Going through looking at all of the different blogs from each week, I guess I missed an open topic post some week (I think it was the week our rough drafts were do...oops! Got too busy!) Anyway, here I am writing it now!
I thought I'd write about the book I'm currently reading, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Although I have not finished it yet, I can already say I would definitely recommend this book. The cover has a review from NPR.org saying "This could be one of the most important pieces of fiction since To Kill A Mockingbird...If you read only one book...let this be it." WOW! That is a really strong review! If you read only one book, let this be it. I don't know if I would go that far...I have a ton of other favorite books that definitely have powerful stories and messages behind them (my favorite book of all time being Of Mice and Men) but then again, who knows what was in the ... of that quote.
Anyway, after judging the book by it's cover, which I guilty usually do, I sat down and began to read the book. Kathryn Stockett takes an interesting approach while writing this book, switching the narrator every couple chapters. Although the narrator switches, the story still continues chronologically; some situations the reader sees from one character's point of view and others from another point of view. The story is set in the 1980s in Jackson, Mississippi, during a time of immense racial discrimination as well as the beginning of the civil rights movement. "The Help" refers to the colored maids who work for white families, cleaning their houses, preparing their meals, and even raising their children.
So far, one of the biggest things that has stood out to me while reading this book, is the genuine love and kindness "the help" show the white children they raise. In some situations in the book, the white mothers completely neglect their children leaving them for the help to take care of. Aibileen, one of the main characters (a maid), raises her boss's daughter, Mae Mobley, fondly calling her "Baby Girl" and taking care of her. Mae Mobley loves Aibileen because of the true affection and kindness she receives from her. This particularly stood out to me because of something Aibileen says in the book. Essentially, the help raise these children, love them as if they were their own, even though they eventually grow up to disrespect and hate them just as much as their parents do.
This particularly stood out to me because it highlights the innocence and naiveness of children. I personally truly believe a child is a blessing in every shape and form and a child's innocence is one of the greatest treasures in the whole world. I believe children are born without the knowledge of or the ability to hate and see this as absolutely amazing. Recently, I have been thinking about my childhood and how I have grown up. Even just within the past four years, the changes that I have undergone are absolutely crazy. I really don't know any better way to describe it. Although I haven't really decided if every change was for the better or worse, it is undeniable to say that I, as a whole, have changed. Change is definitely a part of growing up and life, but also hard to deal with. Often, I long for the innocence and simplicity of childhood (especially times like this, when I have a TON of homework to do!). One of my favorite quotes is, "Seek the wisdom of ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child"...I don't really even know who has said it, or if that is the exact quote, but I like it.
Basically, I just like to think about how the world would be different if that's what everyone did...sought wisdom and saw through the eyes of a child. Although slightly contradicting, I guess you could say that the wisdom we long for with old age, we were actually given at birth. The innate longing for peace, love, and kindness. I guess at birth we long for these...we live our lives experiencing both extremes of presence and lack of these aspects...then, ultimately, learn to apply peace, love, and kindness into every aspect of our own lives, something that can only be done with experience.
Soooooo yeah, The Help is an amazing book! Go read it! And see the world through the eyes of a child!
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