The Help

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.