THE HELP

I’m almost done reading THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett—now, one of my all time favorite books ever and I know I will be reading it again and again. Written from multiple points-of-view about what it’s like to be a black maid and white woman in Mississippi during the 1960’s. Yes, it is that good that it’s still in hardcover when most others would already have gone to soft cover. But it’s worth every cent.

However, this recommendation comes with a warning attached. I can’t stop thinking about the characters. They are with me in the car while I’m driving, which is usually when I do my best plotting for my own stories. I wonder about them, how they are as if they’re real. Last night I even dreamt that Minny, my favorite character in the book, told me to clean the floors (which really do need attention, ahem) so’s she can see her big self reflected in the shine.

Seriously, I think I’m losing it. But today, I know.

Here I am Saturday afternoon with the house to myself for a few hours, a rare occurrence, a perfect opportunity to work on UNTIL DEATH, my YA paranormal romance. But can you believe old style southern dialogue keeps trying to ooze out my fingers and find its way onto the page? After all, my main character is from present day Massachusetts and should not be inclined to say things like: sho nuff he’s got that grin on his handsome face as if he’s gone eat me up fo’ supper.

Oy! I can only roll my eyes and click delete. Kathryn Stockett, I need help getting THE HELP out of my head. Sigh. But how inspiring really, to write something that can be so encompassing, so real, so . . .

Anyway, here I go, back to my wip, hoping to get into the head of a contemporary teen and push aside Minny, Skeeter, Aibileen, and Hilly—for just a little while.

Curious, has a book gotten under your skin like this one has mine? Or am I the only crazy one?