Modern Good Reads discussion

Welcome everyone to our November BOTM discussion. I want to to hear all about this book.

What did you love?
What did you hate?
What made you laugh? Cry?
Why is this a good Thanksgiving themed book?
The book vs. the movie...

Let's discuss!!!

So who is reading this AWESOME book with me?

I have read the book within the year if that counts and I have to say I thought it was amazing. I'm happy to chip in as the discussion flows :)

One of the big things I remember being debated at the time was whether or not a white writer could take on the story or whether it was whites capitalising on black slavery AGAIN!! This definitely wasn't my own point of view but if be interested to hear thoughts :)

Hi Kirstin & Lynsey I'm planning on joining in when I finish my current book (which I've only just started). The Help has been on my shelf for ages so I am keen to get started with it. I hadn't been aware of the debate surrounding it but will be interested to hear what everyone thinks.

Favorite character? Scene?

Which did you like better? book or movie?

I always like the book better as I just engage with reading in a totally different way but I think the help was a good example of film to book! It kept the majority of the important story and I wasn't left screeching at the tv about all the things they had missed!!!

I love the character of aibileen obviously- I don't think the book would work if you didn't and I admire skeeter (I'd have liked her to be less attractive in the film to fit with characterisation but that's the movies) but my favourite characters were celia and Johnny foote who show a markedly different value system and gave me hope.

My favourite scene is when Johnny reveals that he has known for ages that Minny is helping out as the food is better but he doesn't want to embarrass his wife! It's comedy and relief after minny's fears of The consequences

I read this book several months ago and loved it! I loved the characters, the plot...everything.

I had several favorite scenes, however, like Lynsey, I enjoyed when Johnny revealed that he had known about Minny for a long time because the food was better...didn't want to embarrass his wife.

I thought it was great that a white writer was so willing to tell this story and do it with such honor to the characters.

I definitely recommend this book; it's a great choice for book clubs because it gives a lot to discuss.

Two questions I found online and would be interested to hear your responses to:

Hilly is an abhorrent character in her attitude to the black women yet is painted as a good mother. Why do you think she is given this attribute?

What did you think of minny's revenge? Could you go that far?

Sorry to be late to the discussion. I read this book about a year ago and loved, loved, loved it. Stockett's characterizations were brilliantly written and stayed true throughout. I've since seen the movie, which was wonderful, but I prefer the book.

On Hilly's "motherhood," I have to confess I don't really remember much about that part of her personality. I think I was so struck by her mean-spiritedness and bigotry, I must have discounted her mothering.

I don't blame Minny at all, but I could never go that far. I'm too neurotic. I'd lie awake at night worrying that I'd given the family a terrible case of some awful ailment. The momentary thrill of revenge would be to too short-lived to be worth it for me!

I'm the same as you, I hadn't considered her to be a good mother at all but it was a reading group question I came across and it Surprised me! Essentially they were asking whether she could still be a good parent/person with this 'flaw' and how much was her own fault ca how much was the influence of the times!

I hold her entirely responsible for her actions and therefore do not agree she can be a good anything!!! For me, I could excuse someone who lived with the status quo out of fear or lack of understanding and was a silent bystander- I often wonder if I'd be brave enough to stand up against injustice in a time where it had real and scary consequences, but I KNOW that I wouldn't perpetuate hateful acts.

Having watched the butler, these ideas have been rife in my mind and I have renewed admiration for skeeter, aibileen and Minnie

This group read gave me the kick in the butt I needed to pull this off my to be read stack and now I wonder why I waited so long.

The maids, especially Abileen and Minnie, and Skeeter were so heroic. Even now, the relationship between nannies and families are so complicated.

I loved and hated how the book ended. I'm still worried for Minnie. In my mind, Miss Cecilia and Johnny recognize her fear and they all move off to some other place to start over. I loved the scenes with Cecilia. She and Minnie seemed to bring out the best in each other and as Cecilia's problems with miscarriages became clear, I was so glad the two of them had found each other.

Lynsey wrote: "Two questions I found online and would be interested to hear your responses to:

Hilly is an abhorrent character in her attitude to the black women yet is painted as a good mother. Why do you think..."

I think the idea she is a good mother is a way to contrast her with Elizabeth who is a cruel mother and working way too hard to please Hilly. To me, this was a way too where we could see Abileen's quiet power. She used her position in the household in a way that may make a powerful change for the next generation. , I hope Baby Girl grew up to be part of that 70s culture where blacks and whites danced together on Soul Train. Because Hilly is a "good mother" to me there was an implication that her children were doomed to continue to believe the same thing as their mother.

Loved this book. I remember when this portrayed the life was in the South. Made me laugh, made me mad and made me think about what is still to be done.

I read it quite a while ago, but loved it and I will try to remember it.

I found that I couldn't read the parts about Minnie's revenge. I have a weak stomach and vivid imagination and those two combined made it really hard to read that part. I started gagging and almost threw up. No....I wouldn't be able to go that far.

It's interesting to me that Hilly is perceived as a "good mother" in the book because I don't see that at all. Sure, she's a doting mother, but I see her as spoiling her children, which is kind of an abuse in its way because it gives children a false image of the world and the way it works. It does not prepare them for life as adults, when they will not be given everything they want, will not always be favored and treated as the most special people to have walked the earth. They will not be prepared to deal with a job, a boss, coworkers, etc. As the primary job of parents is to prepare their children to live in the world and be good people, I don't think of Hilly as having done that successfully, and therefore I do not see her as a good mother. I also think she uses her children. They are a status symbol to her...there to make her look good. She uses them to elevate her status in the community, and to appear to be the "put together" woman who has the perfect life...perfect husband, perfect children, money, etc. I wonder if her "public face" is different than the one she wears at home. When she's at home and there is no one to see her and how she interacts with her children, is she the same way as she is when the world can see her?

I loved the character of Aibeleen. She's loyal, a good friend, smart, and she is such a good role model. She's hard working and she's forgiving of the children who grow up to despise her, even though she's done so much for them, because she knows it's not their fault, that they are products of their environment. So she's forgiving, patient, and brave...a very strong woman.

I also liked Johnny and Cecilia and I felt so bad for Cecilia. She was trying so hard at EVERYTHING.

I despise Skeeter's former "friends" who are judgmental, weak, and just awful human beings.

Monica wrote: "I read this book several months ago and loved it! I loved the characters, the plot...everything.

I had several favorite scenes, however, like Lynsey, I enjoyed when Johnny revealed that he had ..."
That was one of my favorite scenes too.

I read this book over the late summer, and was happily surprised at how similar the movie and written versions are! :) I always like it when I know exactly what is going on. Of course there were differences, but for the most part, they stayed course.

I read this book a while ago and really enjoyed it. I also thought the movie was great. It's been a few years, so I hope I have the details in my comment accurate.

As others have stated above, I loved when Johnny shared that he already knew that his wife wasn't doing the cooking on her own. I enjoyed hearing about their relationship. It was so unusual for the times, but they were genuine people.

One scene that I didn't care for was towards the end, when they were talking about the cold sore and Hilly basically falling apart. Though we all wanted to see her get what she gave, the scene was just very unrealistic, gross, and almost silly. I didn't feel like it belonged with the overall tone of the book. Though I did love Skeeter's mom sticking up for her.

I think Hilly being a good mother (or at least a doting one) is more realistic. You can be a terrible person, but you are still good at some things. Plus, why wouldn't she be a good mother? She's not prejudice towards her own children. The sad part is that she was instilling those awful values in her children.

My favorite character is probably Abileen. I loved her quiet strength. Even though she was treated differently due to her color, she did not return the sentiment and loved baby girl and taught her important life lessons. I feel like she is breaking down the race barriers one child at a time.