Monday, September 7, 2009

ON BOOKS ~ The Help...

MizB asks you to:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall open to a random page.
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
  • Share the title of the book the teaser comes from…that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

From pg. 29 of THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett (fiction) - "Aibileen":

"All I know is, I ain't saying it. And I know she ain't saying what she want a say either and it's a strange thing happening here cause nobody saying nothing and we still managing to have us a conversation."

From pg. 148 of THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett (fiction) - "Skeeter":

"I give in and light another cigarette even though last night the surgeon general came on the television set and shook his finger at everybody, trying to convince us that smoking will kill us. But Mother once told me tongue kissing would turn me blind and I'm starting to think it's all just a big plot between the surgeon general and Mother to make sure no one ever has any fun."

From pg. 317 of THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett (fiction) - "Minny":

"I might as well be Little Stevie Wonder I am so blinded by that dress. Hot pink and silver sequins glitter from her extra-large boobies all the way to her hot pink toes."

I first heard about this book on Alyce's wonderful blog, At Home With Books. It was probably even through Teaser Tuesdays. I added it to my To Read list on Goodreads and then for the next few months read nothing but glowing reviews everywhere I turned. Friends told me I just had to read it. So when an online bookgroup I belong to on Goodreads was looking for nominations for books taking place in the American Deep South, I couldn't resist. Needless to say, the book won the voting and here I was in line behind over 700 other people on the library waiting list needing to read this book in order to lead a discussion. Pure luck and good timing got a copy into my hands before this past holiday weekend and I was hoping I could get it finished in the 2 weeks needed before it was due back. I finished it in 2 days. I would have finished it in 1 if I had started reading sooner on the first day.

The Teasers above are taken from each of the three main characters in this debut novel. All three are women living in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Two are black maids. One is a white woman who was raised by a black maid. Their paths cross in everyday life, though their everyday lives are vastly different. But they come to realize there really isn't all that much separating them except the "rules" that some other people created in their minds. And they are forever connected by an idea to tell their stories to the masses, without anyone knowing who they are.

You need to read this book. It is such incredible story telling. From three different personalities. About the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. A part of history so near it still creates touchy reactions. And a way of thinking that some people still cling to. So it needs to be read. And the message of tolerance, equality, and doing what is right for yourself and to others as human beings, becomes the only way to live.

16 comments:

Candy Minx said...

Those quotes hooked me. Sounds like a great book!

Sandy Nawrot said...

I think this was one of the big books of the year - definitely a two day or less read. The characters are multi-dimensional and entertaining, and at the same time even a little nerve-wracking. Glad you were able to get your hands on it!!!

Margot at Joyfully Retired said...

You have convinced me. I will somehow get my hands on a copy too. I love good storytelling.

ashramblings said...

I like this idea, so here goes. Being in the middle of all things Indian, I'm reading Gita Mehta's Current Affairs/Memoire "Snakes and Ladders" . It fell open at page 196: "Like Amrita Devi and her daughters, whole familes had died in defence of the khejari forest. There is an annual fair still held in commemoration of those deaths in Amrita Dev's village."

Beth F said...

I have this on my MP3 player. I have no clue why I haven't gotten to it yet. (Okay, I do know: I have way more books than I'll ever get around to reading)

Alyce said...

I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I know it is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

I'm on the waiting list at my library to read Catching Fire for book club. I think I may have to give in and buy the book (like that would break my heart) but I'm waiting until the end of the week to decide.

kayerj said...

LOL! a plot to make sure she has no fun--I heard that so many times when I was raising my teenagers!

JoAnn said...

This was such a good book! I listened to it, and It's my favorite audio of the year so far.

Anonymous said...

My boyfriend's mom read this book and absolutely loved it. Looks like I'll have to give it a try. :) Great teasers!

Anonymous said...

Hey Bumbles, It's been a while since I"ve stopped in. I really enjoyed this teaser. Especially the middle quote. :)

rhapsodyinbooks said...

So jealous you got this book so fast! Everyone has been raving about it!

Susan said...

Those are some seriously good teasers! Here's my teaser.

Lynn said...

This sounds like a great book. I don't know where I've been, but I hadn't heard of it before :o I just finished reading playwright Neil Simon's memoir, Rewrites. It was delightful. Here are two sentences from p. 139: "If anyone enjoyed the success of Barefoot (in the Park, his play), there was no one more elated than my mother. I could barely get her on the phone the next day."

ds said...

Neat way to turn a teaser into a review! I guess I'll have to add this one to the List also *sigh* because you appear to be as good on books as you are on movies...
Also, there's a little something (fun, I hope) on my blog for you when you get the chance...
http://thirdstoreywindow.blogspot.com

Lynn said...

I am now number two hundred something on the waiting list for this book at my library. When I looked at it on Amazon, it was #1 in three categories. I guess I've been under a rock, not to have heard of it before now. Thanks for pointing me to it -- I'm looking forward to reading it.
Your comment on my blog about using the hairdryer on the duck, by the way? HILARIOUS. I am going to try it. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

This has been languishing on my wish list for awhile. Now I feel bad that I haven't made more of an effort to read it!