Summary: The novel is told from the perspective of three characters: Aibileen Clark, a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson, an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her desperate need for jobs; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating college to find out her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial lines.
Review: When I was younger I really enjoyed the TV show “I’ll fly away”, about the relationships between a black maid and the white family for whom she works. This book reminded me of that show- honest and poignant. I thought that the characters were very well developed and the plot was well organized and moved at a brisk pace.
I read somewhere that Kathryn Stockett spent three years researching for this book. This is evident in the many historical references.
This is a great beach read- a book that pulls you in but won’t leave you feeling down or wanting more at the end.
9 out of 10 stars
Read this book if you liked: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg
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