The Help

By: Kathryn Stockett

Narrated by: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell

Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid, Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her 17th white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another.

This edition now includes the afterword "Too Little, Too Late—Kathryn Stockett in Her Own Words", as read by the author.

Bonus Audio: Hear an exclusive interview with Kathryn Stockett.

©2009 Kathryn Stockett, Cover Art: (c) 2011 DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC (P)2009 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“The two principal maid characters...leap off the page in all their warm, three dimensional glory...[A] winning novel.” (The New York Times)

“This could be one of the most important pieces of fiction since To Kill a Mockingbird…If you read only one book...let this be it.” (NPR.org)

“A beautiful portrait of a fragmenting world.” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Thoroughly Enjoyed, Way more than Movie

Would you consider the audio edition of The Help to be better than the print version?

Absolutely better than the movie.

Any additional comments?

Great narration, loud out loud, cried out loud. Pure pleasure.

Anna Maria

This was a fantastic book to listen to! The southern accents were melodic to listen to and it was very soothing. A great read!

Voices sounded like characters from the movie

My husband & I both Loved this book, because the voice of the readers made it come to life!!!

GREAT

This is a great book. Enjoy listening to to Audible...I think I will listen to this again and again.

The South Rises Again

A great narration. Southerners will recognize themselves and Northerners will live vicariously. The book and the narrators are Five-Star.

Didn't want it to end!

What made the experience of listening to The Help the most enjoyable?

The narrators were amazing. Helped make it a more

What did you like best about this story?

Everything...I laughed out loud at many parts. Minnie reminds me of my grandmother and older aunts. She was my favorite character.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Their voices...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not many books make me laugh. I have to say that this is a first.

Any additional comments?

Amazing story, amazing narrators....just amazing. This is one audiobook that I know will be in heavy rotation with me. I didn't want the story to end.

Love the Help!

When I learned that the book was being made into a movie, even though I read it already I wanted to hear it and it was so worth it. The narrators did an excellent job transforming my every day life into a hot and bothered Mississippi ...I loved listening this on Audible and so happy that its in my library because I'm going to listen to it again!

I Loved It!!!!

I loved the characters and the narrators were wonderful.

It was funny at times, but rang true about racism in the 60's.

Everyone should read this book.

Katharyn

The description of this book does not do it justice. I got this book based on the reviews of others, and I was not let down. I absolutely loved this book and was actually sad when it ended. The women who narrate this book do an excellent job. The story of these women is very compelling and truly captures the era. I felt like we were all sitting around in a circle for story time like when you were a child. I would recommend that everyone listen (or read) this book!! Excellent book!!!

The Help

This book has everything. I found it to be thought provoking, sad, deep, funny. . . I couldn't find anything not to like about it. I will definitely recommend it to anyone and I really want to see the movie.