The Help

Al leer The Help, de Kathryn Stockett, sentí que la novela abría una puerta discreta hacia una injusticia cotidiana, sostenida no solo por leyes racistas, sino también por costumbres aceptadas en casas aparentemente respetables. La historia se sitúa en Jackson, Mississippi, durante los años sesenta, en pleno clima de segregación racial. Sus principales voces son Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson y Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan. (Más reseñas en: Love Books Review )

Aibileen trabaja como empleada doméstica y cuida a niños blancos con una ternura que contrasta con el desprecio social que recibe. Minny, más impulsiva y mordaz, posee una fuerza verbal que me hizo sonreír, aunque detrás de su humor percibí miedo y cansancio. Skeeter, una joven blanca que desea ser escritora, empieza a cuestionar el mundo en el que ha crecido cuando decide recoger en secreto los testimonios de mujeres negras que trabajan para familias blancas.

La novela muestra el riesgo de contar la verdad cuando una sociedad castiga cualquier ruptura del orden establecido. Las entrevistas clandestinas revelan humillaciones, abusos, afectos ambiguos y una profunda desigualdad. Mientras leía, sentí indignación ante la naturalidad con que muchos personajes defienden la injusticia, pero también admiración por la valentía silenciosa de quienes se atreven a hablar.

Para mí, The Help no es solo una historia sobre racismo; también es una reflexión sobre la voz, la memoria y la dignidad. Me conmovió especialmente la relación entre Aibileen y la niña Mae Mobley, porque allí aparece una forma íntima de resistencia: enseñar amor propio en un ambiente que reproduce prejuicios.

Cerré el libro con una emoción mezclada de tristeza y esperanza. Stockett me hizo pensar que los cambios históricos comienzan a veces en conversaciones pequeñas, en cocinas, pasillos y habitaciones donde alguien decide que ya no puede seguir callando.

When I initially purchased this audiobook, I didn't realize it used multiple readers for the various characters. For the most part, with one notable exception, they all did an excellent job, and the different voices added a lot to the reading.

I decided to read this book after having watched the movie. While their are a lot of things in the book that were skipped over for the movie, I don't find that makes the book better. The book and movie each stand alone, and serve different purposes. The movie does a better job at telling a tightly plotted story with a point. However, the book does a better job at painting a true, full picture of the characters and setting. But for the most part, if you enjoyed the movie, you'll like the book just as well, for different reasons. If you enjoyed the book, give the movie a try; it doesn't mangle the basic story at all.

Goodreads defines its star ratings as follows: 3 = "liked it" and 4 = "really liked it." I was hovering between 3 and 4, 3 and 4, 3 and 4 ... So you get that what I really wanted to do was rate it 3-1/2.

It's a solid good book. I think the author did a really good job with developing the voices of the three main characters. They all felt real, and distinct, and human in that they're a mix of admirable and not-so-admirable qualities.

The minor characters were blurry. Celia Foote was a caricature, and the scene where she and Minny fight off an intruder felt unnecessary. There were no distinctive male characters. Hilly was detestable; the reader's guide at the end of the book praises her for being a good mother, but that virtue is but a scant sliver of how she is portrayed.

Some of the plot elements were chilling. How awful it must have been for a maid to be accused of stealing, and stand trial and be convicted within a couple of days; and how simple it was for her (white) employer to make an accusation. There was also great pressure on the white community to conform. I can only accept these events as based in truth.

Goodreads defines its star ratings as follows: 3 = "liked it" and 4 = "really liked it." I was hovering between 3 and 4, 3 and 4, 3 and 4 ... So you get that what I really wanted to do was rate it 3-1/2.

It's a solid good book. I think the author did a really good job with developing the voices of the three main characters. They all felt real, and distinct, and human in that they're a mix of admirable and not-so-admirable qualities.

The minor characters were blurry. Celia Foote was a caricature, and the scene where she and Minny fight off an intruder felt unnecessary. There were no distinctive male characters. Hilly was detestable; the reader's guide at the end of the book praises her for being a good mother, but that virtue is but a scant sliver of how she is portrayed.

Some of the plot elements were chilling. How awful it must have been for a maid to be accused of stealing, and stand trial and be convicted within a couple of days; and how simple it was for her (white) employer to make an accusation. There was also great pressure on the white community to conform. I can only accept these events as based in truth.