Book Review: The Help

This is probably the first time, and I hope the last, I ever say this: the movie was better than the book.

Phew, glad that is out of the way!

I was really disappointed in the book, The Help. The civil rights era was one of my favorite periods to study back in my college history days; even took a whole class just on the civil rights movement. I think my fascination with the era began in my high school American history class. My teacher, Mr. Hicks, was a big fan of teaching through movies, and we watched an old made-for-tv movie called Murder in Mississippi, which is about three civil rights workers who were murdered during the 1964 Freedom Summer. The movie stuck with me for a long time. By the time I decided to do a minor in history at Iowa State, I knew it would focus on contemporary American history, and that I would take at least one class focusing on civil rights, which I wrote my final paper about the Freedom Summer murders.

So, I should like this book, right? Well, yes and no. As a lover of history, I did love the book. I love how she showed a side of history that you truly didn’t hear much about. I love how she wove in current events into the plot (how could you not with a book like this?). As a writer, the book was also inspirational to me to follow my heart and write about what moves me (still working on that . . .).

However, the fact that I do consider myself a writer is also the reason I didn’t like the book. I read last week that the Author, Kathryn Stockett, was rejected 60 times before the book was published. I think it shows. The book is s l o w. There are so many scenes that do absolutely nothing to really advance the story line. But, I guess if you think about it, Stockett had 60 rejection letters telling her to do better. So she kept rewriting, writing, cutting, writing some more. And what I found was a book that took too long to set up the plot and then let it stall intermittently throughout the story.

Ok, here’s where I admit something I’m not entirely proud of. I saw the movie still having 50 pages left to read. I didn’t really think much else could happen, and I was fairly right on that. I was drawn in completely into the movie. It captured me emotionally. I cried through three quarters of the movie, which I consider to be a good thing! And a movie like this should capture me emotionally. The themes of standing up for yourself, love, friendship, doing right should pull at your heartstrings. And those who know me, know that it doesn’t take much to get the waterworks flowing!

So, this morning, I went back to finish the book realizing I had not teared up once during this book. I read most of the book on the beach, so it wasn’t like I kept having to put it down with distractions – and still nothing. I think my eyes watered once this morning, but I blame that on the fact that everything I was reading was visualized as it happened in the movie. If J.K. Rowling can get me sobbing over a boy wizard, you know it really doesn’t take much. So, I was disappointed that this book didn’t pull me in like that, because I really wanted it to.

Overall, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading this book because it does tell the story of a really important time in our country’s history (although I wouldn’t call it “one of the most important pieces of fiction since To Kill a Mockingbird” as NPR did). Also, I would never discourage anyone from reading anything! And I know it did capture some people – my roommate said she did cry when she read the book.

I do encourage you to go see the move! Is it a faithful take on the book? About as close as any movie adaptation I’ve ever seen, but paced out better than the book (even though they rearrange some plot developments). Go see it! Here’s the preview if you haven’t watched it yet:

Advertisement