The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a must read. This book is filled with strength, courage and the power to move people. This book is powerful and will last for generations, this book will be a classic just like To Kill A Mockingbird.
The three main women in this story tell the story and form the core. Skeeter is an idealist white woman who has just come home from college. She finds that her black maid, Constantine no longer employed at her house. Skeeter is looking to find the truth about what happened to her. Her best friend Hilly is the town socialite, who wants everyone to follow in her footsteps.
Aibileen a loving black maid who works for one of Skeeter's friends. Aibileen has a great big heart and loves the white child, Mae Mobley, she cares for. The only thing that Aibileen wants more than anything is to teach love and have things be better for the children growing up.
Minny is a black maid who used to work for Hilly's mother. She is a smart mouth, back talking woman who would like to take on the world. Minny loses her job, thanks to Hilly, she comes to work for Cecilia, a woman who apparently does not see the racial divide.
Together these three women team up and write a book about what it is like for the help to work for white women. Skeeter is the main person behind this project and it brings these three women together in a way that you could not imagine in Jackson, Mississippi in the 60's. They also have some help writing the book from several other black maids who decide to tell their stories, both good and bad. Risking their lives they write this book and form a unique bond. Letting the secrets of the town come out for all the country to know.
The Help is a must read for everyone. It's funny, heart warming, and empowering. I could read this book again and again. Plus you might want to know about the "Minny Pie".
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Daughter of York
Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith
Daughter of York is another amazing story by Anne Easter Smith. Anne Easter Smith does a wonderful job of telling the story of another of England's strong and intelligent women. Daughter of York is the story of Margaret, the daughter of York and who becomes the Duchess of Burgundy.
Margaret's story begins after her father was killed in battle, she wakes from a nightmare with her mother by her side. That's where the nightmare of her life is about to begin as well. She must learn to become the woman of the house and take on more responsibilities. Her mother Cecily, from Queen by Right, guides her into the great women she will become.
Margaret's brother Edward becomes King of England and now holds Margaret's fate in his hands. He promises to find her a wonderful husband but at the same time he has to do whats best for England. After the first few years on the throne he decides to wed Margaret to the Duke of Burgundy. Margaret must leave her family and leave England to sail to France. Heartbroken and lost she finds herself far from home and friends. She takes comfort in the few ladies sent with her to tend to her. Her most beloved lady by her side.
Margret's life is full of strength and courage and the patience to guide those around her as well as her brother across the sea. She faces love, heartache and disappointment along the way, yet stays strong. Anne Easter Smith has done it again. This book was another amazing read and again kept me reading to the very last page.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Queen By Right
Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith
Queen By Right is a really great read by Anne Easter Smith. I have just finished this book and loved every bit of it, prompting me to read another book by Anne Easter Smith called Daughter of York. I love English history and can not get enough historical fiction, Queen By Right filled that need.
Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith is about Cecily Neville, one of England's most courageous and intelligent woman. She stood by her husband and put her own fears aside as he fought for the crown. Cecily was to be Queen of England if her husband Richard, Duke of York had lived to defeat King Henry VI. Cecily may not have been Queen of England but she was the mother of two Kings of England.
Cecily was named Rose of Raby for her beauty and fair hair and she was also named proud Cis for her loyalty and courage during difficult times in her life. Cecily was deeply in love with her husband, Richard, Duke of York. Most times a girl was married off to a boy or man that she did not know, but in Cecily's case she knew her husband to be. Richard and Cecily had met when they were young and Richard was left in the care of Cecily's father. During this time Richard and Cecily got to know each other and fall in love. Because of this love Cecily chose to move around the country with her husband rather than stay at home and tend to the house and the children. Cecily often packed up her family to follow Richard. At times this was hard for Cecily to do, there were often times when she was with child or there were battles that put them in danger and her family was quite large.
Cecily had stayed loyal to her husband through the ups and downs. Staying true to being a good wife and supporting her husband, regardless of what though. She was wise and loving, guiding her husband to do the right thing. Fighting for the crown against a King that was ill and his wife who was ruthless. Through the heartache and pain Cecily encountered along the way she was able to see her son Edward with the Crown and the people of England.
This was such a great book! Filled with love, family, courage, heartache, and triumph. Cecily Neville had the strength and wisdom I admire. I can not even begin to imagine how hard it must have been to be a woman in Cecily Neville's time. I encourage you to read this book, you will not be let down!
Queen By Right is a really great read by Anne Easter Smith. I have just finished this book and loved every bit of it, prompting me to read another book by Anne Easter Smith called Daughter of York. I love English history and can not get enough historical fiction, Queen By Right filled that need.
Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith is about Cecily Neville, one of England's most courageous and intelligent woman. She stood by her husband and put her own fears aside as he fought for the crown. Cecily was to be Queen of England if her husband Richard, Duke of York had lived to defeat King Henry VI. Cecily may not have been Queen of England but she was the mother of two Kings of England.
Cecily was named Rose of Raby for her beauty and fair hair and she was also named proud Cis for her loyalty and courage during difficult times in her life. Cecily was deeply in love with her husband, Richard, Duke of York. Most times a girl was married off to a boy or man that she did not know, but in Cecily's case she knew her husband to be. Richard and Cecily had met when they were young and Richard was left in the care of Cecily's father. During this time Richard and Cecily got to know each other and fall in love. Because of this love Cecily chose to move around the country with her husband rather than stay at home and tend to the house and the children. Cecily often packed up her family to follow Richard. At times this was hard for Cecily to do, there were often times when she was with child or there were battles that put them in danger and her family was quite large.
Cecily had stayed loyal to her husband through the ups and downs. Staying true to being a good wife and supporting her husband, regardless of what though. She was wise and loving, guiding her husband to do the right thing. Fighting for the crown against a King that was ill and his wife who was ruthless. Through the heartache and pain Cecily encountered along the way she was able to see her son Edward with the Crown and the people of England.
This was such a great book! Filled with love, family, courage, heartache, and triumph. Cecily Neville had the strength and wisdom I admire. I can not even begin to imagine how hard it must have been to be a woman in Cecily Neville's time. I encourage you to read this book, you will not be let down!
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