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)

One of the best I've ever listened to

Great characters. Superb narration. Excellent writing. My wife is from Mississippi. I love the state, and for anyone afraid this will slam the state, I say it does not. It does cast a bright light on a shameful part of our history, a period that is better understood from this masterful work of showing different perspectives. Get this book!

Fantastic

This book was the most fantastic I've read/heard since A thousand splendid suns. So, so good. I recommend it highly!

Beautifully written and read.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book being read to me. I am glad that I chose this book as my first audible book.

Interesting, thought provoking and intense

After reading Audible's review stating all reader gave this 5 stars I knew I wouldn't because I am so fussy. Stockett's writing covers all readers emotion from reader's almost tears to laughing. In spite of being raised in So CA I was lucky enought to have the black/white relationship as my parents and grandparents had a long time black maid. Stockett captures the relationship between the child loving the maid and the maid always having time to listen (yes, while working!). I hope she was never ill treated by my elders and, while wool gathering, will think about this for years as I remember times with her. It is to bad Stockett's grandmother would not let her eat with the 'help' some of the best food I remember was shared during lunch with Elizabeth! Read this book, it is wonderful, sad and true.

The help

I couldn't stop listening. The story made me wonder about what life was like in Mississippi in the 60's. The characters are well developed and intriguing but I was a little disappointed with the ending.

Compelling

This book was recommended to me by two people. It concerns a subject I know very little about, but finally I thought I'd give it a listen to see if it was as good as everyone says. Well, it is. Wow. The narrators really brought it to life. The time period is when my mom was a teen and young adult, and i only wish she was still around to share this story with me. Not many writers can make me feel like I am really there, but in the heart of a New England winter I was transported to a steamy Mississipi kitchen. I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to be any of the people in this book, but it will stay with me for a very long time. Combining heart-wrenching with humor, I would say get this and listen, ASAP!!

Serious & Hilarious; All at Once!

This work brings history back to life. I can appreciate the love relationships between the maids & the children they cared for. The narration is superb. The story is nimble & quick with many delightful twists. This is my second time on this book & it will not be my last. Wonderful read! ♡

No question about it!

ALL THE HYPE ABOUT THIS BOOK IS TRUE! The first thing I have to say about this book is it is one of the best written pieces of fiction that I have ever read and this is by far the best audio book performance I have ever heard. The multiple stories weave together seamlessly complete with excellent quirky character development as well as an unconventional friendship based love story between three women bonding over the massive racial injustice of the 1960’s. I can’t stress enough that the performances on this audio book were phenomenal. The narrators will keep you intrigued through the gut busting laugh out loud parts of the book and in some cases leave you in tears in the absolutely heart wrenching moments of the story. Over all, I’d say this book is an instant classic in both print and spoken word.

snapshot into the world of the 50's south.

born in this era, I can relate. we were very naive, then the sixties blew it all up!
glad we moved to California and let the south struggle on. loved the book.

Best book I've read in years!

Read this book! It is probably the best book I've "read" in years. The readers are incredible and the story captivating. I did not want it to end. Don't forget to keep on playing the book after "The End". There is an autobiographical section that follows, read by the author. Don't miss it.