The Help. Chapters 7 to 12

In these chapters we learn about how Skeeter and Aibileen start the book project. Elaine Stein, from New York, encourages Skeeter to get going with the work; "Before this civil rights thing blows over". Minny seems to be firm about not getting involved. However, something happens that makes her change her mind…

How do you feel about the different characters? Do you have a favorite so far?

The Help. From Jorge

Bonjour a tous! These are my comments to the beginning of the book:

I like quite a lot how the plot is developing so far; I like the characters, (Minny's sharpness, miss Skeeter's independence and will) and the overall story.

I also find this book quite feminine (something that is neither bad nor good). I guess that is normal, being the author a woman, and being, as it seems, somehow an autobiographic book. I find male characters mostly absent but, when they appear they are… let's say, rude. Examples of these are Stuart, Ms Skeeters' date that was drunk after a night talking about sports and other boring things with the other boy, and all the husbands of the ladies that write letters to the newspaper (they are mostly interested in how to get rid of them or how to make them sober). It seems to me that the only positive comment of a male in the book so far, is when Ms Skeeter talks about his father, that she finds him honest.

I think that all these things are interesting as I am seeing the story from a completely different angle that I would expect. As some of you have already said, this is one more reason to join a reading club: you read things that probably you'd never pick yourself.

As many of you have also said, I also find quite shocking to learn that these things were happening just a few decades ago. What I wonder is how the situation is now in Jackson, how these "colored" people are treated now compared to other states or countries. And I ask some questions: Do they still have different toilets in a big, traditional southern house? More generally: Is this a book written to denounce something that happened years ago, or is it a book to denounce something that is still happening?

It is a pleasure to share my thoughts with such an interesting and diverse reading club!

Looking forward to read you too,

Jorge

The Help. From Judy

I find the speech dialects hard to imagine as accurate for the sixties -- even in Mississippi. Yes it is hard to believe folks were treated so badly 50 years ago -- that is until we think about how undocumented persons are treated today. Seems like there is still a long way to go.

Even if "ends justify the means" Aibileen is taking a big risk here but we learn of the important role Minny played in her life. I wonder if her lie to Celia will be her downfall or her ties to Minny her saving or maybe something else all together.

The Help. Chapters 1 to 6

The first chapters of The Help have introduced us to the three powerful characters that will tell us the story. Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter, with their own different accents, will surely raise different feelings and generate different reactions among us.

For instance, what do you think about what Aibileen did to introduce Minny to Celia Rae Foote?

And the Winner is...

...The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Info about the guiding pace for reading and discussing at the "Book Discussion Schedule" page.

Looking forward to reading and sharing with you!

We have a tie!

In our first ever voting procedure, we got a tie! Not so bad, we have enabled the Tie Breaker poll for one day, so we can decide for a book. Those of you that didn´t vote the first time, do it now! Those of you that did it, try again! We hope to have a selection for the month by tomorrow.