A Reliable Wife

Over the break, I had the misfortune of reading this novel. I'm not entirely sure how it has one the awards on the cover and whoever made this a New York Time's Bestseller needs to be off the board that makes these decisions. Although I read the novel the entire way through, I almost put it down many times out of boredom. You may enjoy this book if you admire unpoetic repetition (Robert needs a Thesaurus) and a slow start to a story. There was a twist that I did not expect, which surprised me, because for the most part, the text was entirely predictable.

The Help

I read this book at the recommendation of my sister and I have to say, it was definitely worth reading. This book provides an endearing insight into the lives of the "Mammy" figure in Jackson, Mississippi during the times of segregation and Jim Crow laws. Written from a few different, meaningful points of view, The Help takes the reader on a journey of extreme risk-taking for the sake of change. It instills belief in the power of a small group of people with a personal and important motive. I would definitely suggest putting this book on your "Read Next" list! I actually plan to introduce it to the Southern Studies department here at UNC and suggest someone put it on their syllabus. Make time for this one!