Book Review: The Help

by: Kathryn Stockett

As many of you know by now, this book was rejected by 60 literary agents before Stockett found someone willing to represent her. It’s amazing to hear that considering just how great this book is. I’d love to see some of those earlier drafts. Revision is an author’s best friend.

The Help is a fictional story of black maids working for white families in 1960s Mississippi. It is told from 3 different perspectives: 2 black maids and a young white woman. For those of you who have seen the movie (or just the previews) they were played by Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Emma Stone.

As someone who was born well after the civil rights movement and north of the Mason/Dixon line I found this book extremely interesting. It was exceptionally insightful into what both races were feeling during that time of immense pressure and change. It even managed to be sufficiently frightening when violence – or the fear of it – erupted.

You may notice I keep saying “It” and not giving Stockett any sort of recognition. I thought the book was great but in my version there was a little personal essay tacked on at the end. She just came across as so conceited that I don’t want to give her any credit. Of course, she can feel free to continue writing from other people’s perspectives but stay away from the other b.s.