The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I would have to say that this book is one of my favorite books this year. Told with alternating viewpoints, The Help explores racism in the South during the pre-Civil Rights era. However, it does so without being preachy or depressing, and I think that is because the characters are written so well. I absolutely loved the characters. Aibileen, the sweet caretaker who finally gets fed up with being treated like a second-class citizen; Minny, the sassy maid with a heart of gold; and Skeeter, the college graduate who is determined to actually use her college degree. When Skeeter ropes Aibileen into helping her write a tell-all book about being a black maid in Mississippi, each of the women must decide if telling the truth is worth the consequences.

I found myself really caring about the main characters (as well as "white-trash" Cecelia Foote) and their struggles to grow in a society that did not allow for growth. The ending did leave me hanging, but I was satisfied with it. The injustices that the black women faced made me angry and grateful. While I know that we do not live in a perfectly colorblind society, I'm glad that it is not as bad as it was then. The rampant racism was appalling and sad.

I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars. A great read!

Juliet by Anne Fortier

Julie Jacobs's life is turned upside down after the death of her Aunt Rose. While her twin Janice inherits the estate, Julie only recieves a letter and a key. The letter informs her that she is really Giulietta Tolomei and that her long-dead mother has left her with a legacy in Siena, Italy. She also discovers that she is a descent of another Giulietta Tolomei, the inspiration for Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Julie's search for her heritage in Siena leads to adventure and romance. As Julie searches for the truth behind her family, she encounters several old texts that share the fate of 13th century Giulietta and her Romeo. As she reads these texts, she learns about a curse that may or may not be still haunting her family.

I found this story to be very entertaining. The mystery of Julie's inheritance was filled with DaVinci Code type moments. Honestly, this book was more adventurous than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a heartwarming tale about a woman discovering herself, instead I got a fast-paced adventure. It was a nice surprise. I also enjoyed the interwoven story of Giulietta and Romeo. Personally I've never been a fan of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I always thought the characters were annoying. I disliked that they chose suicide as a solution to their problem. Fortier's story was tragic, but the main characters were victims of horrible circumstances, not just some silly star-crossed lovers. I liked the character of Giulietta, she was quite a woman. Siena was not a city I had ever read much about, so I enjoyed reading about it as both a medieval and current place. It seems like an interesting place to visit someday.

Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed it.