There aren’t many “productive” things I’m able to accomplish these days (outside of nurturing and caring for a baby around the clock); however, I have managed to read one book since Beatrice’s birthday: Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. I didn’t have any expectations when I began reading this book, the story just seemed to be interesting and since I was number 300 something on the library holds list, I knew it was popular.

The Help is the type of book I categorize as “television that you read” in that it is not challenging to comprehend, I did not encounter any words that I’d never before seen, the character development ranges from very good to non-existent and the story moves along quickly. These are the BEST type of books to read while nursing!

The Help is set in 1962 and the main character, Skeeter Phelan, has just graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in English. Unlike most of her peers, Skeeter did not get married while in college and has obtained a degree, only to find herself living back at home on her parents’ cotton farm. She finds herself writing a household hints column for the newspaper in which she responds to readers’ requests for tips on how to remove bathtub rings, the best way to remove stains from clothing and other questions that she is completely unprepared to answer as she has never had to do housework. She is able to use the help of her good friend’s maid, Abileen, who has spent a lifetime raising other peoples’ children, cleaning their houses and quietly slipping home at night without much recognition.

Through their time together, Abileen and Skeeter develop a relationship that would not be defined as a friendship, but more of a mutual respect. While the Civil Rights Movement is in the news, Jackson seems unchanged by the events sweeping the rest of the country. Skeeter is in communication with a publishing house in New York and comes up with a book proposal that includes the personal stories of several housekeepers in Jackson. She hasn’t gotten anyone to agree to tell their stories, but it’s the best idea she’s got. The Help is a story of two sides of a social divide trying to decide if they trust each other during a tumultuous time in American history. It is also an endearing story of families, love and deep friendship.

If you’re looking for a good read this summer that is thought-provoking, I recommend The Help. And if you ever find yourself in Jackson, Mississippi, please take your photo with the giant bust of Andrew Jackson!