Kathryn Stockett - 'The Help'

I saw the movie of this book last year sometime (or possibly even the year before? Whenever it was at the movies anyway), and then this was my bookclub's book for this month.

I found this book 'unputdownable'. Even having seen the movie, albeit a little while ago, and having a pretty good idea of what was going to happen, I found the book and engrossing, but easy to follow story.

Set in Mississippi in 1962, it follows an unlikely friendship between a young white woman, "Miss" Skeeter, who is home from college attempting a career in journalism and Aibileen and Minny, two older black maids who work for two of Skeeter's childhood friends. At a time where legalised racism is expected, but the civil rights movement is gathering force, these women combine to make a difference in their own way.

The cast characters includes the bossy "Miss" Hilly Holbrook, the insecure "Miss" Elizabeth Leefolt, "Miss" Celia Foote who just can't quite understand the rules and Skeeter's mother who just can't understand why her daughter won't conform and won't explain what happened to Constantine, the beloved maid who had raised Skeeter. Hilarious in some parts, horrifying in others and with many touching moments this book looks at the lives of ordinary people of the time.

Reactions during the bookclub were varied. I have done a reasonable amount of reason on the broader topic and while I found the story touching and it a great novel, it didn't really raise any issues with me that I hadn't already considered. Other members however found it very confrontational especially considering it was set in the mid-twentieth century. Definitely a book worth reading.

Tony Parsons "The Family Way"

One of my friends has recently started a bookclub and picked this as the first book.

I enjoyed it. It was an easy read. The themes of the book are ones found in many others. The baby dance. The struggles of those who want children and can't have them compared to those who do have them. What makes this book different is it is written by a man and I think that even though the main characters are women it shows. I am not sure how or why but there is a slightly different feel. That said, not in a bad way. The author deals with the subjects sensitively and he must have done a lot of listening and talking to women to be able to write so well about some of the topics covered.

Three sisters. One, Jessica, childless, married and desperately wanting a baby. One, Cat, who swears she never wants children. And one, Megan, who is at the beginning of her professional career and who accidentally gets pregnant after a one night stand. Their mother walked out on them when they were young and made no secret of her opinion that having children ruined her life. Each of the girls have to deal with the shadows of this past as well as having to face their own personal demons about decisions they have made in the past and decisions they have to make in their future.

Covering topics such as fertility, low socio-economic areas, trust, betrayal, abortion and most importantly of all family, this book was a good read. Warning. Lots of sexual references and the style of this writing was one of the times I was reminded I was reading a book written by a man! I am looking forward to discussions about this book at bookclub.