Review: The Help by: Kathryn Stockett

The Help (goodreads.com)

By: Kathryn Stockett

AUDIOBOOK (audible.com)

The Help (UNABRIDGED)

By: Kathryn Stockett

Narrated by: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell

Length: 18 hours and 19 minutes

Genre: Historical Fiction

Stars: 5 (content & narration)

Flames: 0 (this is not a romance)

I recently found myself on a road trip that had me stuck behind the wheel of my truck for close to 30 hours with a woman I had no desire to hold a conversation with. I emailed my friend Felicia over at Geeky Blogger's Book Blog and asked her to recommend a good audio book. This is what I downloaded to my iPhone. I would like to point out that a WI FI connection is required to purchase an audio book on your iPhone. This is handy information. I originally tried to purchase this book while pumping gas. This is the first and only audio book I have ever listened to. I must say that ALL future road trips will be taken with an audio book. The four ladies that narrate this book are incredible. They must represent up to two plus dozen voices. This is a 5 star read, the narrated voices make it a 10.

I grew up in south Louisiana and lived in south Mississippi for close to 11 years. I know there is close to a 15 year difference, as this book takes place in the 60’s. The Help is very realistic as to what life in Jackson Mississippi was like for both races at that time. This book is amazing. I would recommend it to anyone, a genre preference really does not matter with this book.  As I was listening to this book I felt as if I had met most of these people. I could even relate to a couple of them. I will go back and “read” this book, I know I missed some of it amazingness by only listening to it while trying to concentrate on driving. As I go into this review I apologize for any misspelled names (I listened, not read.)

Minnie and Celia were my favorite lady pair of the book. I had some sort of poor white trash familiarity with Celia. Celia’s behavior towards her help was interesting. Minnie was left confused regularly by her friendliness. Minnie’s brash personality left me laughing out loud many times. I enjoyed the way the book bounced from one pair of ladies to another pair while all the pairs were in the same social circles. After Skeeter returns home from college she decides she does not like what she sees. Looking for something moving and real to write about she looks to the hired help. After much pleading she convinces them to start talking. Following the daily life of these white Jackson socialites and their behavior towards the women who raise their children, clean their homes and cook the meals they eat is nothing but shocking. It is truly hard to believe that people behaved (I guess some still do) in this manner. I will never look at a garage toilet the same way after having read/listened to this book.