The Help by Kathryn Stockett

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, we are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

When I got to this quote from The Help by Kathryn Stockett, I marked the page by bending the corner. I wanted to find it again - it spoke to me. These words spoke the essence of why Stockett wrote and many have read her first novel. In the author's notes at the conclusion of the book, Stockett reveals that that line was 'the prize' for her as well. She's the author and we shared a favorite line! I felt so good knowing that. But that line comes near the end of the book so getting there required much reading. Or should I say living with three wonderful characters - Aibileen, Minny and Miss Skeeter.

The Help occurs during the Civil Rights Movement of the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi. It follows the lives of white women who have black maids as 'help' to do their housework and raise their children. The story unfolds through the eyes of two of the black maids and one of the white women. Stockett has written in such a voice to bring the characters to life and to transfer you, the reader, to the time and struggles of the Civil Rights Movement.

I was a youngster, a young pre-teen, when our country was in the grip of these racial tensions. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an activist and people had not yet determined if he could be trusted or not. The peaceful demonstrations he spearheaded were sometimes deemed threatening. While I read The Help I felt that tension again in my body. I feared for the safety of Aibileen, Minny and Miss Skeeter. They were putting their lives and livelihood at risk.

Please find time to read this book. My wish is that you'll also find my opening line as a favorite. We are all 'just two people' - it's that simple.

Author's website

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm