The Help

De: Kathryn Stockett

Narrado por: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

“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)

AWESOME

Excellent narrators! It made the book so much more interesting. I couldn't stop listening to the tape until it was done.

Engaging Book Brings Back Painful Memories

I rarely find fiction engaging, but I was carried along by The Help. This is perhaps a woman’s book and male characters in it are one dimensional. Yet, the story, the writing, the surprises are all refreshing. The book is painful to me because of its material and the fact that I am old enough to remember the period in which the narrative takes place. The first half of the book was the best in my view. The last half, though worthwhile, seemed a little contrived. For example, I am not certain one of these women would make a “chocolate pie” as described. I was left wondering why this group of maids would put their lives and families at such risk. Yet, the images, the prose, and the humor in this book made it well worth reading. I am always concerned about the narration of Audible Books. The narration of Jenna Lamia, Bahi Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell is exceptional. Enjoy.

The Help

This is the first time I have been moved to write a review. This book was absolutely amazing, from the quality of the writing, to the plot, the character development and the themes that were covered. It takes place in the early 1960's, and describes the lives of the black maids and the families that they worked for during the infancy of the civil rights movement. Although I grew up in New York, several of my friends headed south for the summer to stay with family, and came back with stories of aunts and grandmothers who were domestic workers for white families. I was initially concerned that the African American characters would be portrayed as childlike and timid. However, the author gave equal voice to all of her characters, and each of them were treated with dignity and respect. This book gives a realistic inside story of what was going on during the civil era, not from the churches and the streets, but from the homes of families who initially thought that they were immune to such activity. I have recommended to all of my friends, black, white and Hispanic. It is truly a stellar work, and I hope that Ms. Stockett continues to write.

Excellent Book!

One of the best books I have read in a very long time. Amazing historical fiction - and all of it in my lifetime. Great narration. A must read!

Flawless!!!

After more than 8 years with Audible and almost 500 audio books, this one stands out as one of the best and most memorable reads. After listening to "The Help" the first time, I did something I have only done a few times before, and I turned right around and listened to it again, and 2 weeks later, my mind is still thinking of the remarkable characters in this book! I found the story captured my attention quickly and was comfortably paced to keep me riveted until the end. I will eagerly look forward to more works from this author, preferably in the way of a sequel!!!

Pleasently Surprized

This was a fun "read', reminiscent of an Oprah Book Club pick. I found myself thinking about the characters long after a finished the book.

An incredible jewel !!

As a "non-fan" of historical fiction, I was not interested in reading this book, the Jan/10 selection of my local library readers club. I thought.. way too long, fiction, depressing and on and on. So I decided to use my credit to purchase the audiobook that way I could plug the earpieces and knit. I am so glad I did for this is the jewel of the crown and by far the best purchase I've made at Audible. The characters are well rounded, the readers' voices, intonation and narration are superb and the stories of these wonderful women are inspirational. I hope this is the beginning of a long list of books by Miss Stockett, a wonderful storyteller.

The Help (Unabridged)

What a great read! This book takes you through a whole range of emotions. A lot of the book was predictable but still enjoyable.

Enjoyed every minute

don't let them say this is a woman's book. I loved every minute. Hearing the voices added so much... I found myself very attached to each character and the voice was ijportant in that. Credibility is somewhat undermined by this being written by a white woman and the subject is dealt with by the author's comments at the end. She was right and it makes you wonder how accurate the feelings would have been. I would have been happier if I didn't listen to the afterward!

BRAVO !!!

This book is excellent, one of the best I've listened to from Audible.

I'm of the generation of the white children in the book, and lived in the deep south as a lad. We were poor white trash as some would've called us, never had maids. I got to see firsthand how not only my extended family but society in general thought of and treated black people.

I'm so proud that my mother had the strength to stand up for me, when in elementary school my best friend was black. She taught me that it's what's inside that makes a person beautiful, or ugly.