'The Help'

[Primrose]

'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett.

I have just finished it and love every minute. I believe this is her first novel.

Taken from back cover -

'Enter a vanished world: Jackson, Mississippy, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver....'

If you like the style of Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana based books (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) then I think you will like this one.

[cindy]

I downloaded from Audible and am loving it. It all happened in our lifetime and is quite shocking really.

[souter girl]

I believe it is her only novel and I too found it both moving, informative and enjoyable! After we had done it at Book Club, we elected to reread (everybody had done it at school and most of us had forgotten all about it!) "To Kill A Mocking Bird" as another picture of that society. I strongly recommend
I found it much stronger than Alex McCall Smith, though and it is so very autobiographical, despite her protestations, like TKAMB(above) As you say, almost incredible for it to be within the lifetime of many of us and the threat from the Ku Klux Klan always present.

[dinger]

I must look for that one sounds a good read .x

[Primrose]

Yes - I agree with you SG 'moving, informative and enjoyable' that really sums it up.

It is much stronger than Alex McCall Smith but the style did remind me of his writing. It is very serious but at the same time it allows you to 'meet' the characters and to 'travel' with them through their everyday lives.

[souter girl]

I thought I would be put off by her style of speaking/writing, but it flowed really well - what a thought that that was under 50 years ago eh?

[dragonfly]

I will look out for it as it sounds interesting.

[dinger]

I have started reading this book and as you have all said above it is very good I am enjoying it .xxx

[Gentian]

Another novel of this area is "Life of Bees" (n0t sure who by, but i enjoyed it.

[souter girl]

I enjoyed that too, strange but beautifully written (by whom? Can't remember!)

[Gentian]

Curiosity got the better of me, it was Sue Monk Kidd and the full title is "The Secret Life of Bees".

[dinger]

I have just finished reading " The Help"and found it hard to put down . Such an interesting story . Anyone who has'nt yet read it please do .xxx

[souter girl]

Curiosity got the better of me, it was Sue Monk Kidd and the full title is "The Secret Life of Bees".

Thanks Gen - I am awful at remembering authors' names and often my mind goes a complete blank when I go to the library!

[souter girl]

Can I recommend "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Mohsin Hamid. It is a fascinating and very readable story of a young Pakistani man who goes to Princeton and becomes a high-flying executive, the epitome of the all American Ivy-league graduate, and then......... Read on for your selves!!

[Crocus]

Thanks Gen - I am awful at remembering authors' names and often my mind goes a complete blank when I go to the library!

I have a little notebook in my library book carrier bag in which I jot down author and book I liked to read. It helps quite a lot because I also strike a complete blank when standing in front of these rows off shelves, packed with books from top to bottom!

[souter girl]

[QUOTE=Crocus;145949]I have a little notebook in my library book carrier bag in which I jot down author and book I liked to read. It helps quite a lot because I also strike a complete blank when standing in front of these rows off shelves, packed with books from top to bottom![/QUOT

Good idea - I even forget the authors I have just handed in!

[Crocus]

Sounds an awful lot like me ......X