The Help  

Welcome to the newest virtual bookclub, brought to you by your ATC librarians!  This time, we'll be reading and discussing Kathryn Stockett's The Help.  We'll have a wrap-up party (with food and refreshments!) and face to face book discussion on August 9 at 12:30. 

In order to comment or participate, please email Carol (cstanley@athenstech.edu) or Marci (mmanglitz@athenstech.edu) to be added to the list of participants! 

The way the bookclub works is that you read along with others and visit this discussion site at your convenience to post questions, have discussions, share related information, and learn from what others have shared.  You can visit this site any time, day or night!  Some discussion questions will be provided for you, and you can copy and paste these into a post, and then jump right in and tell us what you think! 

The Help is a novel about several women concerned with race, domestic issues, friendship, and more, set in the United States South during the 1960's.

You can read a very large exerpt from the book in Google Books, by clicking here. 

http://www.kathrynstockett.com/   is the author's website.  There are reviews, a biography, and a Q & A here.

The Association of Black Women Historians created an open letter/statment to fans of The Help.  Read that response here.

There has been a film made from the book.  While it appears to differ from the text, you can get an idea of what parts of the book may be about by viewing it below.

Because the novel was such a big bestseller, K. Stockett was interviewed by Katie Couric!  Here's a link to the interview.  It includes interview questions by some other bookclubs! 

One of the many controversies surrounding the book is that a woman named Ablene Cooper, who has worked as a maid for Stockett's brother, is suing the author.  Ablene Cooper believes that the character of Abilene was based upon her and states that the portrayal is insulting.  Read a New York Times article about her claims here.

The New York Times reviewed the novel and points out some of the flaws as well as the strengths of The Help.  Link to that review here.