The Help
17 journalers for this copy...
A very readable story told in the voices of three women in Mississippi. Skeeter is a young woman who just graduated from Ole Miss in 1962. When she returns home, she finds that her beloved maid Constantine is no longer there, and no one will tell her where Constantine went. Skeeter also wants to get a job with a New York magazine, so she starts asking a friend's black maid Aibileen what it's like to be "the help." Aibileen is reluctant to tell Skeeter any details. Aibileen's friend Minny is sassy and refuses to answer Skeeter's questions at all. As time goes by in the early 60s, things change, and the story is very moving.
Bookray begins!
- Make a journal entry when you receive the book.
- Double-check this mailing list and PM the next participant, even if you had the address before, to confirm where the book should be sent.
- Read the book within a few weeks if possible.
- When you've read the book, make a journal entry of what you thought.
- Make a controlled release when sending the book on, using YOUR country, state, and city as the release location.
- The last person on the list is free to continue the ray or make his or her own choice.
Have fun!
Participants:
1. oi-reader (USA) Pref US
2. FeistyPom2Love (USA) Mail US
3. faramir10 (USA) Pref US
4. mdm139 (USA) Mail US
5. NMReader (USA) Mail US
6. cinnycat (USA) Mail US
7. collectorkerri (USA) Pref US/Can
8. imawinn2 (USA) US/Can OK
9. MAB29 (Canada) Int'l OK
10. deludeddaydream (UK) Int'l OK
11. Icila (France) Int'l OK
- Make a journal entry when you receive the book.
- Double-check this mailing list and PM the next participant, even if you had the address before, to confirm where the book should be sent.
- Read the book within a few weeks if possible.
- When you've read the book, make a journal entry of what you thought.
- Make a controlled release when sending the book on, using YOUR country, state, and city as the release location.
- The last person on the list is free to continue the ray or make his or her own choice.
Have fun!
Participants:
1. oi-reader (USA) Pref US
2. FeistyPom2Love (USA) Mail US
3. faramir10 (USA) Pref US
4. mdm139 (USA) Mail US
5. NMReader (USA) Mail US
6. cinnycat (USA) Mail US
7. collectorkerri (USA) Pref US/Can
8. imawinn2 (USA) US/Can OK
9. MAB29 (Canada) Int'l OK
10. deludeddaydream (UK) Int'l OK
11. Icila (France) Int'l OK
Arrived safely today. Many thanks to mssaver for starting this bookring and for allowing me to participate. I will try to get this started this weekend!
Many thanks to mssaver for starting this ray. It has been quite a while since I read a book that held my attention and drew me deeply into the story line that I did not want to put it down. This book did exactly that. I found myself awake reading it well past midnight on a few occassions, not wanting to wait til I got home to read some more after work. Stockett's characters had me fascinated, laughing, crying and not wanting the book to end. Each of the main 3 characters were enjoyable, but I found myself drawn to Mattie and would have to say she was my favorite.
After reading the author's notes I could not help but wonder how much of the book was to some extent autiobiographical. This was by far the best book I have read in quite a while, and I would read it again.
I have pm'd FeistyPom2Love to request her address and hope to get this moving this weekend!
After reading the author's notes I could not help but wonder how much of the book was to some extent autiobiographical. This was by far the best book I have read in quite a while, and I would read it again.
I have pm'd FeistyPom2Love to request her address and hope to get this moving this weekend!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to the next reader!
Off to the next reader!
This book arrived safely today. I look forward to reading it. I'm currently reading a book for another bookring & have one other book ahead of it for another bookray! So, as soon as I am done with both books, I'll start this one.
Thank you for sharing this book mssaver!
Thank you for sharing this book mssaver!
Journal Entry 7 by FeistyPom2Love at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (5/21/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I picked up my own copy of this book, which I just finished last night. Kathryn Stockett is an awesome writer. I enjoyed the story quite a bit and was on pins and needles at various parts of the novel due to the suspense of what was going to have next. Some parts were sad, other parts not.
I received the mailing address from the next reader on the list so will mail off "The Help" in the next couple of days.
I picked up my own copy of this book, which I just finished last night. Kathryn Stockett is an awesome writer. I enjoyed the story quite a bit and was on pins and needles at various parts of the novel due to the suspense of what was going to have next. Some parts were sad, other parts not.
I received the mailing address from the next reader on the list so will mail off "The Help" in the next couple of days.
Arrived in the mail today.
Thoroughly enjoyed to book. I loved the characters and they were very lifelike. My favorite characters were Aibileen and Minny. I felt like slapping HIlly throughout the whole book. She was a wealthy white woman who thought she was God's gift to Jackson, MS and the Junior League. The author did an excellent job of recreating Jackson in the 1960s. However,I didn't care for the ending. To me it seemed as though there wasn't a lot of thought put into it.
This going in the mail (media mail) tomorrow to MDM139.
I really enjoyed this book. I wish they would of gone more in detail about what happened to the characters at the end, but then again it may have taken away from the central premise of the book. It's a most read. The characters seemed like they could of been my neighbors if I lived in the 60's.
Kindly dropped off to me at my house on Sat. Sorry it took until today to journal.
I thought a quick update on this book might be appreciated.
I have started the book but unfortunately between working at a commuting distance from home and preparing for visit by family, then vacation, and then visit from more family I am not getting as muc reading done as I would like.
July 20: I am really enjoy these characters. The author has done a wonderful job of making the characters well rounded
July 21: Aibileen and Minny are talking before choir practice about Skeeter's request.
I have started the book but unfortunately between working at a commuting distance from home and preparing for visit by family, then vacation, and then visit from more family I am not getting as muc reading done as I would like.
July 20: I am really enjoy these characters. The author has done a wonderful job of making the characters well rounded
July 21: Aibileen and Minny are talking before choir practice about Skeeter's request.
I apologize for keeping this book so long. I can't believe how quickly I read the book once I started. I might have finished it sooner if it had worked as my book to read while on the elliptical trainer.
I think this is a very promising author. She did a wonderful job of creating very multidimensional real characters. The sense of empathy was amazing. It was interesting to read a book set in a period of time that was too close to be history when I was in school.
Very well written.
Thank you for sharing this.
Book is in an addressed envelope and will be dropped at the PO this evening.
I think this is a very promising author. She did a wonderful job of creating very multidimensional real characters. The sense of empathy was amazing. It was interesting to read a book set in a period of time that was too close to be history when I was in school.
Very well written.
Thank you for sharing this.
Book is in an addressed envelope and will be dropped at the PO this evening.
This book will be dropped off at the PO this evening.
Delivery Confirmation Number: 0309 3220 0001 8482 4875
Delivery Confirmation Number: 0309 3220 0001 8482 4875
Got this today! I've heard such good things about this I just had to read it. thanks for sharing mssaver and NMreader for sending! Will journal again when I'm finished.
This is a case where "write what you know" actually worked very well. This seems very autobiographical to the point where I kept wondering how much like Kathryn Stockett's life this was. (Be sure to read "Too Little, Too Late" at the end, that helped explain a lot of the questions I had for Stockett writing the book. I don't think Stockett had the idea to write 'The Help' about writing a book 'Help' but when she started to question why or if she should be writing this kind of book, it turned into that, kind of like the drawing of the hand drawing the hand by M.C. Escher.) Very smooth, easy, engaging writing style. It feels like it is completely ready to be a movie, the way it is written. The worst part of the book was Stockett writing the way Aibileen and Minny might talk. I think it was the weakest because Stockett was uncomfortable with it, as she mentions in the afterword. It is horrible that people actually tried to make the lives of the people who raised their children, cooked for them, and basically did everything for them miserable just because of the color of their skin. And it is heartbreaking that the maids would be more furious that the children they were watching were ignored by their parents than they were angry at having a separate bathroom built for them because they had "diseases". The maids were literally teaching white children how to survive and they were constantly worried about being accused of doing something wrong, or worried for their lives! I also think the ending was fitting, I would have been annoyed with an entirely happy ending. This is one of the few books I'm happy to see on the bestseller lists... I think all the hype is there for a reason. But I wouldn't say this was as important of a book as To Kill a Mockingbird(1960) or Invisible Man(1952). Those books were there for people to read while they were the most needed and important. There are still race issues these days though, so I'm happy so many people are reading this rather than something less important.
Trying to get collectorkerri's address but she hasn't answered me back yet. Thanks for sharing, mssaver!
Trying to get collectorkerri's address but she hasn't answered me back yet. Thanks for sharing, mssaver!
So sorry this took so long to release! Sent to collectorkerri today. thanks again for sharing!
Received today. Will read ASAP.
It's hard to put what I thought about this book into words. I enjoyed it very much, yet certain parts horrified me because I'm sure similar things happened to people back in the day and, in fact, still happen today because of intolerance and fear.
I agree with an earlier reader that the ending could have used a little work, but overall I found this book to be a promising start to Kathryn Stockett's book-writing career.
It's now on its way to imawinn2 in Wisconsin.
I agree with an earlier reader that the ending could have used a little work, but overall I found this book to be a promising start to Kathryn Stockett's book-writing career.
It's now on its way to imawinn2 in Wisconsin.
Got home from work today and found this in my mailbox. I've heard such good reviews of this story. I'm really looking forward to getting lost in its pages.
When I received this book, I thought I would have a hard time reading it in 30 days because it was so thick. But as you can see, I sped right through it. I was such a great story and it was too hard to put it down. Luckily, I had a couple of free evenings where I could read several hours uninterrupted. I absolutely loved the characters and they felt so real. Ms Stockett's book invoked many emotions while I read this... from anger, sadness, laughter and love and respect for the maids of Jackson, Mississippi. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for the following readers but I hope they enjoy this powerful story as much as I did. Btw... gotta love Aibileen and Minny.
Got the next person's address and sent it off today. The Help is now traveling to Canada. Hope it has a happy, safe journey and that the next reader enjoys it as much as I did.
The Help arrived today! I am eagerly awaiting reading it after seeing all of the positive comments here. I hope to finish it in a couple of weeks at most, as I am putting it at the top of my current reading list.
I apologize for taking so long to finish this book, but I am ready to send it on its way now to the UK.
I loved reading THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett.
Having grown up in the Deep South during the 1960s and vividly remembering the Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of JFK, and the image of members of organizations such as the Junior League in my hometown, reading this novel was a bittersweet time-travel experience.
At the same time, the characters' stories in The Help well-represent the experiences that are part of relating to others as one travels along one's own continuum -- recognition, love, growth, steadfastness, disappointment, sorrow, letting go, and moving on.
I loved reading THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett.
Having grown up in the Deep South during the 1960s and vividly remembering the Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of JFK, and the image of members of organizations such as the Junior League in my hometown, reading this novel was a bittersweet time-travel experience.
At the same time, the characters' stories in The Help well-represent the experiences that are part of relating to others as one travels along one's own continuum -- recognition, love, growth, steadfastness, disappointment, sorrow, letting go, and moving on.
THE HELP was sent on its way, winging its way slowly across the Atlantic on Dec 6, 2010. Canada Post said it might not arrive until after Christmas, so enjoy in the New Year!
Journal Entry 27 by rem_UAU-320589 at Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 29, 2011
Received safe and sound today. Thank you! I'm in the middle of a couple of books at the moment, but I'll get around to reading this one as soon as possible. :-)
Journal Entry 28 by rem_UAU-320589 at Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (6/14/2011 UTC) at Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to Icila. Sorry for keeping this for so long! Hope you enjoy it! :)
Thanks for the book and...the chocolate !
The packaging was in perfect shape.
Edit : very moving to read the first entry from oi-reader.
The packaging was in perfect shape.
Edit : very moving to read the first entry from oi-reader.
I'm finished and I'm sad. I enjoyed Abileenn and Minna's company, Skeeter's too.
The same lines are still going in many countries on the world...
The same lines are still going in many countries on the world...
ex2 already had got a copy so I'm the last on the list.
The book needs a new start.
New bookray :
- Nakipa (Portugal) Int
- Mysteriousmummy (UK) EU
- teggers (UK) EU
- Ametisti (Finland) INT
- ToXiCKiTTiKiSS (US) US
The book needs a new start.
New bookray :
- Nakipa (Portugal) Int
- Mysteriousmummy (UK) EU
- teggers (UK) EU
- Ametisti (Finland) INT
- ToXiCKiTTiKiSS (US) US
Good for you, Icila! I'm glad this touching book can go on to other readers around the world.
It arrived safely today. I hope to read it as fast as I can because I'm curious about the movie too. :D
First of all I'll have to apologize for taking a bit more time than I should reading this one but the truth is it did not take long to read it, It was just hard for me to take it to and from work everyday due to it's big size. So, this weekend I went to a Summer music festival and I took this one with me to read in the spare time. And I finished it in two days.
It was so easy to read this book, the characters are likeable (and hateable) from the first page, and I love when it's possible to read about very very serious subjects in an easier way. The ending was unexpected and I'm now looking forward to 29 of September for the portuguese release of the movie.
I'll be sending this one as soon as I have Mysteriousmummy's address. :D
It was so easy to read this book, the characters are likeable (and hateable) from the first page, and I love when it's possible to read about very very serious subjects in an easier way. The ending was unexpected and I'm now looking forward to 29 of September for the portuguese release of the movie.
I'll be sending this one as soon as I have Mysteriousmummy's address. :D
Released 12 yrs ago (8/23/2011 UTC) at Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending this one to Mysteriousmummy as part of a BookRay. Thank you so much Icila for sharing this one with me. :D
Journal Entry 36 by mysteriousmummy at Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Received safely today - hope to read soon although I have two library books to finish first.
Journal Entry 37 by mysteriousmummy at Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 3, 2011
What a fantastic book, I was gripped from the very first page. I found myself getting really involved with the characters and cheering them on to the brilliant conclusion. I find myself wanting to know what happened next with the characters but that of course is not the point of the story. I hope the upcoming film does it justice.
About to PM teggers for her address to continue the ray.
About to PM teggers for her address to continue the ray.
Arrived this morning, luckily before I move out next week. I'm in the middle of book at the moment but I'm really excited to get to this.
I'm sorry to have not journaled the book earlier. I finished reading this about a week ago and I thought it was fantastic. I actually lent it first to my mother because I was still finishing up another book and then she made me read it because I'm trying to find a job right now and she thought it would be inspiring. I loved how it mixed the serious and the funny and the different viewpoints really added to the story. Very uplifting and enjoyable. I'm sending it off to the next participant either today or tomorrow so she should receive it soon.
Released 12 yrs ago (10/12/2011 UTC) at Ilkley, West Yorkshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On to the next lucky reader
The book arrived during the week and I'm looking forward to reading this. I'm tempted to go see the movie first :)
Thank you for sharing and sending the book to me! Y'all have a great weekend!
Thank you for sharing and sending the book to me! Y'all have a great weekend!
I've read quite a lot of books about strong Southern women of the USA. This book had the same spirit but the voices were deeper and more powerful than I would have thought. I loved the story and am amazed how the author managed to stay out of the stereotypes. Skeeter, Minnie and Aibileen are such wonderful characters!
One one hand I am satisfied with this end but on the other hand I'm looking forward to the possible sequel about Skeeter and her career in NY.
I'll send this book off to the next reader next week. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story!
One one hand I am satisfied with this end but on the other hand I'm looking forward to the possible sequel about Skeeter and her career in NY.
I'll send this book off to the next reader next week. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story!
I must have completely forgotten that I signed up for this ray. School quarter just ended yesterday. So, now I will have time to read it. Since I am the last person, I am going to put it after a couple other books. Thanks! :)
