springdellgirl

Book Review #68


Well I finished my book!! It only took me getting sick and lying on the couch all day but I finished it. Woohoo.

From Publisher's Weekly:

"...set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams."


I love this book. How could I not? The subject matter is heart-wrenching and powerful. The message of the book that human beings are human beings regardless of race, gender etc. is so important.

I remember the first time I had an experience that set me reeling. My family had just moved to Houston; I was waiting to go to BYU; and that summer I worked at a TCBY Yogurt store. Our manager was a feisty African American woman named Sonja. One day a customer came in and asked who our manager was...one of my co-workers...a boy my age replied, "Our manager is Sonja...the colored girl who works here." I about died of mortification on the spot. The customer just replied with "OK...I know who your talking about. I'll come back later when she's working." I had no idea such words were still in use...especially from someone my own age. I was very naive. Unfortunately such attitudes are still alive...hopefully much less so...but they can still be found.

This story is told from the alternating voices of three women: Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter. Each woman has a clear and distinct voice and perspective. I loved Aibileen from the very first page. I love her quiet grace and power. My heart broke for her trying to teach little Mae Mobley that people are people regardless of their skin color. I came to love Minny who was all in-your-face, fierce and independent. Her courage and bravery were inspiring. I loved Skeeter who had her eyes opened and began to see those around her in a new light. I loved that she had the courage to reject her former lifestyle to be true to her own new found understanding. These three women are so real to me. I feel like I could go and find them...that they are out there somewhere. I love when characters are so well-written and developed that you just know that they exist somewhere "out there."

This book is extremely readable and hard to put down. At every free moment I just wanted to snatch this book up and read whatever I could. I love it when that happens. I feel a loss now that I am done. I want to sit in Aibileen's kitchen again. I want to follow Minny around the Foote's house as she gets after Miss Celia. I love those ladies.

My only complaint is that I feel like the book builds and builds and then the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying. I need more. Don't leave Aibileen and Minny that way...Minny's still pregnant for heaven sake. I need more information...I'm still worried about the future of these fictional characters. Miss Skeeter needs to find love. Miss Hilly needs her butt kicked. I'm hoping for a sequel.

I appreciated the Author's Note at the end of the book where she talks about her own childhood and the black maid Demetrie who helped raise her. It brings authenticity and vulnerability to her writing.

Now I have GOT to find me a recipe for a Carmel Cake!! And...I need to return this book to the library where it is hugely overdue.

My Rating: Excellent-ish. It would be a full 5 stars except for the abrupt ending.