Have you ever read a book in which the characters are so realistic, so likable, that even after the book is done, you find yourself wondering about them – how they are doing, what you would say if you ever had lunch with them? It is a rare book that touches you not only with its vivid imagery, but also with characters that are so real, you actually care for them. You root for them and worry when the story takes a turn that might harm them. This is how I felt about the characters in The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
The story takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The Help places readers variously among the victims, among the bigots and racists, and among the bystanders trying to lead a normal life. The book follows Skeeter, a young white woman trying to figure out where her awkward appearance and modern views of a woman’s work fit in among the genteel Southern society. Her best friends plan parties and complain about the help while enjoying lemonade and tea sandwiches, served by black housekeepers trained to keep their eyes down and mouths closed.
Skeeter, who longs for a career in journalism, convinces a New York editor to read her work on the condition she writes about the lives of black housekeepers working among white society. As she gains the trust of the housekeepers, learning what happens behind closed doors, she begins to understand the injustice of it, as well as the danger of exposing it. The women that become involved in the project bond with each other, despite the differences in their age, income and cultural backgrounds. As the story unfolds and the women become more invested in the project, the world around them becomes more dangerous, and the risk they take with each interview intensifies as they realize no change will come with silence. However, the price of their courage is high.
The book’s emotional effectiveness lies in the strength of the character-driven narrative. Readers develop a keen understanding of hardships faced by the housekeepers Minny and Aibileen, but even the novel's villains are made human and three dimensional. Allowing readers to accompany the characters on their journey provides unique insight and makes the novel feel like a realistic time capsule of a not-so distant past.
RECIPES
Recipes for this book club are in the Southern tradition. I made a peach cobbler as dessert that represents the fabulous peaches Minny sliced up in the story, but a caramel cake to rival Minny’s or the novel's much-discussed chocolate pie would also work.
Barbecue Chicken
Serves 8
Ingredients:
8 pieces (approx. 3 lbs) skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
5 garlic cloves, minced
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. paprika
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 recipe barbecue sauce (see below)
Directions:
In a bowl combine cumin, cinnamon, paprika, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and garlic. Add chicken and allow to marinate for 2 hours covered in refrigerator or overnight.
Heat grill.
Separate barbecue sauce into two containers. Set one aside.
Remove chicken from marinade and grill. Baste with contents of barbecue sauce container. Cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Remove from grill and allow chicken to rest covered with aluminum foil. Serve with reserved barbecue sauce if desired (see next page). [Photo by thebittenword]
