The Buzz...About Books

May Read

The Help explores the lives of three Mississippi women during the tumultuous early days of the civil rights movement. 

Nearly a century after the Civil War, there remains a great divide between black and white citizens in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962.  Although dependent on black servants to raise their children and care for their households, white residents view their employees with suspicion.

Skeeter is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi.  When she returns to Jackson she begins to question the community’s commonly held beliefs about race.  The child of a well-to-do family, Skeeter considers the black maid who cared for her in childhood a family member.  When she discovers that this woman has gone missing, she begins to examine the lives of the female servants whom society takes for granted. 

Skeeter decides to write a book about this little known population and in the process meets the two women who assist her with her research.  Aibileen has cared for 17 children but is nevertheless distrusted by her white employers and Minny is a wonderful cook whose impudence frequently gets her into trouble.

Aibileen and Minny agree to be interviewed for Skeeter’s book, knowing that the project will put all of their lives at risk.

Upcoming Discussions
June
Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup

July
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

August
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield