Finding Inspiration in 'The Help'

As I began writing my book, I thought about the books that I read and noticed a trend in the themes I enjoy most - cultural stories, strong women, family, and history. I like to be transported to another time or place with strong characters that I admire and invest myself in. Of course, it makes sense that this would be the type of book I wanted to write. I recently read a great book, that fits these same characteristics. The Help by Kathryn Stockett tells the story of maids in the 1960s segregated Jackson MS. The families they help raise, the friendships they develop, the discrimination they face, the hardships they overcome. Beautifully told from the perspective of three different women, the Help is Stocketts first novel, based on her own experiences growing up. A story that she never got to tell until now. It’s inspiring to read someone’s debut novel about personal experiences from an untold perspective - and being so successful at it.

The Help tells the story of Eugenia “Skeeter” Pheelan, a recently graduated white woman and aspiring writer who begins collecting stories of the black maids who raise the children and run the homes. And Abileen, an African american woman who’s lovingly raised 17 white children. And Minny a tough outspoken maid who can’t stay employed, despite being an incredible cook. The book she writes is scathing and shocking and puts their lives at risk , but brings pride and hope to the black community who dream of a different world and gives Skeeter the courage to break boundaries and stand up for what she believes, while pursuing her dream. It’s an uplifting hopeful book, full of history, telling of a time period that is often written about, but not from this perspective.

The details are amazing, you can imagine the people, smell the food, feel their hope. Although times have changed, anyone can relate to the relationships, the hypocrisy and discrimination, the hope for a better world. It shows us how far we’ve come and yet how far we still need to go. And yet, the book isn’t one-dimension, they also show the real love they hold for the children, the hope they will grow up open-minded and the employers who treated them like family. For there were some of those as well.

It was a beautiful, well-written, inspired and inspiring book. It’s exactly what I needed to get back into my writing. What do you read to be inspired? What are some recent books you'd recommend?