12.5.11-12.11.11

Through all of my education, I have never been a fan of reading as an assignment. I was never a big reader to begin with, so when given a book for a book report or anything similar I felt forced to read which furthered my dislike of reading. As I got older, though, and found time to read "what I wanted to read" I found that I really enjoyed reading. This assignment did not make me hate reading; in fact, it did the opposite. I found myself wishing I had more time to read. I realized that my feelings about reading were not about reading itself but about the time that it required. I am now looking for my next book to read (which I have never done in my life). I won't, however, continue to be a blogger. I enjoy reading others blogs, but I am not much of one myself. Overall, I really enjoyed this unique assignment because it forced me to have time to read (sort of an oxymoron but it worked!) and I will continue to read for pleasure after the class is over.

11.28.11-12.4.11

The Help  Pg. 391-522 (finish)

10:00-12:30   (2 ½ hours)

I have been anxious to finish this book not only because I want to see the movie, but also because the last chapters of the book are so full of emotion making it hard to put the book down. The focus was the finishing of the book. Miss Skeeter heard from Elaine Stein (the woman who may read and publish her book) and now has a much earlier deadline for turning in her writings. Also, Ms. Stein instructed Skeeter that she must include the story of her own maid Constantine. This requires the truth about Constantine to finally be told. Aibileen writes it all down for Skeeter which reveals some truths that Skeeter was not ready for. And when Skeeter finally confronts her dying mother about Constantine she finds out that Constantine has passed away. Though devastated, Skeeter manages to finish the book and barely get it to New York before the Holidays. When the book is finally printed, the black community is thrilled, treating and thinking of Skeeter as “one of their own.” They are grateful and appreciative of what she has done for them. However, with the excitement comes a looming fear that the truth about the book and the people in the book will be revealed. If people find out who contributed stories there could be severe consequences for those maids. For days the maids just wait until finally someone begins to suspect the book is about their town of Jackson. Minny, knew predicted this would happen and attempted to combat this by putting a story in the book about Miss Hilly that she knew Hilly would hate. Her intention was to make sure Hilly tried hard to convince everyone that the book was not about any maids or white women in Jackson. Her plan worked to an extent; Hilly did do her best to convince the town the stories were not true, but many realized it was. While a select few women recognized their bad behavior, others fired their maids or their husbands. At the end of the book our three main characters (and authors of the new popular book Help) are all starting life over. Minny has finally left her abusive husband, Skeeter moved to New York for a new job, and Aibileen has been fired by Miss Elizabeth and will no longer be a maid. Aibileen is now writing (anonymously) for the paper and has a new outlook on life. I have loved reading this book and would recommend it to anyone.