The Help

Another new title that I categorize as a "sleeper" is THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett. It's a first novel, but this Southern writer really understands what she's observing. It takes place in the Deep South-Mississippi in the early 60's. The Civil Rights movement is just beginning to penetrate rigid social norms. The narrative shifts from the various maids working in upper middle class households to the young white woman looking at the stratified society in which she lives, with sadness and disdain. The plot gimmick is that she wants to write a book from the perspective of the servants because she is becoming increasingly aware that it is the y indeed who are running the households. Most of the white women are portrayed as selfish and vapid. Housework and the raising of the children are almost totally done by the so-called maids who show a much greater understanding of human psychology that their employers. (Much like the NANNY DIARIES depicted New York's upper classes.) Tension runs through the narrative because once the book is published white society most likely would wreak severe revenge on these women whose work is their sole means of support. Their children would literally starve. Even though aliases are used and the author is termed "Anonymous" all involved with this enterprise have taken tremendous risks just as others, like Ros Parks, were doing on a national scale. This novel pro trays the grass roots underpinnings of the big Civil Rights battles. There is no question that courage was at the heart of it all. >Reserve a copy at the Elizabeth Taber Library