Everyone at my work had read "The Help" and talked about how great it was, so when I found a hardcover copy at the Christian Center in Park City for a dollar I had to buy it. For the first one hundred pages I wondered why it had gotten such rave reviews. It wasn't bad, but the prose wasn't grabbing me the way I had anticipated. The different narratives blurred together and I put the book down for a few weeks.
After I moved back in with the parentals a month ago, I decided I wanted to finish the book, especially with the movie debuting this summer. By about page 200 I was hooked. Skeeter Phelan came alive for me. Minny cracked me up. Aibileen warmed my heart. Celia's outfits made me cringe. I finally began to experience the joy and excitement my friends had been telling me about. I was right there in Mississippi. Breathing in the characters' fears, anticipations, and triumphs. The remaining 200+ pages were an enjoyable breeze.
It's hard to believe this is the author's first book. I hope she refuses to be a one-hit-wonder and writes more novels.
