Very good so far. I love getting all of the view points. I love Aibileen, but I wish she would be more vocal. I understand her reasons for not being, but goodness gracious, Miss Leefolt is really annoying, and seemingly worthless. All she does is order Aibileen around and pays absolutely no attention to her daughter whatsoever. I am so glad that I did not grow up back in those times, because I do not know how I would handle it, or if I would have grown up with different view points. But it frustrates me the way Miss Leefolt treats Aibileen. I would hope that I would have been more like Miss Skeeter, just seeing things as they are. Not making them out to be any better or worse than what it is there. I guess that is Miss Skeeters unbiased journalistic mind.
I am very curious about Miss Celia's situation. Why is she so secretive with Mr. Johnny? I understand she wants to show her husband that she is a good homemaker, but I feel like there is more to it than that. I think that Miss Celia has some sort of illness that keeps her tired and exhausted all the time, and that is why she rests all the time and never leaves the house. All of the secretiveness turns to work out for Minny for the time being, but who knows what'll happen when Mr. Johnny finds out.
Hopefully Aibileen ends up agreeing to Miss Skeeters idea of the writing from the view point of all of the "help." I like how she got the idea from Aibileen's son, and feels that it is important to tell the story. Hopefully it will shed the light on the impact that all of these "helpers" have on the lives that they work with.
Looking forward to week 2...
Come on guys... I finally posted right on time ;)
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, I posted my comments and even used the code and now in checking see it didn't get on. So now have to do it all over again. Geez!
ReplyDeleteS0 here goes my second attempt. First of all, reading this reminds me of my childhood cause I was here in the States when Pres. Kennedy fought for equal rights for the colored folk in the South. The unfair treatment of the blacks in the South was still happening even though they were "freed" during the civil war. IT was a hard time when Dr. King used the peaceful marches to try to get rights for his people. I can still remember reading in the papers about black people not being able to use the same drinking fountains as us, couldn't use the same stores, restaurants, schools, etc. The KKK became a strong group in the South and even in the North. I was always aware of how different groups of people were treated like the Jews, the Tutus by the Hutus in Rwanda, the Serbs, the Shiites and Kurds in Iraq, etc. In ancient times it was always happening, too like the Samaritans and the Hebrews in the Bible. So in saying that, this book brings it all back about oppression.
I like Aibileen. She has a good heart and knows her "place". She is a wonderful "surrogate" mother to the children in her care. I worry about her, though, as Chapter 8 ends and she is struggling with aches and pains. You can tell she is getting older and it is harder for her to get around. Who will take care of her? She has no husband and no son. I wonder if she will end up talking to Skeeter when she can't work anymore and she knows her time is near.
Minny is a good friend, but so is Aibileen who helps her get the job from Celia. I like Minny's "mouth". She doesn't mind speaking out but has learned to be careful cause her mother taught her to watch herself. It was unfair that she was dismissed by a lie and that it was so hard for her to find another job because of the lie. I'm glad she is working for Celia but am frustrated as to why Celia is keeping her employment a secret from Mr. Johnny. She seems like such a scared little mouse. I admire Minny for telling Celia that she has so much time before Mr. Johnny has to be told about her. I don't want that situation to backfire for Minny.
Skeeter is an interesting character. I like the fact that she wants to be independent and wants to leave home to put her education to good use. Her wanting to write this book on the "help" and their perspective sounds promising but can see why no one wants to be a part of that. Everyone is so scared especially when that boy got beaten up so badly by the white guys with that tire iron for using the bathroom. I understand why Aibileen doesn't want to talk to SKeeter. AM anxious to read on and see how Skeeter will accomplish this lofty goal. I think she will write the book but how will that affect her relationship with her parents, her friends?
We'll have to wait and see. Am anxiously reading the next session.
Sorry my post is late. I have been keeping up with the reading but forget to go online since my computer still seems to go so slow. The book is an interesting and easy read...once I got used to the dialect of the South and Southern slave help. Love Abileen who is real intuitive with her little charge and get really UPSET with Miss Leeloft - why did she even have a child, probably for image. Seems like she really is trying to put on airs and trying real hard to be part of the "upper crust" of society. You can feel Abileen is getting older as she isn't moving around as quickly. She probably also is taking a lot on by seeing how unloving Miss Leeloft is. Wonder if her husband will start getting more upset with her concerning spending money.
ReplyDeleteAt this point I do like Minny, she is who she is but also is trying to keep her mouth and attitude in check. Here she is trying to do right by having Miss Celia owning up to the fact that she has hired Minny as the help. AND more importantly what about her condition. Is she truly a sickly person, depressed to becoming immobile and not being able to function normally. What is her husband like that she is afraid to tell him about hiring Minny. Hopefully Minny can keep herself in check because she is making good money from Miss Celia.
Skeeter is also intriguing...wanting to use her education instead of not putting it to good use. I still get angry when I read and remember how the blacks were treated rather mistreated, even after they supposedly won more benefits with the Civil Rights Movements. Using the wrong bathrooms, getting angry with the Help if they talk to the whites who are starting a 'friendly conversation' with them.
This weekend will be great for me to read further, want to know more about the secrets of Miss Celia, see how Abileen is getting along and if Miss Leeloft will ever take to her child who seems to trying to reach out to her mother, and what further develops with Skeeter. A nice easy read that keeps you wanting to know more about the characters and situations they are in.