The Help allows us to see into the family lives of families of both races who made up Mississippi in the 1960's, and gives us some insight into just how personal and pervasive the racial bigotry of that day really was. It's an unblinking look at a variety of relationships over time, which were at times both ugly and beautiful. The sense of "What's going to happen next?" came early on, and stayed with me throughout the book. The ending is not one that Hollywood would think of, but it rings more true for it, as do all the characters throughout the book.

The story follows the path that Dr. Greg took, and it's "A Long and Winding Road." You share all his frustrations and tears and inspirations along the way. It's well worth the trip.

I learned a great deal about the assassination, and had several mistaken beliefs corrected. I learned much more about Booth and his attempt to escape than I expected. What an amazing story. It should be used in American History classes, instead of the insipid version I was taught.

No one in our club was able to figure it out before reading the ending. It kept us all guessing.