The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have been looking forward to reading this book and am looking forward to seeing the movie. This book opens in August 1962 in Jackson, MS.  I was born in September 1962 in Natchez, MS (2 hours SW of Jackson).  I do not remember these days... for obvious reasons... but I do remember the times from the late 1960s forward. While in no way trying to defend my state (which I love warts and all), I will say that the white families here were not in the majority.  These are affluent exclusive whites... the Country Club scene. That said.. prejudice was everywhere and while there were different levels of action connected to it (we never had a separate bathroom for our maid nor did she use different plates etc. And she did sit at the table and eat with us like family), the inequalities were evident and consistant and wrong.

The Help does not sugar coat the reality.  For that, I am thankful. Stockett shows not only the way these families treated their "help" but also their children... leaving them to be seen but not heard until Mother was ready to show them off.. and then they had better be perfect.  I knew children who grew up like this... still do.. it is beyond sad.

I love that Stockett shows the relationship between the "help" and the children. While we only had a maid a few years of my young life and my mother, who worked outside the home, didn't neglect or ignore me, I loved Josephine. She was, to me, family.  I pray she felt that way about us. I would hate to think she felt we saw her as the women in this book see the maids who work for them.

I have heard a few folks criticize this book and the movie. But, for the most part, I hear praise for it. It is a delightfully sweet and accurate portrait of a far from sweet time in our history.

Not by Chance by Kathy Herman

This is the 4th and final book of the Seaport Suspense Series. I cannot say enough good about this series. I plan to go back and read Herman's earlier series - the Baxters - as well as her more recent series - Phantom Hollow.

Not by Chance deals with an issue that has been with us since the tower of Babel and will continue with us until the end of time... racism. Brandon Jones has come home in hopes of finding a purpose for his life... what he finds is a friend in RuWeeza Taylor. Her faith amazes Brandon and challenges him to take a deeper look at himself. Unfortunately there are those who don't approve of a white man spending time with a black woman and as a result, Brandon and Weezie find themselves targets a hate crime. But it doesn't stop there. More African-Americans are targeted and the hatred builds. Despite their best efforts, law enforcement cannot find the culprit (or culprits) and the community is getting angrier and more frightened.

Add into the mixes a young biracial boy struggling to find where he fits in... an age old secret society.... a hotshot report who needs to learn to use some discretion.... and you find yourself on the brink of chaos.

While Herman exposes blatant, vile, evil racism, she also sheds light on more subtle forms of racism that most people display without even realizing it. As is true with the other books in this series, Herman makes her reader stop and think... to look into their own lives and see what needs pruning and refining.

Again, I cannot recommend this series enough! Excellent writing, wonderful characters and thought provoking story lines!