Book Reviews

I recently finished Kathryn Stockett's THE HELP, a title I've long been wanting to read. Finally a copy was available from my local library.

What an wonderful web she weaves! I have nothing but praise for Stockett's maiden voyage into the world of literature.

THE HELP is a piece of historical fiction, set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960's. The chapters offer alternating glimpses into the daily realities and minds of 3 women, two of them middle-aged, black maids, the other a 20-something, college-educated, white woman.

I found it extremely well-written, and though the dialect used for the maids is a bit tricky to navigate at first, it fits the characters so well. Without being black herself, Stockett sure does a magnificent job of climbing inside their heads, and her handling of such a sensitive subject and tumultuous period in our nation's history is wonderfully balanced. It's infuriating and endearing, suspenseful and funny.

For days afterward, I kept thinking of all of the black maids, lovin' on those white children, basically raising them. And the children, returning that love, until they grew old enough to adopt the prejudices and hatred of their white society. I was encouraged by the "exceptions" in this book, because I know they must have existed, even in the deep South.

I couldn't put it down! I think I may just buy a copy to re-read!

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The other book I finished recently is Maya Angelou's autobiographical, I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS.

This one was a much slower read, but still interesting. The abuse she suffered at a such a young age, and the constant moving back and forth between her "disinterested in parenting" parents and grandmother was heartbreaking. But what a strong woman she becomes, despite the challenges life continues to throw her way.

Her writing is beautifully poetic, and though I expected as much from her, it didn't lessen the thrill her handling of the English language provided.

A book to be enjoyed, slowly, morsel by morsel.