The Help 相助 9780399155888

InJackson,Mississippi,in1962,therearelinesthatarenotcrossed.Blackmaidsraisethewhitechildren,butnoonetruststhemnottostealthesilver.Blackmaidscleanthetoilets,buttheyhavetheirownatthebackofthehouse.Therearelines,andnoonecrossesthem.Twenty-two-year-oldSkeeterhasjustreturnedhomefromcollege:shemayhaveadegree,buthermotherwon'tbehappyuntilSkeeterhasaringonherfinger.ShewouldnormallyfindsolacewithherbelovedmaidConstantine,thewomanwhoraisedher,butConstantinehasdisappeared.Aibileenisablackmaid,asmartwomanraisingherseventeenthwhitechild.Somethinghasshiftedinsidehersincethedeathofherownson,whodiedwhilehisbosseslookedtheotherway.Aibileen'sbestfriendisMinny,short,fat,andperhapsthesassiestwomaninMississippi.Shecancooklikenobody'sbusiness,butshecan'tmindhertongue.Seeminglyasdifferentascanbe,thesewomenwillcometogetherforaclandestineprojectthatwillputthemallatrisk.Andwhy?Forwhat?TheHelpisabouthowwomen,whethermothersordaughters,thehelportheboss,relatetoeachother.It'sabouttheemotionsofdomesticlife:pride,competitiononthecookingandhomefront,andthehorriblefeelingthatthosewholookafteryourchildrenmayunderstandthemanddealwiththem-lovethem,even-betterthanyou...Withpitch-perfectwriting,KathrynStockettintroducesustothreeextraordinarywomen.Adeeplymovingnovelfilledwithpoignancy,humourandhope,TheHelpisatimelessanduniversalstoryaboutthelinesweabideby,andtheoneswedon't.