Which narrator do you resonate with the best?

I didn't relate to any of the 3, but I can definitely see one part of me in all 3.

I mean, being discriminated because you are different has a psychological effect on you. Now Skeeter didn't fit anywhere, because she didn't let anyone made a fool of herself.  All of those men and women betrayed and used each other, and didn't care. They were just interested in what each other could provide. 

2. Life has changed dramatically since the times in which this book is set. What part of 1960s life in Mississippi do you find most shocking?

That they had a bathroom for black people. I am very white, and my grandma was black, so I almost cried when Hilly said that she didn't want to use the same bathroom as a Negro and wanted every house to use to have one too. I had my disagreements with my grandma, But I never fought with her because she was black. In fact, I never questioned it, I saw it very normal, and I thank God everyday, that I live in a tropical Island where racism is not an everyday issue.

3. Do you think personality is shaped by the times in which a person lives?

SPOILER

Yes and No. I mean, A person can think of some way , but may act like another because of other people.  For example, skeeter had a different kind of thinking and you can see that at the end of the novel many women did like their black maids saw them as family but because of the era acted like the weren't. Like the maid that received her thanks in the funeral.

1. I would have to relate most to Skeeter. I never feel like I fit in with my family and I'm definatley behind in the romance department. I feel like my goals in life are a lot different then what my family ever believes possible of me. I feel like they don't believe in me and are very judgemental about my opinions and attitudes.

2. I don't think I can choose one part that effects me the most because the whole book has made a big impact on me (I couldn't help myself, I finished it). Just learning how people were treated back then is enough to have me gasp at even the way people talk to their maids. I can't even begin to understand how anyone could act that way and think it was okay, that is probably why I admire Celia Foote so much. She never treated Minnie any differntly than anyone else.

3. I would say yes. I do think that a lot of the people thought that their actions were wrong but, they still countinued treating african-americans like they weren't human. Even if they had regrets they still treated their help with such disrespect, social status should not matter as much as it did. Obviously things are much different now so again, yes.

Those are my answers:) I love this book!

Sorry it took me so long to get to answering these, but I finished the book too so don't feel too bad Lauren! My own personal confession - I cried at the end of the movie :/

Questions

1. Which narrator do you resonate with the best? I honestly would have to say Minny, for the simple reason that she is the type to speak her mind and get in trouble for sass-mouthing at times. She is a strong person, and though sometimes she has trouble drawing the line, she is a good person at heart.

2. Life has changed dramatically since the times in which this book is set. What part of 1960s life in Mississippi do you find most shocking? All of it.. I'm young, therefore I know nothing about these times but what I have learned. I can not imagine people being beaten to death, or run over, or shot in front of their children simply for standing up for themselves and their racial community - for equality. If it wasn't such a proven part of our history, and if there wasn't still people everywhere that still feel that way, I wouldn't be able to believe it.

3. Do you think personality is shaped by the times in which a person lives? Oh, most definitely. There is a well-defined difference between the time my parents were brought up in versus the time I am brought up in, and that isn't even a huge gap. I can imagine how different things were, and sometimes I wish I did live in earlier times where women knew such things as modesty and men were respectful enough to take the time to court you from a distance instead of rushing for the buttons on your jeans. However, if I did, I probably would have had to pull a Skeeter and tell people to quit being so high and mighty because of the color of their skin.

Hello everyone,

I justfinished reading the 17th chapter of the book. First I have to say that I like the book. At the beginning I had some problems with the language but it is probably the translation into German. But now I love the book.

Here are my answers:

1.) I personally relate to Skeeter. I think she is very smart and not only appreciates the work of the colored maids but also their character. In addition to that I love the relationship between Skeeter and the maids.

2.) I was smost shocked about the toilet thing. I could never imagined that white people were so mean to their maids, who actually clean up their dirt. And then they get their own toilet in a cold garage.

3.) I definitly think that the personality and the character is shaped by the surrounding. Today in the best case we are so brought up that we accept all cultures.

I am sorry that I am late but I haven't been able to read the book as fast.  I have been so busy and can't find time to read.

My answers:

1.  I really liked Minny's character stories best.  I also like that she speaks her mind as do I.  I find her story to be the one I can't wait to get back to.

2.  What I find to be most shocking is the way that Elizabeth Leefolt doesn't care much for her children.  How can a mother birth a child and can't stand to be around them.  I am also appalled at the killings.

3.  I do think that people are shaped by their surrounding but also through their own understandings on life. 

I have just finished reading the book and i loved it!!

1.  My favorite has got to be Abileen - she is so kind and understanding.  She gets on with doing the right thing despite her own personal tradegies and feelings.  I love how she seized and opportunity to "rebel" so to speak but still ensure she serves the family who employs her and looks after her friends.

2. I live in England at a time which is currently very multi-cultural.  It is shocking to hear how ethnic minorities were treated in the 1960s - The most shocking was the separate hospitals and supermarkets - it just seems alien to me!!!

3.  I think too many people are influenced by other people's opinions (like how everyone was influenced by Hilly's views).  I think the media play a huge role also.  I think there are lots of people who have there own views but are too scared to speak the truth to how they really feel.  It's a shame and something which i think at some point we are all guilty off - so to "fit in with the crowd".  If the world was full of people like Miss Skeeter then the world would be a better place.

I liked reading about all the charachters and watching them grow, but personally I related to Skeeter.  I feel like like I am always judged by my family, but that doesn't stop me from expressing my opinions or going after what I want.

I have always seen things differently then others.  Reading this book opened my eyes.  I had no idea as to the way people were treated, and all because of theri skin colour.  AND that fact that this was acceptable!

I  do.  Look at the women of the League and how Hilly was "worshipped". But, there are a few, like Skeeter, who refuse to follow the "rules" and take their own path despite what was thrown at them.

I think that I related most with Aibilieen because she was a "quiet rebel", as opposed to Minny who was very overt about her rebelliousness, especially when she did the Terrible Awful. Aibileen has a quiet, kind personality but she still had the guts to change her future despite the huge risk.There are so many things in this book that were shocking, but one thing that stood out the most to me was the sad fact that after The Help was published and the women in town were buying it to see if it was really about Jackson, Elizabeth Leefolt didn't even realize that Chapter 2 was about her. It was sad to know that Elizabeth never realized how much she neglected her children and left all of the true resposibilities of being a mother for Aibileen. Any type of attention that she ever gave Mae Mobley was negative, and this made me really sad especially because, as Aibileen said, "they grow up to be just like they mothers." Mae Mobley was such a sweet little girl, so I hoped that her future would be better and that she would be a better woman than  her mother. I think that personaility is shaped more by the values of the time that we live in and the values of our parents that we are taught as we grow up. I also think that everyone has a mind of their own, and even though as children we are taught to believe what we are told, people grow up and become independent individuals to have their own set of values to live their life by, such as Skeeter.