The Help

Synopsis: Set in the early 1960s in Mississippi, about a white woman who holds an interest in the life of black women working as maids in white families' homes. She writes the different stories that happen every day; abuse, mistreatment, etc. Set just before the Civil Rights revolution, her discoveries and realizations hold a great deal of importance. Sooner than later, she realizes that these stories... are more than just a topic of her interest. These stories are the lives of real people.

Review: It's a bit hard to believe that this is the author's first novel because this book is amazing!
The story is compelling, inspiring, and just raw, leaving you wanting more. It says a lot also, because this has almost 500 pages and yet it never felt like it was just dragging on with unnecessary subplots, dialogues, and thoughts. I literally did not want it to end. The way the characters and the setting were written, it was so vivid that it felt like I was actually in that moment. It's pretty rare for an author to have that talent; to paint a picture clear enough to see just by using words. And nothing seemed forced, or cliche, or too corny. And overall, just the theme and the plot was treated delicately, almost like a history lesson, but not from a teacher, but coming straight from the people themselves. To me, that was the most important part; seeing a different perspective on a familiar issue, written in simple but wonderful prose.

I can't recommend it enough! Read it.