The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My father went out and bought The Help for me just because he had enjoyed reading it so much. (I think he had already lent his copy to someone, and yes, my father is awesome and a big patron of my book habit.)

I loved this book - don't be put off by its length; I finished it in about two days because you can't put it down. The Help impressed me for a variety of reasons: one, Stockett is a first-time novelist. Two, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah for a white writer to write a story from three perspectives, two of which are of black maids in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Three, Stockett doesn't fall into the trap of making cliched villains (even Hilly, by far the worst example of a racist Southern white woman, is shown to be a loving mother). Of course, Hilly is still terrible, and you eagerly await for her to receive her comeuppance.

It's been amazing to me to see the reaction to The Help , as it seems that just about everyone I know has read it. Comments range from disappointment that an African-American woman didn't write it to joy that while the themes feel familiar, The Help manages to be truly original.

If you haven't read it yet, I recommend it, and if you have, post your comments!