Random Review: "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

You know me. I love to have new features on my blog. I figured all the books crowding my shelves needed to be put to some use, and thus was born my new Random Review feature. I listed out my books in a fun program called "The Hat," and--hopefully--each week, I'll pull one out to give a short review. This weeks winner is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.


RR Score: ****
I almost wanted to give this book three stars, for just a couple reasons. One, I don't often get into the literary genre, and since this is a literary novel, it didn't always keep my attention. Two, it was long. That being said, it was hard to put "The Help" down. I got it in the first place in anticipation of the movie and because so many of my friends said they'd read it and loved it. The story is pretty captivating, and being the history bug I am, I love the fact that I'm reading about real controversies in America. I remember discussing the story with my Dad after he'd seen the movie. He said something like, "You watch that and think, really? How could people treat others that way. And then I wondered, what do we do today, or who do we mistreat today that our kids are going to look back and say, 'how could they treat people like that.'" "The Help" is certainly thought provoking. I happened to get a copy with an essay by Stockett in the back that talked about writing "The Help" and some experiences she had growing up in Jackson, Mississippi. I almost wish I'd read that before starting the book. It brought it even more to life.
I'd certainly recommend "The Help" with one caution, there's definitely some bad language.