The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have read this book last year some time, maybe last summer?  Anyway, I just saw the movie this past week and thought I would share my thoughts about both the book and the movie. 

First, I rarely enjoy a movie from book when I have read the book ahead of time.  I admit to being a little skeptical about the movie when I went to see it.  However, the previews were enticing and I really did enjoy the book.  So I went ahead, ended up going in a late afternoon showing by myself.  I’ll admit I was anticipating a few tears, so I did bring along extra tissue.

Well – I have to say the movie did NOT disappoint me.  I was thoroughly engrossed with the movie and despite knowing the plotline, was very much anticipating the story progression.  I thought the movie did the book absolute justice!  So – for those of you similar skeptics, it is worth seeing the movie!

The characters in this book were the heart of the story.  Aibileen, Minny, Skeeter, Hilly – you very much got to be familiar with them and the way they think.  You come to understand their background of experiences is leading them to where they are in the story.  You may not agree, or have a hard time understanding their plight, but it makes sense with the way each of them were raised.

It is something most of us current day women don’t understand.  We weren’t raised with black maids as the standard of living. For Hilly, Skeeter, and Elizabeth, it was just what it was – they were raised by the maids and now had them in their lives and families.  The best part of the story is the shift in thinking that occurs – first by Skeeter, and then the maids themselves.  It hadn’t even dawned on them that they were being treated with ill-will, they just assumed it was the way and didn’t question it.  I love how Aibileen goes through her mind-shift to realize she can be treated better, and that she deserves a level of respect.  Also, Skeeter goes through her mind-shift when she realizes how her own maid growing up was treated, and how she had been asked the leave the family.  I was especially touched with Skeeter’s mother coming to the same realization.  Very touching scene between them when the mother finally expresses pride in her daughter, instead of the usual criticism! 

Mostly, the character of Minny is both a comic relief as well as someone who represents the challenges they faced in those times.  Minny tried to put a little toe in the water of defiance (using the bathroom) and the results of this action become overwhelming.  She can’t get another job, she has to force her daughter to go to work, her husband abuses her more.  And yet, her resilience to try to keep going is amazing.  Ultimately, she is granted the gift of acceptance and admiration from Celia – who is need of a caring, nurturing mother type.  Minny doesn’t think she is doing anything spectacular, but finally realizes the impact she has had Celia.  Even though this is a sub-plot line, it really needs to be acknowledged for its importance.

Aibileen is the strongest character of the book, she has become more independent thinking, more respectful towards herself.  Her growth of confidence throughout the book, gives her the strength to handle the final confrontation at the end.  She walks away with her dignity, leaving Hilly and Elizabeth seriously questioning the change that was occurring in their small world.  Aibileen had grown, and she has “hope” for her future. 

This was a book that was enjoyable to read, despite that underlying thread of racism.  I give kudos to the author for addressing such a difficult topic in a way that we can cope with facing.  It’s something most of us were not even aware of that happened in our recent history.  When we know more about it, it can hopefully awaken our consciousness! 

All in all – a good book recommendation, if you haven’t read it yet and good recommendation to see the movie!!

ROOM by Emma Donoghue

Last weekend I watched the Diane Sawyer special about Jaycee Dugard and her daunting story.   I was immediately struck about some similarities to the book Room.  I read this last winter and was very captivated by that book.  I thought I would share my thoughts about the book, since it was newly refreshed in my mind.  If you haven’t read this book yet, this may be a little bit of a spoiler, but I will try not to give away any big story plots.  However, the story has a basic premise similar to Jaycee’s experience.   Although it involves kidnapping and captivity, the author starts you at a different point and you found out more as you read along.  This was a great strategy.

When I first started, I felt unsure about what I’d gotten into.  The language reads a little different at first, and you’re not even sure what the story setting is about.   Despite this initial acclimation, I found myself intrigued to learn more about the story as it was starting to unfold.   You really get caught up in the characters – how they are managing living in this room.  I was so intrigued by their routine – it seems like they have adapted to the situation and making the best of it.  You have the sense that this is a terrible situation, and you almost don’t want to know the details. 

However, it starts to take the turn in sharing more the background of how they got into the “room” and more about the details of the situation.  At this point, you can’t put the book down because you are seeing the tone changing in their routine and attitude about the room.  Honestly, the spiral of how they make this transition was something so intense that I could not put down the book.  I was so nervous about the outcome of their decisions. 

The next phase of the book starts to slow down again and I felt myself trying to read ahead to see what might happen.  You just need to keep moving forward with the book, because the progress of the characters is really in their dialogue amongst themselves and others.  You definitely notice a change in direction on how the main characters interact with each other.  It is necessary for them to progress in their development, but you miss a little bit of the closeness they had in their relationship from the beginning.

To see the young boy grow into himself more is pleasing, but the mother continues her struggles.  The ending put you where it all started – in “Room”, a very smart choice by the author.  And the mother is now learning and leaning on her son, a switch from how the story started! 

I think it was an amazing, smartly written book.  I was intrigued from start to finish.  The concept was something new to me, I hadn’t read anything like this before! 

Finally, if you haven’t watched or read about Jaycee’s story, it would be interesting to do so along with this book.  I had read an on-line interview with the author Emma Donoghue.  She was asked if she used any of Jaycee’s story as inspiration.  As it turns out, the answer was no – there was a similar story in Austria (2008) she had heard of when developing the idea of this book.    

I was impressed with Jaycee Dugard and how she seemed to have survived with her sanity.  I am sending her prayers and good wishes in the next stage of her life!

I launched this blog and ….

I launched my blog here and now I haven’t had a chance to hardly read anything.  Here it is that I launched something that would talk about books and things I’ve read.  I’m sure anyone looking here would expect to see something about books I’ve read and comments about books.  It feels really weird that I’m almost more focused on thinking about the blog, than actually doing the reading that inspired the idea for the blog in the first place! 

One of my distractions has been taking an eCourse called “How to build a blog you truly love”.  This has certainly been a huge help to me in thinking about starting my blog, and taking into account what is the purpose of this blog.  This will help me to try to keep focused on writing about things that inspire me regarding books, and not really being worried about who will read my blog and how many comments I get.  I am really starting to believe in my ability to say how I feel about things, and that other people may actually relate.  I don’t have to try to write to try to what I think people what want to read, I just write.  This is a very freeing concept.  It actually is helping me not feel so guilty about not having finished a book yet to review. 

I would highly recommend this eCourse to anyone who has a blog or thinking about starting a blog.  My only wish is that life wasn’t getting in the way (work, kids, house projects) that I could completely absorb all the concepts from this course.  I know that the content I have been able to review so far and think about will really help me in my new adventures in the blogging world! 

 

And so, hopefully some time when you stop in to visit me in the future, there will be book comments and reviews.  I can only anticipate that this blogging gig is going to continue, I sure have enjoyed what I’ve done so far! 

Happy Reading to you all !

The Thrill of a Bookstore

Well, I had one experience yesterday that I have to share with you.  There was a book I was thinking I would like to see if I could get at a bookstore – South Beach Diet.  I know, I know, there is a ton of information about that online.  However, for some reason I really wanted to have the actual book to browse through and see the types of recipes in it.  I didn’t really want to buy it new, so I decided to go on my lunch break to Half-Priced Books.


There is one not far from my work that I hadn’t been to before, thought I would give it a try.  The second I walked through the door, I felt myself transported into a different dimension.  Weird, huh!  I immediately felt the rush of anticipation and excitement as I started to walk around and see the different areas and topics they had there.  I found myself giddy with joy as I realized how many different types of books they had there, and the prices were great.


I wandered over to the cooking section and found the book I was looking for, yeah!  Joy!  And then I looked on the next shelf over and there was a book that someone had left there – from another section.  I picked it up and it happened to be a book my husband had mentioned he was interested in reading.  I completely awestruck that this book was actually laying there from a different section right in the cooking section I was in.  I got goose bumps – sort of eerie, the cosmos knew I would be there right at that time?? Amazing!  I really did feel that I was supposed to be at that bookstore!


My last stop was at the discounted section in the back.  I stood elbow to elbow next to several other strangers browsing the bookshelves.  None of us felt uncomfortable with this, this is just how it is.  We’re each lost in our own thoughts as we look at book titles, sort of a comrade spirit of book lovers!  
 

I could have easily walked out with 20 books, I saw so many that I know I want to read some day.  I resisted and went to purchase the 2 books I had in my hand.  I had completely taken my whole lunch hour browsing around, I could have easily stayed the whole afternoon!  I sadly left the bookstore, but knew that I would be back there soon.  The thrill of spending time at the bookstore would definitely draw me back again!  
 

Anyone else have the experience of rush and joy of browsing at a bookstore??   

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I am Reader Sue, and I love to read! I have always been a reader, since my early elementary years. There certainly have been times in my life when I have been able to devour many books, and other times (child rearing years) where I hardly had time to read a newspaper. Well, the past few years as my children are becoming more adult-like, I find that I have really picked back up my reading schedule!

I actually belong to several book clubs, with a variety of book choices in them. This is absolutely the best part for me!! I certainly enjoy reading popular fiction, but the most fun over the past few years has been reading a variety of classics, non-fiction, historical fiction and business-type books based on the groups that I am associated with. And ultimately, it is rewarding to have a discussion about the book and see what other people think and feel about what they just read.

And so it leads me here! I have honestly been thinking that I should start to keep track of what I have read and making notes about them. I have gotten to the point where I actually can’t remember if I have read a certain book or not. This is frustrating for me! So, my goal of my blog here is to A) keep track of books that I have read, B) share my feelings about the book, and that of any of my book buddies and C) keep a list of books I want to read!

Finally, for me, there is always a story behind the story when it comes to books. Whether it ties me to a situation regarding the book or the author, I am always amazed how far reaching the experience of the book brings to me. This is mostly the reason I feel the need to share with all of you!

Please share any comments or suggestions about great book blogs you have followed, and what interested you most in those! And again, welcome and come back soon!