A review by alerasaul0
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really loved the book when reading it but with some reflection I do realize that it is very much a white savior complex wherein the only one who really gets what they want at the end is Skeeter. Amongst other problematic things like the way Celia is said to speak in an uneducated sort of heavy southern dialect and yet her actual dialogue is written the same as all the other white characters. While the black maids are written with the heavy accent that is stereotypical for that time period and group of people. 
I think this book would have been much better served if written by a black author without the inclusion of Skeeter. It's hard to ignore the use of black pain and victimization the main plot of the movie. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings