can the talk about The Help? please

[porcamiseria]

OMG I have just finished this, usually I dont like books that are so hyped, but this book serously moved me.
I feel ashamed that I did not realise it was this bad as recently as the 60s
the threat of the KKK is very real in the book

and the bit that made me wobble the most was unloved little mae, and seeing Abileen leave her at the end, SOB. and Minnie and her beating husband SOB

Great book. I read it in the Easter holidays and often had to 'disppear to do something upstairs' while I hid in my room to read another bit.

I loved the different voices of the characters and the whole servant / help / relationship is still very interesting when you watch things like Downton Abbey.

I read it on holiday and found the voices in it really very powerful.

I was just lent it and really enjoyed it, coincidently one of the movie channels is showing the 70's mini series roots at the moment, dated but I would recommend as it deals with similar themes.

I loved it as well - thurhg it was beautifully written, very realistic, and shocking to think that such attitudes were prevant such a short time ago. Different loos!! etc.

prevalent!

I read it at about six months ago, I hadn't heard of it, just picked it up in Waterstones. It was so good. I have lent it out at the moment but it is definitely one I want to read again. You could fear the fear of getting found out emanating from the pages.

The treatment of Mae-Mobley by her mother was heartbreaking, the behaviour of some of the white women was appalling, but that was the way things were at that time and place. I really didn't have any criticism of it at all, except maybe that I thought the husband of the white woman who was a bit of an outcast (sorry, can't remember her name) turned out to be almost too nice and understanding in the end.

Roots is one of my earliest TV drama memories, I found it very upsetting (was probably only about 10 when it was on) but an incredible story. I've got the book waiting to be read somewhere.

I enjoyed the first half and thought the second half was pretty ridiculous tbh. I didn't like the whole side-story about the white girl who was interviewing the maids (Birdie? Duckie? Bridle? Can't remember her name, sorry) and her boyfriend - it was boring and irrelevant and I thought the pie thing was just stupid and devalued the book's serious messages.

I thought it was okay, but very linear. The daughter of 'clemintine' could hav ebeen a much more powerful character if we'd actually beeen allowed to meet her, and see the prejudices she put up. I enjoyed it but only as a shadow of the story that it could have been. I felt that 'roll of thunder' which i read and studied at 14/15 wasmuch more powerful ultimately.

Did anyone else think that Skeeter was going to turn out to be the secret daughter of Constantine? They were so close and they had the physical characteristics in common (height and curly/Afro hair). I can't believe that wasn't deliberate.

I loved it. although agree with the poster who thought that 'the pie' incident ruined it.
I want to see the film when it comes out in October

Ah see now I thought the pie incident forced the point as to how bad things were back then, to the point that these women were forced to take drastic measures.

I enjoyed it when reading it, but on reflection am unhappy with some aspects. I don't like the way she wrote the maids' voiced with a strong dialect, but didn't do this for the White characters. The bit when the church ask Aibeleen to pass on a signed copy of the book because the "White woman is like family" (or similar) made me cringe. I think these are stories worth telling,but the fact she has taken the voices of these wmen and to,d their stories for profit (the character Aibeleen's life has strong similarities with a woman called Aibeleen who was her brother's maid for about 12 years) feels like more exploitation. at best it feels patronising. I recognise that from all my friends and family who read it, I am a lone voice with these views.

just read it. i enjoyed it on the whole, definately more at first, got a bit bored at one point.

i really get hermoneweasly's points about cringeing at parts of it. i felt the same about the 'white woman like family' bit

i wonderd about Skeeker's parts too - surely she would have had some kind of white mississipi dialect. i don't know

i thought it was good 'light' read, given the heavy subject matter. but this made it often sentimental and a bit cringey at times, rather than moving.

I'm glad it was like that though and was grateful that there was no toni morrison type stuff going on.

Clanger, I thought skeeter was going to be clementines daughter too. Hence why her mum was so awkward to her. I agree that skeeters voice should have been accented too, but Abilene came across as the most likeable.

Superb book. Totally gripping, powerful story. One of the best books I've read in a long time. Looking forward to the film.

Agree with hermione. It was a good read...but somehow feels not quite right particularly the voices at times. Difficult to explain why I feel a bit cheapened by it. One-dimensional male characters, the game played with other people's lives (oh no! will they be found out? - rather different stakes for maids than Skeeter), the audacity of the white girl who really did grew up in exactly these circumstances choosing to write as if she has any idea how the maids felt. As for the shock shown by some regarding such treatment as late as the 1960s...who are you kidding? In some parts of the US (and elsewhere) this is still the case - maybe not always overtly, but the lack of respect for fellow human beings is the same.

I liked and respected the idea that Minny, in a lot of ways, is quite a threatening and not-nice character. I know that if she were real, she would have no time for me, if she met me. Yet I can still sympathise with her and understand where she is coming from. You get the same sort of thing, in a lesser way, from Elaine Stein.

I do agree that the book presentation bit was rather cringeworthy, and should have been edited quite severely.

I still have not got around to reading it but have just read a review of the film which was excellent. Anyone been to see it yet and what did you think?

The film is very good and I really enjoyed it. It follows the book quite closely but there are some details that have been over looked.

Some excellent performances and it's hard to decide who "stole the show". It is very sad at times though so bring some tissues. Some hilarious moments too.

movie good too

I loved it, but found the 'poo' scenario cheapened it for me. It seemed so unlikely.

I think there were a few lost opportunities in the film and the book, but I found the end so moving that it reduced me to tears.

Will be taking tissues then!

The "Terrible awful" is an integral part of the book and can't really be left out.

It was the only tasteless (no pun intended) part but it was so funny on the screen and Sissy Spacek was brilliant in that scene. Won't spoil it for you. Just have to watch it.

Loved the book and going to watch the film tomorrow!!

Def recommend the read, loved Aiblee and Minnie - and yes, the 'terrible awful' seemed a bit far-fetched but didnt spoil it for me.

Wow! LOVED the book and LOVED the film!

I was so worried they would over-sentamentalise the issues in the film but it was very very well done.

Wonder who'll get the Oscar? The actresses who played Aibeleen, Minnie and Miss Hilly all deserve one.