Taufiq Yves's Reviews > The Help

There are 3 women in this novel:

Aibileen is a 57-year-old black maid who lost her only child. She writes beautifully and is a devout believer in God. She's been a maid all her life, raising 17 white children. Right now, she's taking care of a little girl whose mom doesn't love her. Aibileen constantly reassures the child, saying, ”You are a kind, intelligent, and important person. You are a good girl, love yourself."

Skeeter is a 23-year-old white girl raised by a black woman who has now disappeared. Her biggest wish is to find and hug her. Skeeter dreams of becoming a great journalist but is stuck writing a gossip column. She's tall, not conventionally pretty, and loves wearing men's clothing. Skeeter is the unmarried daughter her mom is ashamed of. She once had a chance to marry a senator's son. She loved the handsome man but didn't let love cloud her judgment. Even though she lives in a society that strongly discriminates against black people, she wants to write a book about their true feelings.

Minny is about 40, with several kids and an abusive husband. She can't keep her mouth shut and loves to argue with her white employers. She can't tell lies, even though she's diligent, strong, and an incredible cook. She's so eloquent, fierce, capable, and strong-willed that she can't tell others her husband is beating her. She can't afford to lose face. She loves her husband, and to avoid being beaten, she keeps getting pregnant.

Over the years, Aibileen has learned to be as tough and smooth as a stone, but the humiliation still gets to her sometimes. Skeeter is young and doesn't know what she will face or the disaster her decision will bring. And Minny will never change herself. She instinctively resists boundaries. She loves, hates, cares, cooks, and enjoys watching others eat her food.

Together, they write a book, with Aibileen dictating and Skeeter writing it down. On the surface, the story is simple, with no major external actions, but it's incredibly thrilling. The dangers and injustices of society seep in bit by bit, and every piece of information is terrifying. Dealing with black people is simpler: firing, beating, framing, and throwing them in jail. Dealing with white people is more complicated: isolation, indifference, and exclusion.

The story is a quiet revolution, exposing the deep-rooted prejudices of society. The suspense is palpable as the women navigate a dangerous world. In the end, the book becomes more than just a story; it's a call to action.

Everyone can only "write" 1 book in their lifetime. I'm “writing” mine now. I used to think “my book” would be about aspirations, dreams, and myself, but after reading The Help, I realized a book should be about justice, fairness, courage, breaking down boundaries, true love and freedom, people living honestly as their true selves, and the heroes of every era.

We live in an unjust and unfree era. Every moment, we can hear the cries of sorrow around us. Future generations will only see cold news and numbers, a history of unknown shape. But we can write down what we see, everything we experience, and tell them:

"See, this is what this era is truly like. Even if our limitations force us to live reluctantly, in our hearts, life can blossom into a rich and abundant world."

4.6 / 5 stars