Friday, June 25, 2010

The Help




Book Bag Rating: Read it!

The Help is a story set in 1962 Mississippi where the division among blacks and whites remained pre-civil war like. The story is told from the perspective of Skeeter a 20 something cotton plantation daughter who aspires to be a journalist rather than just a Junior League wife and two maids Minny and Aibileen. Both of these maids have so many layers to their characters. Skeeter and the maids work together to write a book about what it is like to be a maid in Mississippi. Through telling their story the women change. Preconceptions are lost and mutual respect is born.

The relationships are complex. Hearts are broken and secrets are kept and then revealed. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and I liked the fact that Skeeter remains brave and true to herself. My only criticism is in the ending. While I know historically how things turn out, I really wanted more of an ending for the three women. I wanted to follow them into old lady-hood and find them sipping tea together and talking about old times. I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Little Bee



Book Bag Rating: Read it.

This is a very readable story about two women who collide in tragedy and how they survive. Survival is at the very base of our humanity and yet some are better at it than others. The two women in this story are brave beyond comprehension.
It is reminiscent of the stories about blood diamonds but this story is about oil and what people will do to get this commodity.

A chance meeting on a beach sets in motion a string of events that cannot be predicted. The story is not pretty and there were several moments where I gasped out loud. Once my son actually asked me what was wrong. There are things in this book that are disgusting and the examples of cruelty are all too vivid. Yet it is inspiring.

I liked Little Bee and I rooted for the two women. I was surprised by the ending. I was sad yet oddly uplifted. I don't know that I would be able to do was Sarah and Little Bee did.

This book is the polar opposite of the last one. This was not light and easy. It was dark and sad yet through the sadness you see a glimmer of hope. This hope is what keeps us getting out of bed each day.

I can't say I enjoyed the story but I did like this book. I was gripped by it and finished it in a day and a half. Which is almost unheard of for me these days. I stayed up way too late and read before work.

If you want to read something a little bit different this is a good choice.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

On Folly Beach


Book bag rating: Read it!

I loved this book from start to finish. It is a great beach read that takes place at the beach. The author weaves a story from the past with the present. Usually when a book is written this way, I like one story line and not the other so I find myself speed reading one half and savoring the other. That was not the case with this book I loved both parts. The stories are set on Folly Beach in South Carolina. One story follows the lives of sisters Maggie and Lulu and their cousin Cat during World War II and the other follows Emmy an Afghanistan widow who moves to Folly Beach after buying Folly's Finds a book store once owned by Maggie. Part of the purchase of the bookstore includes allowing cranky old Lulu to sell bottle trees from the store.

While working through her grief, Emmy discovers secrets that have remained hidden since the 1940s. These secrets include Nazi spies, murder, infidelity, forgiveness, love and bravery. Through her discoveries Emmy realizes that she has much in common with the old and cranky Lulu. More importantly she learns how to say her first last goodbye...

The author paints a beautiful picture of Folly Beach and her inhabitants that made me want to visit. I learned things about World War II that I did not know and I learned about bottle trees. I really enjoyed this story and have decided Karen White is one of my favorite authors.