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)

A perfect rendition of a great story.

What did you love best about The Help?

I love everything about The Help from the setting to the voices of the characters, so much to like and enjoy.

Wonderful!

The best audiobook I have ever listened to. The story was wonderful and the narrators brought it to life. I am not sure I could have enjoyed it as much if I had read it. This is a book that you shouldn't miss.

Outstanding!

I loved the subject of this novel. The narrators do a superb job. I was sorry when it ended. A must read and would make a great selection for a book club.

a view into southern culture

Where does The Help rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably in the top 3.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Skeeter was my favorite because of her expansive view of the world in a time when narrow-minded people surrounded her. Her compassion, sensitivity and intelligence made her a strong character and a wise person.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

voices and accents that defined the characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several, actually the entire book, but the country club social was probably the most stunning, with Cilla's outrageous reactions.

Any additional comments?

fabulous book!

Perfect Audiobook Experience

The writing was brilliant. The author captured the turmoil, the pain, and the fear of racism in 1960s Mississippi right along with the love, the laughter and the heartwarming moments that define family and friendship. She wove the two together into such a masterful story that I must admit I got sucked in and couldn't turn it off. I laughed out loud numerous times, and I cried real tears at others.

The voices of the readers were perfect. It's was easy to forget I was listening to actors and to start believing I was listening to actual people casually recount memories from their lives.

The perfect audiobook. Highly recommended.

An awrsome performance.

This is the best listen regarding performance since Jim Dale in the Harry Potter series Netherlands author had done a wonderful job with the characters and the story line. Thank you Toball who who was involved with the work of this audio book

Loved it!!

Loved the story, loved the narrator, and loved the characters. I actually want to see the movie, which is rare for me. Great book, entertaining and will make you laugh out loud. Strong women always make a great story!! Read it!

I didn't think I'd enjoy this but I was so wrong!

I hesitated as the subject matter wasn't necessarily something that interested me. But after listening to it I must say that it was such a well written book and the narration was so impecable that anyone not listening to it is doing themselves a disservice. I can honestly say that it is by far the best book I've ever had the pleasure of both listening to and then reading (in book form) again. I bought both the audio book and later the hardcover. Give this book a chance folks and you won't be disappointed.

Best audio book I've ever heard!

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

Oh my gosh, the voices! The smooth buttery southern accents are wonderful.

What did you like best about this story?

I felt like the good guys won. There are ups and downs but you feel a sense of triumph.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Celia Foote was my favorite voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire book is incredibly moving.

Any additional comments?

If you haven't already, you MUST listen to this book!

Inspiring and Engaging.

This is the best book that I have listened to/read in the last year, hands down. The author and the narrators do a masterful job of creating an authentic world set in the era of the civil rights movement in the south. It presents a nearly non-judgmental look at racism and prejudice from many angles. Not just prejudice against blacks, but also against women and whites.