"The Help," a novel, by Kathryn Stockett

I have always loved to read books written by Mississippi authors, and my personal collection includes many such books. Several weeks ago, I purchased a copy of "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. So far, I have read only 150 pages of the novel, but I can already see why it has been near the top of The New York Times bestseller list for many months now.

The setting for the book's story is the Jackson, Mississippi area, where the author was born and raised. Set in the 1960s, a pivotal time in the history of the author's native state, the book's story is told through first person narratives of several women with different backgrounds whose lives are interwoven. Although the book is classified as fiction, its story is a poignant one, and one that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Although this is Ms. Stockett's first novel, and I haven't completed this one yet, I already hope there will be more.