The Help by Kathryn Stockett

What a rare week!  Two "can't put them down" books in one week. As enjoyable as The Host was, The Help (whoa, two "The H" books in one week too...weird) was like reading a riveting, insighful classic.  This novel was a first novel by the author, Kathryn Stockett and it is hard to believe that it is her maiden voyage into novel writing.

The novel weaves the stories of three main characters, Miss Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny, together into a narrative about Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s.  Miss Skeeter is a sensitive, thoughtful recent college graduate who wants to do more with her life than marry well and attend bridge club.  She was raised by a black maid who influenced her life just like the many other black maids all over town.  These maids were not allowed to use the white bathroom or trusted to put all the silver back after polishing it but they were allowed to raise white children and cook white food and clean white bathrooms.  Two of these maids, thoughtful, prayerful Aibileen, and sassy, outspoken Minny agree to help Miss Skeeter write the truth about the lives of black maids and their employers.  This quest links the three women together in friendship and a desire to tell the truth to the world, regardless of the very real risks to all three.

Their lives and stories drew me in to the extent that I couldn't wait to see what happened but at the same time, I didn't want the book to end.  It was a satisfying and enlightening read that is sure to become an instant classic.  All I can say is - you gotta read it!

UPDATE - August 22, 2011 - I saw the movie this summer and LOVED it.  The movie stayed very close to the book and the actresses were amazing!  See it if you can.