The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have always been one of belief that deeds make a person.
Not your bank balance, neither your legacy and definitely not your looks.

To ask you a question, wouldn’t you be attached to someone who has been a major influence in your upbringing and an everlasting presence in the formative years of your Life, who did things for you not because he/she has to but because he/she loved to do it for you and understood even your small needs.
Would you be human enough and share the love and respect back in return because all that person has shared with you is love and affection or would you be blinded by the barriers the society has raised and submit yourself to the same disgrace once you are old enough to know the conventions?

To read a book that is based on a society where discrimination arises solely on the color of your skin is definitely an emotional read and to see it clearly from the viewpoint of someone who goes through that ordeal daily for a lifetime does makes you feel helpless if not utterly frustrated.

The story is based on the issues of racism and classism deeply ingrained in Southern America, set at a time when it was at the brink of Civil Rights Movement.
There are quite a few strong characters that make this book an intriguing read.
Aibleen, Minny are the two black maids on the experiences of whom Skeeter an aspiring writer hopes to being forth the voices that need to be heard by publishing their sides of the story.

Skeeter is white and still risks it all, she abandons her friendship with her friends and even takes chances on the guy she apparantly loves. I like her honesty and her strength that makes her stand apart from all the so called Southern belles of wealth and power.

Aibleen and Minny are black. Even though they are raised in opressive and submissive times and know the dangers of being found out, but still they find the rewards of being voiced and heard sweeter than the risks involved. They at times show so much strength and determination that it would be a shame to not acknowledge them for their character.

It’s surprising to read how the people in that era didn’t even have the faintest idea or realization that what they were doing was actually an injustice. For them they may trust a person to raise their child but not respect them enough to share the same table.
It will shock you, embarass you and even shame you with its originality and truth.

“It’s true. There are some racists in this town,” Miss Leefolt say. Miss Hilly nod her head, “Oh, they’re out there.”

The beauty of the book is in what it delivers and the message it brings.
There may be flaws in the dialect used, there may be nuances in the story and unresolved or unnecessary details here and there but the core of the subject simply makes you find peace at some levels.

The peace to know that you may have limitations, but limitations are nothing when you have a will power to overturn them.

The peace to realise that manipluation and contriving gets you nowhere, you ultimately get your doing back with your own deeds coming to haunt you.

And last but not the least that however many foul means you use to get people to your side, you are ultimately left alone to face the consequences.

What really is beautiful is to see that individually there is no winning for either of them, but, in their unity even though their awakening to the road to freedom is still shaky with twists and turns, their learning is remarkable and their success in the end is truly gratifying and substantial!

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