I first read TheHelp in 2011 while vacationing in the rustic cottage country of Gracefield, Québec during my honeymoon. The 40% off sticker was what first prompted me to pick up the book, then the “#1 New York Times Bestseller” heading, and then the purely unique voice of the character on the first page:
“Taking care a white babies, that’s what I do[…] I done raised seventeen kids in my lifetime.”
Not only was Kathryn Stockett able to capture my attention and genuine admiration, but each page persisted to build upon the last, getting better and better as I went.
I remain humbled and inspired by her stunning talent and originality. I’m not ashamed to admit I spent the majority of my honeymoon curled up on the couch next to the wood-stove, my mind transported to 1962, Jackson, Mississippi at the mercy of my poor husband.
If you haven’t read it, you are missing out on the next BIG thing since Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird! If you already saw the movie, the plot elements might not come as a surprise but I assure you, the literary treasures contained in this masterpiece are worth every minute of your time. You will have absolutely no regrets…but I can’t say the same for your husband.
–VanessaMarieCaron
Vanessa Marie Caron, Author 