The Help - Kathryn Stockett

"Everyone knows how we white people feel, the glorified Mammy figure who dedicates her whole life to a white family. Margaret Mitchell covered that. But no one ever asked Mammy how she felt about it."

For two years I had read and heard that "The Help" was a must-read novel, and after reading it for myself, I have to agree. Kathryn Stockett's first published book transports the reader into a world that those of my generation and location have only heard about. The tension and the humor of this story work well together to take you right into the heart of Mississippi in the 1960's.

On the surface, this is a story of a white woman wanting to write a book to prove she can, but "The Help" is a coming-of-age tale not only for that white woman (Skeeter) but also for 'the help' (Abilene and Minny). The characters in this novel are so vividly drawn that we not only get to know them, we want them to be in our world. The heartache they endure, the courage and the strength that they demonstrate, create a fully developed story that is hard to put down.

At times hard to read, because it is so vivid in describing a racist world that I have only heard about, the book is at one moment heartwrenching and the next moment heartwarming. It is definitely a "must-read" book, and now is the best time to do so - the movie based on the story is set to be released in August 12.

Winter's Bone

"Never ask for what ought to be offered."

If not for the fact that a movie nominated for Oscars (review to come) had been made of this book, I might not have ever heard of it. Thank goodness for Oscar nominations! Daniel Woodrell has written a gritty but gorgeous novel, full of descriptions that put you in the Ozarks. However, these are not the Ozarks that have become a tourist destination.

Ree Dolly is living in extreme poverty, but wants to hold her family together despite the mental illness of her mother, the absence of her meth dealing father and her younger brothers who have come to rely on her for everything. The story of what happens when Ree learns that her father has disappeared after putting the family home up as bail, is a story that is both hard to read, and hard to put down.

Reading this story will make you both admire the determination a young girl has to make her life better, but feel depressed for her inability to escape from her desperate surroundings. Daniel Woodrell writes a heart-wrenching story of a clannish community that is well worth your time, it is a quick read, but a harsh story.

The Hunger Games

"And may the odds be forever in your favor."

This book was originally recommended to me when it was first published. However, I just couldn't see how a book about teens killing one another would be one that I could not only like, but really enjoy. How wrong I was!

Taking place in the future (but not something I would classify as a science fiction story), the United States is now a place where "The Capitol" rules the "districts" with an iron fist. To proof its power over and over again, the Capitol conducts a competition every year between the districts. However, the word competition is not strong enough to convey what is involved here. Two teenaged "players" are chosen from each district (one male, one female) and they are placed in an Capitol designed arena. There can only be one winner, and that winner is the one person who ends up as the sole survivor in the arena. Now, if you are like me, you will think this may not be your cup of tea, however, I highly recommend that you, too, give this series (as Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy) a try.

This generation's "1984" or "Brave New World", "Hunger Games" is a story that warns about the consequences of allowing political authority to rule unchecked, and how a hedonistic society can be the downfall of us all. In author Suzanne Collins' hands, this heavy sounding topic is not off-putting at all, in fact, she wields such an artful way with words, that she has us despising the Capitol, but at the same time, reading each detail of death with intense fascination. Drawing us in with the imperfect main character of Katniss Everdeen, we cannot help but root for her to end up as the victor in this brutal killing game.

Even knowing that this was only the first in a series, I had no idea just how the end would turn out. An enjoyable read, and one that I hated to put down, this story had me smiling, grimacing and tearing up as I saw the world through the eyes of Katniss Everdeen.

How to Train Your Dragon

"I...don't wanna fight dragons."

Hiccup, the Viking who would be voted the least likely dragonslayer, discovers a dragon and he not only doesn't slay the dragon, he befriends and trains the dragon. Because this wonderful story of two friends relies on gesture and visual interaction instead of dialogue, we are able to focus on the animation that DreamWorks has so artfully created. The movie begins and ends with battle sequences, which could be frightening to the youngest viewer, but the traits that Hiccup possesses such as cleverness and braveness, make this a good choice to watch with young ones. A highly principled young man who not only tolerates, but accepts someone who everyone tells him is the enemy, Hiccup is a good role-model to see and immulate. A beautiful film that can be enjoyed by all ages, "How to Train Your Dragon" is a delightful story that soars, and I recommend it.

The Blind Contessa's New Machine

"On the day Contessa Caolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom."




So begins Carey Wallace's first novel. The writing is elegant, the story is moving and it as if you are reading a grown-up fairytale. The story-telling draws you in and you are dreading the inevitable conclusion that you can't but hope will not happen.

The short novel is based on a true story and it is a quick read. The details that the Contessa recalls as she loses her sight are so well detailed, that you feel you are seeing what she no longer is able to. I would have liked if the story was more fleshed out however. I felt that it was almost too short - mostly due to the pacing of the story. It did seem like it was a great idea that was not completely put down on paper.

The characters end up being the type of people I am glad I don't know in person, and I would not put this high on a list I would recommend due to this fact. I do wish that the beautiful descriptions would have led to a better read, but a Victorian morality is evident as those who lack a good moral compass end up paying for this lack. So, a mixed review from me. Beautiful language, but not a story that I felt was well-developed.

The Jone$es

"If people want you, they'll want what you've got."

A clever premise, and unfortunately a believable one, this little known film is worth watching. The story of consumerism and the way that people succumb to keeping up with "the Joneses" is well done, both by the cast and the director.

The casting seems ideal. Demi Moore seems perfect in her role as a controlling "boss" of the family, Duchovny is a good fit for the more laid back "Dad". Amber Heard as the daughter is just wonderful. She goes from manic, promiscuous "teen" to the emotional girl just looking for someone to love her, and she does it very well.

Similiar to other films, like The Truman Show and American Beauty, this story has moments of light-hearted banter and biting satire. The Jone$es is a bit too close to the truth to dismiss it. Although it does contain language and sexuality that makes it inappopriate for younger audiences, the positive elements outweigh the negative, and it is worth taking the time to check out this film.

Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson

"When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time."

Beginning on her first day of high school, this story is one of how Melinda finds her voice. In a matter-of-fact manner, we are told the story through her point of view. We discover that she has become an outcast because she called the police at an end of the summer party. The consequences of an action that she is unable to explain, are heartbreaking and seem to be told by someone who is really experiencing them.

Every day high school events, such as attending an assembly when you have no one to sit with and walking into a lunchroom alone, are told with such honesty that you want to cringe for the pain she feels. The characters that interact with Melinda are believable and even though you might think they are stereotypical, it feels as though they couldn't be more real.

The struggles Melinda goes through, especially highlighted by her art project, are believable and the reader just feels for her as she wonders what she thinks she should do. This story made me want to look more carefully at the teens who might be hiding themselves because they don't know how to speak.