This story came so close to home because I, myself was brought up mostly by my nannies. Our home had always been taken care of by helpers for as long as I can remember. But I am fortunate enough to know and understand, and always remember that my nanny at the time is not my mother. It maybe because my mother has always been with me during the night. But I think it is also because after I started going to school, my aunt quit her job and took care of me instead. I'm blessed like that.
Based on what I've read on the internet, Kathryn had a hard time publishing this first novel of hers. It took her over sixty rejections before she finally had it published. And I want to thank that person for giving this book a chance, for taking the risk. If not for that person I wouldn't be able to read such a beautiful story. Not that this is beautiful because of the story only, but because it also has good intention.
This book gave us a glimpse of the ugly reality, and also opened our minds and eyes to see the possible lives of our helps so that hopefully we learn how to be sensitive to their feelings.
Overall, I love the story of this book. I love the characters, except maybe for Ms. Hilly who everybody also hates. This book is, for me, real and true. I know of the discrimination against the black people in the West. But I had never imagined that colored helps had to be built their own bathroom. And that they be rumored to be having diseases. And the brutality in this story? Unthinkable.
Yet, with all these negativities, this book can be happy at times. I have laughed and chuckled throughout the book; there IS happiness in this book, along with disappointment, realization, consideration, sometimes madness. But all these just made me like this book more.
I now understand why it is such a big hit; and I cannot wait to watch the movie. The movie has created a lot of buzz also and I hope it is because it gave the book justice in portrayal.
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| picture grabbed from Goodreads.com |
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