The #1 New York Times bestselling novel and basis for the Academy Award-winning film—a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.
Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who’s always taken orders quietly, but lately she’s unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She’s full of ambition, but without a husband, she’s considered a failure.
Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...
I picked this up not knowing a single thing about it other than the title and that it has a pretty yellow and purple cover. At first I was quite put off by Aibileen's opening chapters, with the broken English and heavy accent, but once I got into the story it all started to flow nicely. The language chosen for Aibileen soon made her a more distinct and real character, rather than a minor annoyance.
I've said this in other reviews, and I'll say it again, I absolutely love reading multiple POVs! I felt that this book was an exceptionally strong example of multiple POVs done right. It gave great insight in how each of these three women felt about the events taken place around them. I found myself completely invested in their stories, and I wanted them to succeed.
This is an inspiring tale of doing what's right, making changes in the world for the better, and friendship, among other things. I would most definitely recommend this to everyone!
