A review by blondereader
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This is not an enjoyable read. The author seems to have written the book to appease her guilt. Skeeter is obviously the author (you can tell this by the author note at the end) and she's not likeable. Skeeter's spiritual life is muddy. She doesn't like God, but starts praying to Him. I guess that's good, but does she become a Christian or not? By deciding to abandon her family to go to New York City, it doesn't seem likely. I understand this is not meant to be a Christian novel, but what did the author accomplish by making Skeeter an atheist, unless she herself is one. Skeeter's disrespectful view of God makes her unlikeable to me. Hilly, the villain, is stupid and a straw figure. Skeeter's deliberate manipulation of the newsletter and her act of hiring people to place toilets in Hilly's yard makes Skeeter even more unlikeable. Skeeter is mean-spirited, which takes away from her good intentions. Much of the book talks about the consequences of one maid putting doo doo in a "chocolate" pie and making Hilly eat two slices. This is unpleasant to read and think about. These are terrible people no one wants to spend time with. Skip this one.