I would know - I live in the south and I still see racism every day. Growing up, I've been surrounded by people who still clutch tightly to their old south beliefs, and I could share in the disappointment Skeeter felt surrounded by the ignorance of her family and friends. So, I think this book is incredibly important, especially for people of the south and raised in southern culture, and even for people who travel to the states from other countries.
I think this book will be like To Kill a Mockinbird in that it will be timeless for the same reasons Mockingbird is: where there are different types of people, there will be racism, discrimination, etc. just based on cultural differences. While, I will say I see less of it at college, I saw it a lot in high school and still see it when I visit home. The issues that Stockett brings up in this book consider a wide variety of people and not just blacks and whites. That may be the races this book is centered around, but I think it stands for everyone struggling with, not only ethnic, but any discriminatory differences between people in relationships, good or bad.
I could relate to Skeeter in that she pursued something she was passionate about, and she went after it determinedly. She is also misunderstood by her family and friends, which is something I can empathize with, moreso when it comes to my family, though. For all the trouble Minny had with keeping jobs, I think her quips at her white bosses were actually brave. I couldn't see myself taking crap from someone who thought they were better than me, and especially to look at me with such a racist eye. Aibileen, though, she's the way I should be - collected and mindful of her situation. Although, there is that gray area she starts to see, which is what Skeeter begins to see, and what I think Minny has seen all along, that tends to blur the lines between whites and blacks, the help and the bosses. It's like what she says at the end of the book - there are no lines between people, not really, we just create them and let them control the way we perceive the world.
I really liked the way Katheryn played out the mysteriousness of her characters in regards to what was going on with Ms. Celia, what the Terrible Awful Thing was that Minny did to Hilly, and what on earth happened to Skeeter's mother's help, Constantine. Those secrets tugged readers along through their unveiling, and she exposed them right when I was about to explode with impatience. And that Terrible Awful Thing was terrible indeed. All through the book I kept thinking, "Now, she couldn't have done anything that bad," but, boy, was I wrong. The Terrible Awful Thing was...ugh...yeah, it was terrible. I mean, you'll stop reading and get this mental image and then your face will cringe up, and you'll be like..."No...oh my God, really?" Yeah, it's that bad. But Hilly had it coming.
I've seen in several places where other readers try to accuse this book for trying to be another To Kill a Mockingbird, and failing miserably. I thought that was harsh before I even read the book, and I think that's especially harsh after experiencing these characters' stories. This book is still highly relevant, and I would know - I live in the south and I still see racism every day. Growing up, I've been surrounded by people who still clutch tightly to their old south beliefs, and I could share in the disappointment Skeeter felt surrounded by the ignorance of her family and friends. So, I think this book is incredibly important, especially for people of the south and raised in southern culture, and even for people who travel to the states from other countries.
I think this book will be like To Kill a Mockinbird in that it will be timeless for the same reasons Mockingbird is: where there are different types of people, there will be racism, discrimination, etc. just based on cultural differences. While, I will say I see less of it at college, I saw it a lot in high school and still see it when I visit home. The issues that Stockett brings up in this book consider a wide variety of people and not just blacks and whites. That may be the races this book is centered around, but I think it stands for everyone struggling with, not only ethnic, but any discriminatory differences between people in relationships, good or bad.