The Help: Week 4--Chapters 16-20

I sometimes see red when I read these pages. I can’t believe the cruelty—it catches me by surprise. The ease in which it is practiced, accepted, expected is so wrong. The loneliness of those it impacts is very raw. For this week’s comments, I’d like to hear how this cruelty impacted and shaped the interactions of the women—whites to whites, whites to blacks, blacks to blacks. Do you see this type of cruelty in your world or have you experienced it? How does it impact the people you observe?

Miss Skeeter finds herself struggling with the impact of the cruelty in her world and her naïve assumption that her desire to have maids talk to her wouldn’t cause trouble. On page 239 she thinks, “They’d killed Carl Roberts for speaking out, for talking. I think about how easy I thought it would be, three months ago, to get a dozen maids to talk to me. Like they’d just been waiting, all this time, to spill their stories to a white woman. How stupid I’d been.” Then, the writing goes on, “When I can’t take the heat another second, I go sit in the only cool place on Longleaf.” She escapes as best she can.

Do you find yourself escaping the reality around you? Where do you go when you can’t take “the heat” anymore?

The Help: Week 3 - Chapters 11-15

This week, chapter 13 contains Minny’s summation of Skeeter’s writing project. “Half this stuff don’t have nothing to do with colored rights. Ain’t but day-to-day business…..Look to me like you just writing life.” As you read, notice “life.” The ordinary is woven into this extraordinary tale. Where do you see it? How does it balance the pain on these pages?

There are painful relationships throughout this book. So far, which ones are you relating to the most? Why? I know I want to feel hopeful about Stuart and Skeeter. She seems to need a soul-mate, someone who really understands her. Somehow, I’m not convinced he is going to turn out to be good for her—but I hope he is.

The Help: Week 2--Chapters 6-10

Page 129 may contain the key sentence for this book. It hits me hard when I read, “I’ve been trying to tell white women the truth about working for them since I was fourteen years old.” Truth for Miss Skeeter means one thing—a chance to develop a career, get published, more on. Truth for Aibileen and Minny is convoluted, valued and yet something to fear.

In response to this week’s reading, would you please reflect on the positive and negative impacts of truth in your life?

You will also notice in this week’s ready the many layers of prejudice. Please comment about the one that stands out to you? Do you find this prejudice in your setting? If you do, how do you deal with it?

The Help: Week 1-Chapters 1-5

This is a book that is hard for me to put down. I’ve just read it for the second time in less than a year and I hope you will enjoy it, too. This isn’t an easy read—our author isn’t writing about a pretty or easy subject. Sometimes I squirmed as I turned the pages and as I read, many emotions assaulted me—embarrassment, shame, disgust, anger, sadness, and sometimes joy.

It takes courage to represent black and white women from decades ago who lived in the US South where racism created strict roles between white wives and mothers and the women who carefully, fearfully served them. Kathryn Stockett meets the challenge with clarity and compassion, honesty and timely wit to tell the stories of a small community of women. The lines that divided them seem to be drawn by fear, tradition and prejudice, ignorance, cruelty. The tragic daily results of bigotry and snobbery crowd the pages already lined with women we come to care deeply about as we read. This book is about the past, but there are truths that are still present today.

I would like to ask that if you are reading this book with us that you please comment on each week’s blog post. Our online reading club is at its best when you comment, so please share your thoughts and responses with us. I’ll give the introduction to our reading each Monday. If you can comment on that post before the next post goes up the following Monday, that would be great.

This week, I’d like to ask that you write about the themes you see in our first 5 chapters. Which one stands out to you? Why? Do you see any themes that are still present today—where you live and serve? I’m really looking forward to reading this great book and your comments. I hope you’ll post!

Happy reading!

Linda

Next Book Club Starts April 4!

Next book: The Help, Kathyrn Stockett

Starts: April 4 - May 30

Order your book now: 30% discount through Inklings Bookstore--see sidebar for details.

For a book synopsis, click here.

In the Presence of My Enemies: Week 8

Chapters 21, 22, 23

I’m anxious to process these three chapters with you. This has been a challenging book for me to read—and I’m sure it has been for you, too. The story of Gracia’s rescue and recovery dramatically alters her life—forever. As you read these chapters, please look for the positives and negatives that you think either help or hinder the healing process in her life. What lessons can you take from those influences to apply in your life?

How do you think Gracia’s experience impacted her?

How do you think this book impacted you? What are the lessons you take away from it?

Again—thanks for sharing this book with me. May God use it to teach us how to live whatever challenges He allows into our lives.

Next book: The Help, Kathyrn Stockett

Starts: April 4 - May 30

Order your book now: 30% discount through Inklings Bookstore--see sidebar for details.

For a book synopsis, click here.