I finished The Help yesterday (after posting about it earlier) and feel compelled to recommend it to anyone I can get my hands on. Holy moly, this book is so good and just feels so...important. I'm glad to say I've read it. It's set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, in the infancy of the civil rights movement. The main character, Skeeter (who is white and dreams of being a writer), becomes disillusioned with the "Old South" way of life that persists in Jackson and decides to interview some of the black maids about their experiences working for white families. This quickly becomes a covert operation that Skeeter never anticipated. She meets with much resistance and has her eyes opened to the ways of the world while writing her story. I loved reading about the new friends Skeeter made and the changes that occur in so many lives because of her book.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. I often told myself, "Self, just one more chapter and then go to bed," only to find myself still awake reading three hours later. I just couldn't wait to figure out some of the more mysterious characters and see what unfolded next. Incredible story.
Look into The Help sometime soon; you'll be glad you did. Oh, and the movie comes out August 12th, so you now have one month to read the book first, if you're a "read the book before the movie" kind of person. Get on it!
What about you...have you read The Help? Are you planning to see the movie? When books are made into movies, do you like to read the book first? If you've read this one, let me know what you thought! If you haven't read it, get on that ASAP and report back to me :)
Oh my, I think I may have just found my next summer read... That sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteAnd can I just say, you are absolutely the sweetest thing in the entire world. Your comments are always so precious, and I really, really appreciate your patience with me and my sporadic posting... Life is insanely busy, which isn't a good excuse, but it definitely gets in the way of me being able to blog the way I'd REALLY like to. I'm sure you can relate! I'm on a constant mission to get better about this but, in the meantime, thank you. Your comments make my day =D
Hope you're having a great weekend! Talk to you soon!
P.S. Have a new post up =D
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI haven't finished! I put the brakes on and am savoring each word. I love the characters and will feel so sad when I finish the book.
I also have to agree with your friend the Chic College Cowgirl, you are just about the sweetest blog friend ever! You are so encouraging! Thank you sweet friend.
Hugs
~a
Darcy, I think you would LOVE this book. You should definitely read it...very entertaining. If we lived closer, I'd say we needed to go see the movie together next month :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet. I really love reading your blog and totally understand the need to go on a hiatus...you have a LOT going on these days! Glad to see you back.
Off to check out your new post!
*Julie
Annesta, I didn't want to finish it but I only had 40 pages left. I bit the bullet and chugged on through! I'm really, really glad I read it. I can't wait to hear what you think when you finish it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad we're friends, too. I very much enjoy reading your blog and thank YOU for your ever-present comments and encouragement :) Glad to "know" you!
*Julie
Can't wait to start reading it...I got it today =) (just got to finish my current book)
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I will be seeing it at the movies!
Oh, I just LOVED "The Help".. I absolutely can't wait until it comes out in theaters! I'm so glad you liked it! I knew you would! Let me know when you go see the movie so we can compare notes! =)
ReplyDeleteHave a good rest of the weekend!
P.S. I was in B'ham this weekend, and I thought about trying to meet up with you for lunch, but I didn't know how to get in touch with you in time! =( Next time I'm up, I'll touch base with you in plenty of time so we can maybe meet up! =)
Kristi, I'm glad you got it! I really think you'll like it. Let me know what you think when you're done. And I just KNOW you'll be at the theater opening weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting!
*Julie
Ashley, I wish we lived close enough that we could go see it together. What fun that would be! I so hate that I missed you while you were in Bham :( We'll have to swap emails or cell #s so that doesn't happen again...I would love to get to see ya! I hope yall had a good visit, though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
*Julie
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI finished! Sad to say good bye to the characters. So sad for Elizabeth,,,really wanted her to stand up to Hilly more forcefully. I would have loved to know exactly what Johnny told Hilly when she called to tell him to fire Milly. Bet that was one heck of a conversation!
Thank you for suggesting the book. Feel free to pass on any new title!
Going back to work tomorrow...ugggggg...searching for my positive panties!!!!
Enjoy your week. Post all the fun things you do this week so I can live through you.
Hugs
~a
This is one of my absolute favorites! I am counting down the days until the movie comes out :)
ReplyDeleteAnnesta, I'm glad you finished it! I was sad for it to be over, too. There were definitely a few things I'd change if I were writing it, but I tend to like things to be wrapped up very neatly. I also would LOVE to hear Johnny and Hilly's conversation about Minny...oh to be a fly on the wall for that one :) I just started a new book last night, so if it's good, I'll be sure to share about it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you found your positive panties (cracked me UP!) before leaving for work this morning. I hope you have a lovely week!
*Julie
LA, I'm so glad you told me to read it. Loved. This. Book. I can't believe it was published two years ago and I just got around to reading it! I'm normally more "on the ball" than that. The movie comes out ONE MONTH from tomorrow :) That'll give me something to look forward to after my first week back with students. It'll be here before we know it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in, friend!
*Julie
Whew! I just finished it! LOVED it too!! Can't wait to see the movie!
ReplyDeleteLeesha, welcome to the club! I'm so glad you read it and loved it. I still haven't stopped thinking about it. I want to be friends with Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny...and maybe even Celia, too :) I can't wait to hear what you think about the movie when it comes out!
ReplyDeleteHappy week to you, friend!
*Julie
Loved it! I read it two summers ago when it first came out. The story is especially near and dear to my heart b/c I born in Jackson and my whole family is from there in one way or another. My grandparents lived in Belhaven neighborhood their entire adult lives. The Jitney was my grandmother's grocery store. All the places mentioned were my places I grew up going to. Also, my grandmother had full time "help" and it was fascinating to think about the lifestyle back then.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be seeing the movie. It was made in Greenwood, a town one hour from my home town. I'm hoping to spot some of my friends who were extras in the movie.
So glad you enjoyed this book so much. Listen to it on audio sometime {maybe on your next road trip}. It's incredible!
Sarah Barry, I actually thought about you and your Mississippi ties while I was reading this book! I just had no idea how MANY ties to the story you had. It must've been so cool reading about something so dear to your heart. How FUN that some of your friends got to be extras in the movie! I've always wanted to do that. I'll have to check out the audio version next time I take a trip. Be sure to let me know what you think of the movie when you see it...thanks for dropping by!
ReplyDelete*Julie
I'm reading it right now and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteAshlee, that's so good to hear. I still haven't stopped thinking about this story...I think it's part of me now :) Make sure you go see the movie next month and let me know what you think. Thanks so much for stopping by!
ReplyDelete*Julie