So I bought it without checking reviews much.
I just wanted something to read over my trip (in case I wanted to read), something that wasn't 800 pages and/or hard bound (like Robert Jordan or Tom Clancy books), but would last for 2 weeks if I were in (at least sparsely) some reading mode - of course the reading mode NEVER arrived during the course of my trip.
This book is regarding the relationship of black domestic helpers and white lady employers in Jackson, Mississippi in 1960s. Not all black domestic helpers were repressed, but not everyone was free from mistreatment, especially in Mississippi (we all know it).
Due to her physical unattractiveness, Miss Skeeter was free from the general lifestyle that governed a majority of white women in Jackson, Mississippi, and eventually found herself indulged in literature and desire to write interviews of a dozen of black maids working for white ladies/families. It was risky, but some racial oppressions eventually cornered the maids and encouraged them to be interviewed by Skeeter, with help of Aibileen and led by Minny.
Aibileen and Minny are maids who are opposites in every aspect except both are black and poor. Aibileen is old, single (husband ran away with a mistress), childless (lost her only son due to a white-led hate crime), well-mannered, with willingness to learn/read and very well-tempered. Minny is married (with an abusive husband), with several children, ill-mannered and short-tempered. Yet both are best friends, and their inner feelings to the white society is the same: both with love and disappointment. A majority of blacks in the story do not seem to feel anger regarding the white oppression on black.
Their interviews are met by several obstacles, and once it was published as a book, the obstacles continued - which were led by Hilly, a white lady who has been leading group of lady gatherings in Jackson, Mississippi.
In the end, some blacks lost what they perceived to be vital and important in their lives: their job and perhaps family. Some whites lost what they perceived to be vital and important: their reputations. But not all is lost, because a majority of people have hearts and consciences, and they can see those in others beneath what the skin color shows.
No, come to think of it, everyone who was subject to immense discussions in the book lost something as a result of the interviews being published: a job that provided sense of love, a family, moms (note plural), children, and reputation.
This book was such an easy read, and it was weird in a sense that it was written by a white lady: Stockett, but she be like Skeeter of the story, then I can't say no more. She certainly believes she is like Skeeter. After all, what do I know about racial issues in the US? I have lived only in the Bay Area.
This book was weird that other than sci-fi/fantasy books, this book was rare in a sense that I didn't have to look up a single word in dictionary. I know my English is improving continuously (because I am making a conscious effort for it), but ever since I finished this book, I have been reading a Jorge Borges book, and I had to search 5 words in dictionary.com in one of the first pages. So, this book provided me challenge in neither understanding the plot, cracking literary elements, nor in terms of vocabularies. At least it was meaningful than Danielle Steel books, I guess.
But I have to admit it took me a chapter to get used to the conversation of black maids. That part was fun. Like "law" was instead of "lord", "a" instead of "of", "you is" instead of "you are", etc.
It was an entertaining read, not to be meditated with like some of my favorite books, not to expect in influx of emotions at some part of the book as well. This book did bring out a decent amount of emotion, but could not bring out enough. Of course, I am comparing it to one of the greatest books I've ever read.
3.5/5
