Review: The Help

One of the downsides of living in a mostly French-speaking area is the absence of English books. One bookstore in Lausanne carries a small selection, but they're a) pretty darn expensive and b) not books I'm particularly interested in reading (Murder mysteries, thrillers, and spy books. They're okay every now and then, but I prefer books with a bit more substance.)

I've recently started downloading and reading books on Ben's Kindle, and while I'm liking the  e-reader considerably more than I thought I would, I still miss the feel of an actual book: flipping through the pages, dog-earing particularly great passages, and feeling the weight of it in your hands.

Not surprisingly, when I visited London earlier this year, one of the first things I did was head to a bookshop and pick out a lovely English book. Although I was tempted to buy several, my limited budget and over-stuffed backpack helped me to limit my choice to just one: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.

The Help had honestly been on my "To Read" list for ages. Several of my good friends had listed it as one of they're personal favorites, and the storyline seemed unique and intriguing. To top it off, the story is set in Jackson, Mississippi*, a city I'll be visiting for a friend's wedding this coming July. 

The Help explores the lives and perspectives of three gripping women: Aibileen Clark, an African-American maid with a love for words; Minny Jackson, an African-American maid with a wry sense of humor; and Skeeter Plelan, a white college-grad upset with the attitudes and biases of her home town. Together, these three women come together to weave a remarkable story that's both impossible to put down and constantly stops to make you think. 

The verdict?

4.5/5

Definitely recommended.

*Confession: When spelling "Mississippi" I still use the little poem "M-I-"crooked letter"-"crooked letter"-I- "crooked letter"-"crooked letter"-I-"hunchback"-"hunchback"-I" Does anyone else do this? Am I crazy?