Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Here is a summary of the book from Kathryn Stockett's website:

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.


Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

My Review:
This was such a wonderful story and I am so glad that I waited to read it as a book club selection, because I know that all of the ladies loved this novel so it is sure to be an eventful evening!  The story is told from the perspective of three different women in Jackson, Mississippi, when segregation in other parts of the United States is coming to an end, it is alive and in full force in Jackson.  

Miss Skeeter is one of our narrators who is an aspiring journalist that recently finished her college education.  A small door is opened for Miss Skeeter as she is offered to write a column for the local newspaper.  Although this is a step in the right direction she has so many more dreams for her writing career.  She just doesn't think those dreams will ever be realized if she can't ever get out of Jackson.  Skeeter has more liberal views than most of her family and friends so quite often she finds herself not being invited to social gatherings and before you know it is considered an outcast.  Her friends' attitudes help to spark the idea for a project that will get out the stories of the negro population in Jackson that will show the truth to the entire country.

Aibileen is a maid that works for a close friend of Skeeters and happens to be the first person that Skeeter turns to for help in her project.  Knowing that they could get in a heap of trouble Aibileen is hesitant to become involved in this endeavor as people have been beaten and killed for doing things much less threatening.  Aibileen is a strong woman with an amazing heart who lives alone as her son was killed in a terrible accident years ago.  I don't think that anyone could help but love Aibleen's character.

Minny is another maid who is also a good friend of Aibileen's.  Minny is another fabulous character who is an amazing woman but cannot seem to hold onto a job because her sassy mouth usually intervenes.  She is a hoot as she just tells things like they are.  Minny is especially nervous about helping out Skeeter as most of Jackson already has her blackballed because of her behavior.

There are some strong women that really put themselves out there for a cause that they truly believe in.  Skeeter earns the confidence of not only Aibleen and Minny, but also many of their friends.  As Skeeter makes choices both about her project and where her life is leading, she cuts herself off more from her lifelong friends.  Before you know it the only friends that Skeeter has left are the women that are helping her with her project.  Everyone else has deserted her, which only gives her more courage to do what she is doing.

This book gives us a glimpse of what it was like for the negro population during this difficult time for our country.  We are all human beings and no-one deserves to be treated like a second class citizen.  With themes of civil rights, courage, and friendship this book has so much to offer.  I honestly believe that every book club out there, male or female, young or old, should read this novel as it has something to offer for everyone!  I highly recommend this novel.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  This book is from my personal collection and I read it for my own entertainment.

You can read more great book reviews over at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Theme Thursday...on Tuesday!

I was very excited to see this meme that was started by Reading Between Pages that allows us to post about a different theme from the book that we are reading all week long.  Here is how it works:

• theme will be posted each Thursday
• Select a snippet with this weeks theme from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post

This week the theme is about sorry/forgiveness and I found something that fits the bill while reading Angel Sister by Ann Gabhart:
Instead he had reached out to Kate with gentleness and forgiveness.  Two things Nadine had not often seen in her father.  Nadine wondered if he knew why Kate had asked for forgiveness.
pg. 189

Well I have to admit that I didn't get very far in reading this book on my day off yesterday.  Hopefully I get it done before book club tomorrow night!

Mailbox Monday-Oct. 3

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive.  Different bloggers now have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time. This month the host is Savvy Verse and Wit so head on over there to see what everyone else received or to play along!

So here is what was in my mailbox last week:

Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shephard

Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos

The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings

The Descendants was actually an unexpected surprise, but hey, I'm not sending it back!  And since I already read Everything We Ever Wanted on my Kindle you can look forward to me giving this copy away when I post my review on October 20th.

Well I really need to try to get some reading done today as our book club meets on Wednesday and I'm not even halfway through our book...Yikes!

Java With Jo

Well life has certainly been busy this Fall for our household!  Things seem to be settling down to a sense of normalcy after we brought my daughter back to college earlier in the month.  Our puppy has even been doing better with her potty training...Thank You Lord!  Princess Isabella...AKA 'Izzy', is now 6 months old and she is such a little sweetie.  She is a morkie and I must admit that I really wasn't expecting her to have quite so much attitude.  I think that our older dog Scarlett is enjoying having the opportunity to put her in her place though.

Our ladies bowling season is underway and my scores have once again been all over the place.  I just started using my new ball last week so I'm hoping that will make a difference for me.  I can already tell how much less effort it takes when you use a ball that has been drilled specifically for you.

On the reading front, I am soooo looking forward to attending Club Read next month!  I get to meet some great authors and also some bloggers that I already feel that I have a friendship with.  It will be so nice to finally meet some of these ladies in person!  For some reason I felt that I have been reading more this year than last, but when I compared the 100+ Reading Challenge from last year to this year, I am at about the very same spot.  I just don't think that I am meant to read 100 books within one year at this time of my life.  That's ok...I will keep track of what I have read and that will be it!

I just realized that I am up to date on my scheduled reviews and blog tours!  Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of ARC's on my shelf at home that are awaiting reviews, but nothing scheduled!  After I am done with my current book club selection, I may have to wander to my book shelf and pick up a book just for kicks!  Doesn't that sound like fun?

Well that is what I have been up to.  It may not seem like much, but some weeks it seems that I only have one night without an obligation!  So what has been keeping you busy this Fall?

Review: The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy

Here is a summary of The Soldier's Wife from the Goodreads website:

A novel full of grand passion and intensity, The Soldier's Wife asks "What would you do for your family?" "What should you do for a stranger?" and "What would you do for love?" 

As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship and her family safe. But when she becomes aware of the full brutality of the Occupation, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.


My Review:
I can't tell you how thrilled I was to receive this ARC in the mail.  After reading a previous novel that took place during the German Occupation on the Island of Guernsey, I couldn't wait to return there through the pages of The Soldier's Wife.  We follow Vivienne's life during this hard time after making a life-changing decision to stay on the Island when so many others are fleeing.

Vivienne lives in a more rural area of Guernsey, but not far from a village that contains all of their basic needs.  Since her husband has joined the army and has left to fight against the Germans, she finds herself having to spend all of her energy and strength over the next couple of years to care for her aging mother-in-law and her two young daughters.  I found admiration in my heart for Vivienne as she raises these girls, one on the verge of becoming a young lady, during such turbulent times.  Raising children is a hard job and I can only imagine what it would be like without the support of a husband and father by your side.  Not only for emotional needs, but for basic survival needs as well.

The Germans take over the Island in such a brutal and swift manner that leaves many fatalities including some of her close friends.  Once the Germans have control Vivienne seems to be unsure of the intentions of this enemy, as she sees many of them shopping in the same stores that she shops, and some even dating friends of her teenage daughter.  This seems to send a mixed message to Vivienne and as she has problems understanding where her loyalty actually lies.

Since many of the Island residents have deserted their homes in a search for safety, it is easy for the Germans to find random houses to occupy during this period of time.  It just so happens that the home right next to Vivienne's becomes occupied by a squad of German soldiers.  As she catches glimpses of these soldiers from time to time she seems to let down her guard against them as she is able to see that they are actually human just like her.  Before you know it she develops a special friendship with Gunther, a German captain, and they begin to count on each other for companionship.

I must admit to you that when I first started this book I was not appreciating the story that was unfolding before me.  But then I realized that although I didn't enjoy the premise of the novel, I couldn't put it down!  I let my mind explore what this situation would be like for a young woman caring for an elderly woman and two young children.  A person does what one needs to do in order to survive, even if it is seeking solitude and comfort from the most unlikely of strangers.

This novel turned out to be so much more than I expected it to be.  Vivienne must find the strength and courage to do things that put both her reputation and her life at risk.  Some readers may find that many of her actions were wrong, but when it counted, she did what needed to be done.  I found myself enjoying this novel, although it did leave me a bit unsettled, but I feel that good books will do that to you from time to time.  With themes of love, courage, war, and perseverance I believe that this book would be great for a book club discussion or for personal leisure.

Rating: 4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.

You can check out more great book reviews over at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Teaser Tuesday-Sep. 27

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading.  TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from Angel Sister by Ann Gabhart:
"You never know where that handsome prince might turn up.  But alas, all I've gotten so far are warts."

pg. 18

Mailbox Monday-Sep. 26

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive.  Different bloggers now have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time. This month the host is Amused By Books so head on over there to see what everyone else received or to play along!

Here is what arrived in my mailbox most recently:

 Cross Currents by John Shors

 The Leftovers  by Tom Perrotta (audiobook)

Well I haven't received too much in the mail lately but since both of these authors are new to me I'm very excited to get started on them.  I've really had my eye on John Shors novels lately so this was a timely delivery!  

I'm off to the dentist this afternoon so wish me luck everyone!