The Help and/or White Tiger

[janeite]

Read both of these recently and quite liked them. Anybody want to talk about them?

Nobody?

Yep, loved both of them, but probably The Help a teeny bit more. Couldn't put it down. i LOVED the way they all seemed to speak in their own voices and the book within a book theme. Pure class.

I thought the way she brought the different characters to life through their voices was very well done - easy to read but they really jumped off the page so that I could hear them and the voices of the 'help' in particular seemed v authentic.

I loved most of it but was less convinced by the final section and by the whole Stuart thing (have I remembered the name right?).

White Tiger - this really made me laugh!

Only just started The Help, loving it so far. The one line that has stuck in my mind is at the end of Aibileen's first section where she says "And I know she ain't saying what she want a say either and it's a strange thing happening here cause nobody saying nothing and we still managing to have us a conversation." Brilliant summing up of the situation I thought.

Aibileen is such a great character - you'll love her!

The Help is such a fab read, I loved it.
I had to stop myself from reading it out loud in a deep southern accent.

I read it in my head with a deep southern accent, was hard not too

White Tiger a speedy zippy read, quite enjoyed it

yes the Stuart thing was a bit random really - and the ending was all a bit too neat in a way but I just loved the "voices" and the way she let the story/politics speak for themselves. V powerful stuff. Would make a great film/TV series too.

loved both of these books as well ....

the help really stayed with me (i guess as i am south african, it mirrored many of my experiences growing up)

Well, finished The Help now. I cried when Aibileen walked away from Mae Mobley at the end. Thought the book was a very easy read but very powerful and evocative too, pitched just the right tone I guess. Could reallyfeel that humidity, was cringing for Celia at the Benefit and found myself wishing all sorts of dire consequences upon Hilly bloody Holbrook

I just finished reading The Help and I loved it. So many great characters (and not so great ones). I was so proud of Aibileen for standing up to the appalling Hilly at the end but such a shame she still lost her job and poor Mae Mobley has lost the only real 'mother' she'll ever know. (BTW, what kind of crazy name is Mae Mobley?)
I could so see it coming though as soon as Miss Leefolt asked her to return Hilly's silver.

That's why I think I disliked the ending. It was almost TOO easy and far too obvious.

White Tiger -- found it terribly depressing and cynical.

I want to find out what happened to the characters (I know they're not real ). Did Skeeter make a successful career in NYC? Did Aibileen get another job? Did Minny manage to stay away from her abusive husband? Questions that will never be answered.

What's White Tiger about?

I thought White Tiger was really laugh out loud funny. Maybe I am strange?

It is about a poor village boy, who recounts his life story about he became a successful entrepreneur. Sounds terrible but is really quite good.