The Help Book Club Discussion Questions

Inside: The Help book club discussion questions

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is the official book club selection for January in the Happy Simple Mom Book Club.

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for YEARS. I watched the movie when it first came out, likely in the theater. I was then gifted the movie one Christmas. However, I never took the time to read it. I was missing out!

Although the book is hefty compared to some other Happy Simple Mom Book Club picks, it was an easy ready, having me flip the pages and consuming it as fast as possible.

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Happy Simple Mom Book Club January 2024 Pick

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Don’t miss out on any other reads from 2024. You can find those in the 2024 Happy Simple Mom Book Club picks.

January 2024 Pick: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This book sat on my shelf for the past several years, begging to be read. I watched the movie, years ago, when it first came out, and I found it touching, hilarious, and a real treat. The book is no different. It’s an easy read, keeping you turning the pages. I figured it’s a great way to start off the new year!

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 544 pages

Audio Length: 18 hours and 6 minutes

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Publisher’s Description:

Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who’s always taken orders quietly, but lately she’s unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She’s full of ambition, but without a husband, she’s considered a failure.

Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town.

SPOILER ALERT!!! The following discussion questions WILL give away things from the book. Read at your own risk.

The Help Book Club Discussion Questions

Question 1:

Did you or did you know any families with a maid or who was a maid in the 1960s? (If you don’t know anyone, ask around! I’m so curious.)

Question 2:

Do you think it would be realistic for someone to make Minny’s revenge pie and the receiver not taste the secret ingredient? (That’s a really, really, really good baker.)

Question 3

Which character did you enjoy the most? Why?

Question 4

Which character did you enjoy the least? Why?

Question 5

What were your thoughts on the ending and how things wrapped up for the characters?

Question 6

Aibileen used a form of affirmations with Mae Mobley. Have you ever used affirmations? Thoughts on using them?

Question 7

Have you seen the movie? Did you like it? Do you feel like it closely followed the book?

Question 8

Why did you think of Skeeter’s mom? Did you think she was a sympathetic or unsympathetic character?

Question 9

What did you think of Skeeter’s relationship with Stuart? Why do you think Skeeter wouldn’t open up to him? Why do you think she was so willing to look past his character traits that she didn’t like?

Question 10

Do you think Mae Mobley grew up to be like her mother? Did you have anyone influence you as a child on your views in regards to race?

Question 11

Do you feel like this book was an accurate representation of the time period and the setting, specifically for black maids working in the South?

Question 12

What was your favorite quote from the book?