NBR:If you have read the Help.

MommaA117

I put a lot of thought into a book before choosing to read it because if I get bored I won't finish it.

If you've read this book and seen the movie The Secret Life of Bees, are they somewhat similar....or the same type of message? I'm pretty sure I read this in a review or something saying that if you liked The Secret Life of Bees you will like this. I don't want to read it if it's "been done" before.

Any input?

ChristinaMT4

They're similar but not the same story at all. Both are set in the south in the 60s and are about Black women as told by a young white woman or girl, but that's about it. I read Bees years ago so I don't remember much of it, but I didn't think of the similarities at all when I read The Help.

The Help is a decent read, although not as good as I had heard.

jlsimon56

I thought the Help was good.  It's a very short book, I read it in an afternoon.  I thought the character development was good.  A lot of times when there are so many people in a book, I get confused about who is who.  I didn't with this one b/c they were all so distinct w/o being predictable.  Some of the parts were shocking to me that they would do things like that in our great country! 

NovNYC2006

I didn't read The Secret Life of Bees, so I can't compare... But I really enjoyed reading The Help!

mandckempf

We recently read this in my book club and I really enjoyed it. I agree with PP that it is similar to Secret Life of Bees but definitely a different enough read to check it out. I also agree that it is a relatively easy read. I personally liked the way it was written (tells the story from different characters perspectives) and thought it added to the "feeling" of the book.

 They are also making it into a movie, but I'm not sure when it is set to come out.

 

alm0309

ChristinaMT4:

They're similar but not the same story at all. 

This.  I really enjoyed The Help, more so than The Secret Life of Bees. 

rileylr215

I did not read The Secret Life of Bees, but I would highly recommend The Help.  It's a quick, fun read. I too am easily bored by some fiction, but I did not get bored at all while reading this novel.

jcsumm0

I've read them and like them both.  I don't think that The Help is just a repeat of Secret Life of Bees.  Now that you bring it up,  I see there are some similarities, but it didn't occur to me while reading The Help.

DowagerCountessofNJ

I didn't read Secret Life of Bees but I thoroughly enjoyed The Help.  I'm a little disappointed in their choices for the characters in the upcoming movie.

Brooklyn2577

I read both and saw Secret Life of Bees (they are making The Help into a movie too).  I liked them both.  Ditto PP similar, but not the same.

kellyloveszach

I read both books, I actually like the The Help a bit better.  It was a good read, definitely worth checking out.

ashleah83

AprilLynn09:

I put a lot of thought into a book before choosing to read it because if I get bored I won't finish it.

If you've read this book and seen the movie The Secret Life of Bees, are they somewhat similar....or the same type of message? I'm pretty sure I read this in a review or something saying that if you liked The Secret Life of Bees you will like this. I don't want to read it if it's "been done" before.

Any input?

Everything you wrote but especially this was exactly my sentiment. That being said it is very well written and I was not bored reading it but at the end I just felt a little disappointed that it was so similar.

Marissa423

ChristinaMT4:

They're similar but not the same story at all. Both are set in the south in the 60s and are about Black women as told by a young white woman or girl, but that's about it. I read Bees years ago so I don't remember much of it, but I didn't think of the similarities at all when I read The Help.

The Help is a decent read, although not as good as I had heard.

My thoughts exactly.

MommaA117

thanks for the responses. I may pass. I wasn't in love with Bees and it doesn't seem like any of you all totally loved The Help. I was just wondering because the reviews seemed so good.

ChristinaMT4

If you're looking for a good book, I'm reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant right now and it's really interesting. Here's a summary.

"The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery."

It's historical fiction based on the bible, but it isn't preachy or anything. I'm agnostic but I find the stories of the bible interesting and this book in particular is really fascinating.