The Help

By: Kathryn Stockett

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

The #1 New York Times bestselling novel and basis for the Academy Award–winning film.

Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Help

“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

“Wise, poignant...You’ll catch yourself cheering out loud.”—People

“Graceful and real, a compulsively readable story.”—Entertainment Weekly

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

“The must-read choice of every book club in the country.”—The Huffington Post

“At turns hilarious and heart-warming.”—Associated Press

“In a page-turner that brings new resonance to the moral issues involved, Stockett spins a story of a social awakening as seen from both sides of the American racial divide.”—The Washington Post

Awesome

This book made me happy, sad, mad and oh so glad I finally decided to give The Help a listen. It was way better than the movie! Enjoy

Sticks In Your Head and Heart

The narration makes an incredible story even better. I was so absorbed by these characters that I extended my runs to listen longer. A week after finishing, I'm still thinking about the storyline and its lessons. This is a book you must listen to - especially if you or your mother grew up in the south.

Charming and Captivating

I am a Canadian born in the sixties so I remember none of the early sixties and little of the late sixties. However, this book made me feel like I was living every moment. It gave me a small glimpse into what it would be like to be a woman (black and white) living in Mississippi in the 60s and grateful for the experience.
I could not wait for spare moments so I could continue to share their lives. It will be one I will to revisit again in the future.

Eye Opening and Heatfelt

As a young white women, this book is both eye-opening and sad. I cannot believe it has only been some 45+ years since this book was set. I cannot believe people thought this way, and I would hope (if I'd been alive) I'd been on the right side of the issues. This book is wonderful, entertaining, heartfelt and heartbreaking. It's a part of our recent history....we all need reminded of. The narration is one of the best I've heard. Don't miss out on this gem.

Loved it!!

What a great book. Just loved it. Well written and the characters were so real. Listened to it twice, and I'm ready to do it again. One of the best books I have listened.