My mom has coffee with a group of friends she refers to as “the Ladies.” She’ll say things like, “This morning, Joy–you know, Joy, she’s a Lady…” Several of the other Ladies are, like my mom, retired teachers, and they often swap book recommendations. (One of the Ladies even read–and liked!–my novel.) Anyway, last summer they were raving about Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, and my mom was intrigued enough to want to read it. She loved it and recommended it to me. And I wanted to read it, but sometimes I have trouble convincing myself to try books that a) lack murder and mayhem, and b) might make me cry. (I cry enough already, and once I tear up–even if it’s over something like a book–it’s a short trip to the land of total meltdowns.) So I procrastinated, and in the meantime, my mom loaned her copy to my sister-in-law, who read it in two days. When the movie came out, my SIL and brother went–I think this was their first date after my niece was born. My brother came back from the theater and said to my dad, “You have to take Mom to this movie. It’s amazing. It’s the perfect date movie. I cried.” Which made me both want to read the book and slightly dread reading it; see b) above.

Anyway, I decided the New Year’s trip to North Carolina was the perfect time to read The Help, a book that is, after all, set in the South (albeit Mississippi). And…wow. Hilarious, thought-provoking, heart-rending, and I didn’t even cry. (Possibly the fact that I peeked ahead to the ending helped with that.) Having lived in the South, I think I appreciated the book on a level I might otherwise have missed; the nuances of racism are still alive and well, as I learned in Savannah. I’d think, “I can’t believe people during my parents’ lifetimes were acting this horribly!” and then I’d remember comments I heard from educated, sometimes “Christian” people in Georgia, and it wasn’t so hard to believe after all.

Anyway, I loved this book. I loved the characters, even Hilly, in a love-to-hate-her kind of way. I want to know what happens to them after the book ends. I’m intrigued by their individual stories, and I especially love Lou Ann Templeton, who’s a minor but very interesting figure

As both a writer and a reader, I find it refreshing to read a popular book and heartily agree that the author deserves her success. (*Cough* Stephanie Meyer, I’m casting metaphorical side eyes at you. *Cough*) Kathryn Stockett, you’re awesome, and I hope you write another novel soon!