Book #41: The Help

I'm always a little wary about reading books that have had such rave reviews - they're that ones that can so easily disappoint. But when two girlfriends, on opposite sides of the world, recommended I add The Help, by Kathryn Stockett to this year's reading list, I figured that was endorsement enough.

And am I glad I did. I loved it. The Help was one of those books that leaves you conflicted. You want to read it as fast as possible, desperate to know what happens over the page, in the next chapter, and how it all comes together at the end - yet at the same time, it is just soooooooooo good, that you don't want it to end, so how can you go about drawing the process out?!

I had no self-control when it came to The Help. I simply had to devour it. Although it took me just a little while to get started, but once I grew accustomed to the different voices of the maids and the conversations began to flow, well, there was no stopping me!

The Help is a wonderful story about the relationships between women and for me, despite the social hierarchy between the different groups in this story, they were both equal. Each had their own strengths and weaknesses, their own advantages and disadvantages.

This is one book I actually can't wait to see transformed into the big screen. I think the characters of each of the woman - cast correctly - will simply come alive. I'm hoping to laugh out loud and be needing to reach for my box of tissues when I eventually head to the cinema, but for now, I'm simply savouring The Help.

Definitely one of my best reads of the year so far!