The Help by Kathryn Stockett book review
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The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
2009, 464 pages
rating: 4.5
"The Help" is a really interesting book. It tells the stories of African American women in the service of white women. It takes place in Jackson, Mississippi before the civil rights movement. Stockett did a fabulous job writing from both a white and African American perspective.
I was really invested into the 3 main characters. I was equally wrapped up into each of their stories, as well as the story that bound them together. The only complain I do have is that it felt as though the wrap-up at the end was a bit rushed and unresolved.
Spoilers ahead...
One twist that I had formulated in my mind, didn't actually happen. But, I had thought that the reason Constantine had to leave Skeeter's house was because Skeeter was actually Constantine's daughter and she (Constantine) finally wanted to tell Skeeter the truth. Here are my reasons:
"Constantine was the only woman I ever looked up to." Skeeter is 5'11" and said at one point that Constantine was 6'1".
"Ever since the time I was born, I had wirely-curly hair that I could not tame down no matter what I tried" Skeeter also claims this.
And Skeeter also talks about how much easier it was for her to talk to Constantine than to her own mother. She also mentions how welcomed and at home she felt when she got to visit Constantine's house.
So, as I was reading (no, listening to the audio CD which is fantastic by the way), I thought for sure that Skeeter was really Constantine's daughter. Just a thought that I thought could have been a fun twist. To be honest, I think that would have made a better reason for Constantine to have been fired, but I'm not the author...
Did anyone else see this as a possibility as you were reading the book?
Was I completely far-fetched in this thought as I was reading?
I'd love to hear your thoughts...please comment below.
Anyway, I really enjoyed "The Help", and I hope you do too. Definitely check it out if you haven't already!
Comments
I never thought that Constantine was Skeeter's mother. Although, I was sort of led to believe that Constantine's daughter might have been Skeeter's half sister. It was mentioned too many times how Skeeter's dad was very close to Constantine and the people in her neighborhood.
As for the rushed ending, I believe Stockett purposely left it that way because in a way that was how Jackson was left after integration. And being a Mississippian and having lived in Jackson for 15 years, I can totally see the symbolism.
Love your blog!!!
Posted by: angel | November 1, 2009 10:33 AM