The Help

      Having been on many best sellers list, Kathryn Stockett’s ‘The Help’ created quite a stir. The story revolves around what it is to be a black maid during the civil rights movement in the conflicted Mississsippi written from the point of view of three totally different women.
Her maid Constantine has raised Skeeter since she was a little girl. All that she wants to do after coming home from her college is to talk to her, after the constant naggings of her mother. But, Constantine has disappeared and no one is ready to tell her the truth about what happened to her. When her only hope to live up to her dream is writing a column about domestic cleaning in a local journal, she seeks the help of Aibleen hoping that, she might tell her what happened to Constantine.
When Aibleen tells her about her son’s idea to write a book about being a black person in Mississippi, Skeeter is intrigued, and decides to write the book herself. But writing it isn’t as easy as it seems. Being caught for telling their stories means getting fired, and never finding a job again (at the least) for the maids and being forever out cast from the people in the town, especially her friends, for Skeeter. Harder is convincing the maids to come out and tell their stories.
The book progresses, from the point of view of Aibleen, Skeeter and Minny(the outspoken one) it revolves around their lives, and those of their employers.
Aibleen is steady, caring and dependable. Minny is someone you would like to have by your side during a crisis. Whereas, Skeeter is someone who needs to be there, to hear you out. Though based on a serious topic, this book is a quick read. The characters are likeable. The three different points of view keep it interesting. Surely should be read.