October 17-22

Saturday, October 22, 2011

8:00-9:30, The Help

I picked up The Help today, again having not read it for almost a week. This time though, I did not want to put it down. I feel like I will be making more time to read this week as the story is finally rolling. Today I read mainly from the point of view of Miss Skeeter. We dive deeper into the connection Skeeter had with her maid Constantine. They were very close, closer than mother and daughter. When she went off to college they wrote letters back and forth, never ceasing communication—“like a year-long conversation.” Constantine wrote Skeeter to tell her of a surprise she had for her when she came back from college; Constantine was very happy. But sadly, that was the last letter Skeeter ever received; when she came home from college, Constantine was gone with no explanation other than she quit to be with her family.

                Still determined to pursue writing, Skeeter gets a job writing the Mrs. Myrna column in the local paper. She is to answer reader questions about cleaning and keeping a stable home. Not having knowledge on either of these things, she begins meeting with Aibileen to ask her questions. During these meetings, the two share more than cleaning tips with each other. Aibileen has information about Constantine that Skeeter is desperate to know. Aibileen only shares that she was fired for something to do about her “pale” skinned daughter. Skeeter is furious to hear this, but still does not receive any answers when she approaches her mother and father about the situation. Aibileen also shares stories about her late son with Skeeter, and it slips that he was writing stories about what it was like to be colored. Upon hearing this Skeeter finally develops what she believes to be her best idea yet—a book about what it is like to be a black maid working for a white family. She wants Aibileen to help her, but she declines feeling it is too risky. Skeeter is disappointed but not giving up.

                I get so wrapped up in this story that I sometimes forget it is fiction. I am scared, sad, and million other emotions for the characters. I am not doing the story any justice either; it is much more captivating than I am sure my short summary portrays. I would encourage anyone looking for a good read to pick up this book. If nothing else, it makes you look a little more closely to human interaction and relationships.