The Help
A Novel
By Kathryn Stockett
Thorndike - Large Print Press, (2011)
ISBN: 978-1594133886
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by Angela Evans - July 15, 2011
The Help is a telling novel about the working lives of African-American women who worked in white households during the early years of the 1960's. The story is set in Jackson, Mississippi and although it is about the 'maids' it is told from the perspective of Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman who is disturbed by the conditions under which the hired help worked. In addition to describing what life was like in these white households - for both family members and staff, this book also examines the civil rights movement of the 60's and the impact that it had on working conditions in private homes.
The story focuses on a group of young women in their 20's and their respective maids. The young, white women are, on the whole, very happy with their lot in life while their African-American maids chafe under the restrictions of segregation, racism, and a centuries old class structure that placed them on the bottom rung. The characters are, throughout, exaggerations of the norm, but this is part of the charm of the story, making what could have been a rather boring and depressing story, one that is lively and entertaining. No matter your background, you will despise the white women for the callous and demeaning way that they talk to their maids - yet it is telling that these fictional women do not seem to be aware that there is anything wrong in the way they are acting. It is simply the way things are. The same is true for the maids. No matter how much they despise the way they are treated, they put up with it and in a way even expect to be treated the way they are - thereby perpetuating an uneasy alliance between an employer and the employed.
This is an intriguing and emotionally powerful novel that I greatly enjoyed reading, but is also comes with a caveat. The Help is a work of fiction, and while it may mirror what life was like in Jackson, Mississippi - this is not a factual representation of what life was like for everyone. While a large number of white households employed servants - not every household did. While many African-American women experienced the negative effects of overt or subtle racism, or worked in horrible conditions, others did not. Like stereotypes in general, this book cannot be taken as a cookie-cutter template for life in Jackson of the 1960's. That being said, this is an excellent book and it does give the reader a feel for the period, and a visceral feel for what it must have felt like to be in Jackson during this pivotal period in American history.
In short, from beginning to end, The Help is a powerful read that is sure to become a classic; and to be required reading in the classroom setting. Until then, read this book, share it with your friends, and encourage the young people in your life to read this book as well.
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