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The Help [Paperback]

Kathryn Stockett
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,643 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Book Description

13 May 2010

The Help is the phenomenal international bestseller (that inspired the Oscar nominated film) by Kathryn Stockett.

Enter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver . . .

There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell...

'The other side of Gone with the Wind - and just as unputdownable' The Sunday Times

'A big, warm girlfriend of a book' The Times

'Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird has changed lives. Its direct descendent The Help has the same potential . . . an astonishing feat of accomplishment' Daily Express

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter. The Help is her first novel.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin (13 May 2010)
  • Language: Unknown
  • ISBN-10: 0141039280
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141039282
  • Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 23.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,643 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

The other side of Gone with the Wind - and just as unputdownable (The Sunday Times)

A big, warm girlfriend of a book (The Times)

Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird has changed lives. It's direct descendent The Help has the same potential . . . an astonishing feat of accomplishment (Daily Express)

Outstanding, immensely funny, very compelling, brilliant (Daily Telegraph)

Immensely readable (Observer)

Daring, vitally important and very courageous, I loved and admired The Help. Fantastic (Marian Keyes)

A laugh-out-loud, vociferously angry must-read (Marie Claire)

Touching, disgraceful, funny. Highly recommended (Daily Mail)

Utterly brilliant (She)

Remarkable, shocking, brave, brilliant (Easy Living)

Wonderfully engaging dialogue (Good Housekeeping)

A compelling, great first novel, with soaring highs, poignant side stories and laugh-out-loud anecdotes. You'll be sorry to finish it (Psychologies)

A winning story of courage and truth (Woman & Home)

A brisk, involving read (Metro)

An exciting and atmospheric story (Rachel Cooke Observer Books of the Year)

A wise, poignant novel. You'll catch yourself cheering out loud (People)

About the Author

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter. This is her first novel.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
917 of 938 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Brilliant 28 Jun 2009
Format:Hardcover
When a book makes you occasionally laugh out loud, has your eyes brimming with tears or has you shouting at the pages through empathy and anger, you know the author has a very rare talent. 'The Help' is one such book. I have not enjoyed a tome so immensely since Michel Faber's 'The Crimson Petal and the White'.
The story is told through three wonderfully real female characters; Minny, Aibileen and Miss Skeeter. The location is Jackson, Mississippi and it's the early 1960s - a turbulent time as the civil rights movement thunders along to the chagrin of many bigoted fools. One visionary in the small town defies her heritage and vows to make a difference and with the aid of the local maids, begins a project which will create havoc for those with lofty positions and appalling attitudes. Within the pages of the book, we are privy to scenes of amazing warmth, great humour and delightful characters with whom you'd love to spend time. Kathryn Stockett has also created one of the most venomous villains since Cruella de Vil and at times I found myself cursing this woman as if I knew her personally.
Vital, engrossing and utterly compelling, 'The Help' is a book I'd urge anyone to read.
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325 of 334 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic of the future 9 Jun 2010
By Boof TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I finished this book this afternoon after trying to drag out the ending as long as possible. I did not want to leave these characters behind; I wanted to continue on their journey with them, make sure they were OK ¨C I miss them already.

I have been hearing about this book and have read lots of positive reviews for the longest time but sometimes I get put off by books that have so much hype around them and end up passing them by. Oh how glad I am that I didn¡¯t do this with The Help. It is worth every glowing review, every recommendation and every superlative ever written about it.

The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962 and is narrated by three women in turn. Aibileen and Minny are black maids and Miss Skeeter is a white college graduate who mourns the disappearance of her old maid and wants to do something more with her life than marry a local boy and have her kids raised by maids.

The story takes us with these women as the embark on a dangerous journey to try and change decades of prejudice and pave the way for a better life for the next generations. Through the words of each of these women we learn how rife racism and intolerance was back in the 1960¡äs deep south. There are tales of unbelievable cruelty and humiliation but also tales of tenderness and real love. It was so good to hear a story told primarily from the point of view of the black maids too and refreshing to hear both sides in all its rawness; the distrust and even hatred on both sides. The book also successfully managed to avoid being sensational or over-egging the pudding. Despite the subject matter (which is so important) the book never feels too heavy or preachy: it is as light as one of Minny¡¯s famous caramel cakes and aswell as riotously funny and tender.
... Read more ›
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201 of 214 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely brilliant! 3 Mar 2010
Format:Paperback
It is not often I leave reviews, however this book deserves all the praise in the world and more! I have just finished reading this book and I have that empty and sense of loss feeling that comes with finishing a really good book. It is absolutely brilliant, I just couldnt put it down. The author has an amazing ability to transport you into each characters world and envision the stage of the characters. I came to love each character in the book and almost felt like they became my good friends by the last page. The book had me absolutely gripped and had me experience a range of emotions, one minute I was laughing out loud, the next almost in tears. It is very rare that a book be so successful at transporting me so effectively and willingly into the characters world. I really truly enjoyed this wonderful book.
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112 of 120 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars a perfect read 6 April 2010
Format:Paperback
I could not fault this book, if you want a book which keeps you turning the pages then you cannot go far wrong. I would recommend this to anyone as it is so well written, I really enjoyed this window on these women's lives, and having worked myself as a domestic cleaner there are elements which I can really identify with, even just cleaning houses you end up knowing more about some aspects of the occupants than probably their closest friends do.......its a weird position to be in and you often know things that you perhaps would rather not have found out. I hope there will be more books of this standard from this author.
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65 of 71 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A different approach to an old subject 18 July 2009
By Bobby Smith TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This is a brave book that views the American Civil Rights movement largely through the eyes of the people at its sharp end - the black maids who looked after white folks children. This gives the book an authentic period feel and draws the reader in so that they feel transported to the early 1960s - the period the book is set in. The author, however, Miss Stockett, also draws some impressive white characters - especially the poor, ill-educated Miss Celia - a character who could give the average Big Brother contestant a run for their money in the intellectual stakes!
The book is funny in places and certainly makes the reader feel empathy towards the poor, the put upon and the neglected. The only drawback is the language used - as the authentic '60s American style is not so easily read by a 2009 Englishman! Still, I praised the book for its authenticity so you can't have it both ways.
If you like this I also recommend other books about race and the struggle for freedom:One Love Two Colours: The Unlikely Marriage of a Punk Rocker and His African Queen by Margaret Oshindele (my wife) - a book about a successful inter-racial marriage and Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany - the true story of a mixed race boy growing up in Nazi Germany. Both are extremely interesting reads that leave the reader thinking about their own prejudices and stereotypes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Really enjoyed this book, it was funny, sad and a good story line, really good read recommend it.read it in 2days
Published 2 days ago by gibraltar
5.0 out of 5 stars A moving and funny novel
What a lovely story. Moving and funny a brilliant read. Enjoyed watching the film afterwards. The chocolate cake is priceless.
Published 3 days ago by Silverfox
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read.
Saw the film when staying with friends, loved it. The book is even better. Lots more detail, honestly I couldn't put it down. Would highly recommend reading it.
Published 4 days ago by Beryl Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Just awesome! I got so into the book I could hear the southern accents in my head as I read and the characters just bounced off the pages and came to life. Loved it!
Published 5 days ago by Sunshine
5.0 out of 5 stars the help a book about slavery and prejudice
I thouroughly enjoyed this book from the beginning to end. I would recommend this book to every one to read.
Published 5 days ago by karen anne thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Cried my eyes out....
I love this book!

It is so well written you can actually picture all the characters! My mother in law has read the book and recommended that I watch the film as it... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Sade
5.0 out of 5 stars The Help
I found this book really enlightening and entertaining. Sickened by the treatment the coloured people were subject to.
Good Book
Published 7 days ago by jennifer lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving
This is one of the best books I have ever read, and I have now read it twice and will, no doubt, read it again and again.
Published 7 days ago by Kayzee
5.0 out of 5 stars The best!
An amazing book - all life's prejudices and hopes mixed with dreams, tears and wry humour.
A privilege to read it........
Published 8 days ago by Trish
4.0 out of 5 stars Saying it with colours
A book that makes every person think whilst they read each chapter. Given a chance, I would have finished this book in one go. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Sherin Joy
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