The Help, Fool and The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001 Reviews
by Jenners • 02/25/2011 • 3 Stars, 3.5 Stars, 4.5 Stars, F Titles, Fiction, H Titles, Historical, Humor, L Titles, M Authors, S Authors, Southern Fiction, T Authors • 56 Comments
I can’t stand it anymore! I have nine book reviews waiting to be written, and that is stressing me out Therefore, I decided to write some mini reviews to help clear out the backlog. I’ll do three today, and three more next week. Hopefully then I can breathe easy.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books, 2009
Pages: 444
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Where I Got It: Bought it
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Brief Description: If you are one of the few who hasn’t read this book yet, The Help is about the complex relationships between black maids and the families they work for. When a young white girl named Skeeter decides to interview the maids and share the details of their lives and working relationships, she stirs up controversy in her town of Jackson, Mississippi (circa 1962). The narration is split between Skeeter, Aibileen (a black maid working for one of Skeeter’s friends) and Minny (Aibileen’s best friend and fellow maid).
My Thoughts: Compulsively readable, this book deserves all the success and accolades that have been heaped on it. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Stockett does a brilliant job of capturing a specific place and time yet making the story feel universal. I found myself laughing (Miss Hilly and that pie), crying (how Aibileen mourns the loss of her “white babies” to racism), getting angry (how white women would hand their children over to be raised by black women but wouldn’t share a toilet with them), feeling sick (the scene with Minny and “what is in the toilet”) as well as cycling through a host of other emotions. By mixing in real events (like the murder of Medgar Evers), Stockett creates a highly readable piece of historical fiction that feels real, lived-in and well-loved.
Fool by Christopher MoorePublisher: William Morrow, 2009
Pages: 304
Genre: Fiction, Satire/Spoof
Where I Got It: Paperback Swap
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief Overview: King Lear as told from the Fool’s point of view. The book is imbued with Moore’s trademark smartassedness, wit, and often lowbrow sense of humor (as well as liberal use of the F word that rhymes with “ducking.”)
My Thoughts: Although not my favorite Christopher Moore book (that would be Lamb), it was nowhere near as abominable as Jill at Fizzy Thoughts made it out to be. My real gripe was that it felt too repetitive and sophmoric. After all, there are only so many jokes about heaving bosoms and shagging that a girl can stand! I’ll say this though: It was tons better than the Shakespeare play, which I also tried to read but couldn’t get through. I know that is probably blasphemous and makes me look bad but it was the truth.
The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001 by Sue TownsendPublisher: Michael Joseph, 2008
Pages: 283
Genre: Fiction, Humor
Where I Got It: A gift from Jenn at That Just Happened!
My Rating: 3 stars
Brief Description: Think of this book as a male version of Bridget Jones’s Diary … only more British and less funny. This is the eighth book in a series, and, in this particular outing, Mr. Mole is a middle-aged single parent dealing with dating, children, and housing issues.
My Thoughts: I read the first few books of this series (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole) years ago and remember them as being funny. Either the series hasn’t aged well or I haven’t as I wasn’t terribly amused this time around. Of course, it could be that it was “too British” for me to get all the jokes. It wasn’t a horrible read, but I was looking forward to catching up with good old Adrian and found him disappointing. It was kind of like finding an old boyfriend on Facebook and thinking “Oh. Why did I like him????”
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I know I need to read The Help, but I seriously do not know where I could possibly find the time right now! Maybe I’ll just wait for the movie.
As for Shakespeare, I loved him so much in college that I took two advanced classes and did well in both. Until we had to act out a scene from one of his plays. Let’s just say that you’ll never see me on a stage!
The Help just flies by. It is a really fast read, but I do think the movie has potential to be just as good. It almost reads like a movie.
And wow … having to act a scene from Shakespeare? That is hard-core!
I keep forgetting to tell you how I get a little giggle every time I comment. It always pops up with the words “Comment is submitting, please wait a comment. . .” Makes me giggle every time! lol
Too funny! I’ll have to leave myself a comment to see that. I bet it was because the one plug-in I use for commenting was made by people for whom English is not their first language!
The only one of these I had heard about was the Help and I have picked it up oh so many times because of the cover – then when I read the back it did not seem like something I would like and I have put it back.
I had the same initial reaction. It didn’t seem like “my” kind of book, which is why I’ve had it for over a year and kept putting off reading it. It was really readable though and I’m glad I read it.
I still haven’t read The Help, although it’s been sitting in my TBR for a while! I need to get it out of TBR prison soon.
As for Adrian Mole, I have The Adrian Mole Diaries (which is actually the first two diaries in the series) languishing in my to-review pile. It didn’t leave me with the impression that I really, really have to continue the series.
Let The Help out of prison! It deserves it … and you’re in for a treat.
And, in my opinion, the first few Adrian Moles were the best.
I thought I was the only person on the face of the earth who hadn’t yet read The Help. but Dawn confessed that she hadn’t yet read it either, and it made me feel loads better! That being said, it’s one that I really need to pull off the shelves and read.
I also have a ton of Christopher Moore books on my shelf because in theory, they sound like books I should love, but have not read any of them yet. It’s collecting gone wild, I tell you!
You do need to read The Help. And here I thought I was the last person to read it! : )
And I love Christopher Moore!!! Try “Lamb.” I bet you fall in love with it like I did.
A lot of my friends are reading “The Help” too and it’s definitely piqued my interest. Alas, it’s going to have to wait in my to-read list for now…
It is a wonderful read and perfect for discussing with others who are reading it. I can’t wait for the movie.
I loved The Help too and like you, I couldn’t put it down. (In fact I literally stayed up half the night finishing it.) You wrote a great review of it! I haven’t read either of the other ones, but after reading your reviews, I can’t say I’m likely to, either!
I usually have two books I’m reading at once and, once I started The Help, the other book got tossed aside and forgotten.
Heard so many lovely things about the Help. Great mini review.
I liked the minis because they make you focus and spit out what you wan to say. Good job
You are so right … the mini reviews do help me get to the point faster (and that is a very good thing). Sometimes I labor too long over book reviews I think.
Now I’m the last person to have read The Help! I really do have it on my list though and hope to read it soon. I hope your mini-reviews will make you feel better. I am a bit behind in my reviews and was thinking of doing the same thing.
The mini reviews did make me feel tons better. I know it is just pressure I put on myself to write reviews for every book I read, but I still feel compelled to do it for some reason. Now I’ve let myself off the hook a bit.
I hate it when I get backed up on reviews! I’ve been thinking of reading one of Christopher Moore’s books but I don’t think it would be this one. I remember Jill’s thoughts on it and I’m not that big of a Shakespeare fan either.
If you want to read his best one first, try Lamb.
If you want something more modern, try his vampire series — Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck, Bite Me. I thought they were very funny.
what? wasn’t there a lighthouse? no??
I used to love Adrian Mole when I was a kid!
As for The Help – what a fabulous book.. but I’ll never be able to look a chocolate pie in the face again…
Adrian wasn’t quite as cute when he grew up, I found.
And I hear you about that pie!
glad you liked The Help…it was one of my favorites.
Even without a lighthouse and a murder?
I know lots of people who hate Shakespeare – I’m even married to one!
Well, I won’t go so far as to say I “hate” Shakespeare … but I felt a very strong indifference (and perhaps strong dislike) of King Lear.
I haven’t been here for awhile and I like the new look…please don’t tell me you’ve had this layout for the past four months; I know it hasn’t been that long. The layout is clean and crisp…very professional looking.
I had mixed emotions about The Help. I got involved in the story like you did, but I thought that some of it was perhaps too predictable. I did love the historical detail.
I just did the design earlier in the week after having some problems with the theme I had. So don’t worry–you’re not going nuts! : )
Thanks for the feedback. Mr. Jenners and the Little One think it is too bright but I like it.
I loved The Help! Great read. The audio book is wonderful—three great narrators.
I wonder if you’ve read A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley? It’s King Lear on a farm in Iowa, and I just loved it. But I also loved King Lear.
I could imagine that The Help would be fantastic on audio! I kind of wish I’d chosen that format.
And I did read A Thousand Acres years ago … but I don’t think I realized it was based on King Lear!
I haven’t read the other two, but I LOVED The Help!!! And….being a Southern girl, I love books set in the South.
Glad to know you enjoyed it, too!
It was one of those books that I suspected might be overhyped … but it wasn’t.
I Love, loved The Help and can’t wait for the movie. I’m not familiar with the other books, although I know C. Moore is popular. Thanks for the mini reviews.
I think The Help could be a really really good movie! In fact, it almost read like a movie, and I heard the author’s childhood friend is the direction.
Nice mini reviews, I have The Help on my TBR. And i like your new blog look!
I think you’ll love The Help. And thanks for the feedback. I had to do an emergency blog redesign the other day but I’m pretty happy with it. It is kind of cheery I think.
Same here – I started the Mole series when they first came out and tried to keep up with it, but my interest just steadily dropped off. I don’t know if it’s the writing or my attention, but I am disappointed that I wasn’t able to follow the character through life in real time.
I was actually quite surprised when I saw the series was still going on. Like any series, it weakened over time.
Boy can I relate to being behind on reviews. I’ve been thinking about changing my review format to be more informal, which I guess would be more like mini-reviews. I haven’t thought it out completely yet, but something’s got to be done.
As for the facebook old boyfriend thing, I have definitely had that thought about old boyfriends.
It’s too bad when it happens with books though.
I remember loving King Lear in college, but that was in a class where all we did was read Shakespeare, so it may just have been the lesser of the evils. I’d be curious if I have the patience for it now.
It felt soooo good to knock out some reviews! It was freeing in a way.
And I thought King Lear was excruciating. Perhaps it is better when performed live.
I’m one of those who have not read this book, although it’s on my list. What happened to Christopher Moore? I’ll have to read this one too, since I too didn’t get through the real deal. Thanks Jen
The Help is pretty much a “must read.”
Count me as one of the losers who hasn’t read The Help yet. Several of my friends have read my version, but I haven’t .
Actually, I’m shocked you — who has read almost everything (it seems) — has not read The Help. I am 100% sure you will love it.
I can’t wait to read The Help. It’s sitting on my shelf waiting.
Don’t worry. It’s not blasphemous to not enjoy reading a Shakespeare play. It’s so much better watching them performed as they were intended.
“It was kind of like finding an old boyfriend on Facebook and thinking “Oh. Why did I like him????“” I love that analogy!
Don’t let The Help wait too long! It is such a good read.
And I do think that Shakespeare is better seen live than read. I remember seeing a Shakespeare play performed once and it came alive in a way I had never been able to experience before. And I understood what they were saying.
I love “The Help”. I also couldn’t put it down. Great review. It was completely amazing and I laughed, cried, chuckled, was angry, astonished, and charmed all the way through. Anyone that hasn’t read it should head on down to the local library and plan on spending some good time with a wonderful story.
I agree with you 100%!
You should check out Stockett’s interview with Katie Couric http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6259944n
She is so soft spoken! I liked the book plenty but after listening to the interview I loved it even more.
Thanks for the link! I’ll definitely check it out.
The Help was one of the best books I’ve read in the last few years. Haven’t read the other 2.
You read the best of the group so don’t worry about that!
“The Help” was wildly popular with my neighborhood book club. Seems everyone could relate to its characters and story in some way.
I could see The Help being a great book for a book club. There was so much to discuss!