The Help
- 18 hrs 6 min
- Multi-narrator performance
- Rated 4.8 ★ on Audible
J.C.’s Verdict
A captivating story with a great sense of humor, and narration so good it’s a unique audio experience. I laughed, I cried, and I came away feeling I knew each of these women. This is one book that must be experienced as an audiobook.
The Help begins in 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi, where the civil rights movement is just beginning. Kathryn Stockett captures the emotional climate of this tumultuous time through three unique and courageous women.
Aibileen Clarke is a 53-year-old black maid who has recently lost her only child and pours her energy and love into raising the white daughter of her employer. Minny Jackson is Aibileen’s fiery best friend, who refuses to be pushed into the subservient role so many of her friends accept. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan is a debutante from one of Jackson’s most prominent white families, struggling to balance her dream of being a writer with the expectations of her friends in the Junior League. When the three find a way to work together, the result is a deeply engrossing, heartbreaking and uplifting story.
Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin and Octavia Spencer do an extraordinary job of adding another dimension to these three Southern women. Their accents are impeccable and transport you to the deep South, and each voice is distinct and perfectly suits the character. I believe this is a much richer experience than reading the text, because the multiple narrators add so much depth and passion.
There were times I burst into laughter, and other times I was moved to tears.
By the end I felt I had formed a relationship with each of these women and was emotionally invested in each of their stories. Stockett takes on a sensitive issue with poise, honesty and a great sense of humor, and the rave reviews are well deserved.
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Listen if…
- You like character-driven historical fiction
- You enjoy audiobooks with multiple narrators
- You want a story that’s funny and moving in equal measure
Skip it if…
- You want a fast, plot-driven read: this is a character story
- You’d rather avoid a book that deals with racism and injustice, which are at its heart
Where to listen to The Help
Audible has the multi-narrator recording.
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I loved this book, definitely a literary keepsake! I agree that the audiobook medium adds a new dimension to the characters unachievable through text and utterly lost in the movie. The Help was inspiring, humorous, and heartbreaking, I couldn’t stop listening!
One of my favorite audio books! Thanks for the review.