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I'm finding it difficult to decide where to start with this book because it covers quite a few issues. So what I'd like to do is ask you to post as much as you like about your thoughts and feelings towards the content of the book during, and after, reading and we'll go from there. Gush away :)

Hmm, I've finished it. It isn't the sort of thing I usually read, and I'm not sure I enjoyed it really. Some of the characters are horrible!

Kerry wrote: "Hmm, I've finished it. It isn't the sort of thing I usually read, and I'm not sure I enjoyed it really. Some of the characters are horrible!"

That's a shame. I think it's a bit gritty in it's realism. Can you put a finger on what you did and didn't like? What did you expect when you started reading it? Some of the covers make it look more fun. It does deal with some serious issues.

I've thought about it all day, and i think really I don't like it because I don't think it's a thing to write a fiction book about. I just think it's a terrible thing, and it ought to be kept serious rather than made into a story. I didn't have any expectations about it really- it was bought for me as a present, I suppose because it's a film now. For me, I want to a read a book for escapism, and this is definitely not that!

Kerry wrote: "I've thought about it all day, and i think really I don't like it because I don't think it's a thing to write a fiction book about. I just think it's a terrible thing, and it ought to be kept seri..."

I think it is interesting that it is a subject which is still so relevant today. On the Radio1 news yesterday they were talking about the amount of race crimes in the U.K. and I was shocked. I also think that the relevancy of the way people treat the people they employ is current. I like reading books which I can learn something from - take something from. I also like to read light fiction in between but it is more of a guilty pleasure - like watching a hollywood movie. I have just read Fahrenheit 451 and I wouldn't say I really enjoyed it but I put it down and couldn't stop thinking about it. I think part of it will stay with me. It was a good book but not a comfortable read. The Help was a much nicer read and I felt relief that humanity evolves.

In that sense I agree with you. It's a really current theme and very relevant. I just think perhaps too relevant and close to home for me. But very well written nevertheless.

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important." This really welled me up. Was anyone else really touched by Aibileen and Mae Mobley's relationship?

Who were your favourite characters?

Yes, their relationship was quite touching. I live and grew up in the American South, so this novel is especially evocative for me. I enjoyed the novel and thought it was well-written. I know some have had difficulty reading the dialogue as it's written in dialect, but I didn't find this to be a hindrance.

Aibileen and Mae Mobley's relationship was really special wasn't it? The hardest part for me was that these children were brought up with 'Help' basically acting as their mothers, yet by the time they were adults had learnt to almost despise them. I had such hope that Mae Mobley would turn out differently.

I can see why people might find some of the themes difficult in this book but I liked how they took some of their power back by telling their stories. It was shocking to see what the consequences of that could have been but I was cheering them on!
It was uncomfortable reading at times but I really enjoyed it.

Also, Kerry I understand what you mean but I think books like this and also To kill a mockingbird bring serious issues to life as it were. I know they're novels but sometimes it takes some creative story telling to really see what things might have been like in difficult times, The Book Thief also does this in a way - makes the story human.
I'm not sure I'm making this point very clearly but I know what I mean!

It's been a while since I read it, but I absolutely loved The Help. I thought Aibleen and particularly Minnie were fantastic characters and I admired their courage and also their humour. I know it's a serious subject and I understand how you might feel awkward about it being treated light-heartedly but i's a very human thing to try and find humour in horrible situations and use laughter to alleviate the awfulness, and I loved Minnie for this. In fact, the realism of all the characters was my favourite thing about the novel.

It's incredible to think how recently events like those in this book would have happened. It's easy to feel like government-sanctioned racism in the so-called "civilised" West is ancient history, but segregation was still being enforced in the US until just five years before I was born.

Kathabelle wrote: "Yes, their relationship was quite touching. I live and grew up in the American South, so this novel is especially evocative for me. I enjoyed the novel and thought it was well-written. I know some ..."

Is the South similar now to the way it was described in the book then? Do you think the book had more resonance because of the connection to your life? I don't think I really noticed the dialogue tbh just things like "you is" stick in my mind:)

Jo wrote: "Aibileen and Mae Mobley's relationship was really special wasn't it? The hardest part for me was that these children were brought up with 'Help' basically acting as their mothers, yet by the time t..."

I was shocked at the descriptions of the power the white women had over their black maids and the repercussions of any, supposed, trangressions.

I also like reading books with historical facts inserted and have read quite a few books that mention the woolworth counters.

The poo pie made me feel sick! I'm afraid I thought no matter how much of an evil bitch she was, that was a step too far and put me off Minnie slightly.

Jo wrote: "The poo pie made me feel sick! I'm afraid I thought no matter how much of an evil bitch she was, that was a step too far and put me off Minnie slightly."

It's funny Jo - when I read it I never knew whether to take her seriously or whether she had just said that there was poo in it to save face. Maybe I didn't want to believe she would do that but then again she did represent to Minnie all the hardship and repression that black people had to suffer.

Kirsty wrote: "“You is kind. You is smart. You is important." This really welled me up. Was anyone else really touched by Aibileen and Mae Mobley's relationship?

I cried harder than I have in a long time when Mae Mobley repeated those words to Aibileen. I think Kathryn Stockett portrayed the love between the two seamlessly. I fell in love with both of them. I think we can even take from this relationship and apply it to our own lives.

I don't know if she did a good job portraying the 60's in the South as I wasn't there, I do know that I believed every word and everytime I read Aiblieen or Minnie chapters I read them in a "black woman's voice".

Beautiful is all I can think as the good relationships were so believable.

I actually want a daughter called Mae Mobley she is amazing, I totally fell in love with her.

Yes it was gritty, yes it was hard and emotional but I enjoyed it and I will definitely read it again and recommend it to everyone. In my opinion everyone should read this book. Glad I took my time.

Regarding the *Poo Pie* situation, I wasn't sure whether to believe at first Kirsty, sorry everyone but I am one of those that thinks that Hilly got what she deserved. I loved Minnie and she was only horrible to people who hurt her.

I'm glad they didn't go in to detail about all that Hilly had done to her maids. What she did to the maid after Minnie was horrendous. If Minnie did put poo in the pie then it was probably one of the only ways that she would have been able to successfully get her point across without fear of retribution - Hilly couldn't retaliate without her poo eating being exposed. Didn't stop her from being a witch to her next maid though.

ok - so who would be a Minnie? Would you serve poo pie and stand up for yourself risking losing your job every time or would you be an Aibeleen? Not standing up for yourself or speaking up about the mistreatment of the child you are looking after for fear of losing your job.

Can someone start a thread for this? I think it's a nice discussion question but I'm on my phone and the kids need attention :D