Author: Kathryn Stockett
Genre: Fiction
Keywords: Pithy. Honest. Entertaining.
 
More people know of The Help as a movie, and though it is a fantastic movie, the book is miles better. Set in the 1960s, The Help tells the stories of African American maids working for white families in the deep South, USA. All the characters are interconnected in one way or another, either as friends, employers, parents or spouses, and through these connections we see the best and worst of human nature. The Help reveals the deeply ingrained attitudes and racism of the time. It shows us the helplessness, grit and spirit of the oppressed. On a another level, it discusses women’s and class issues. But above all, The Help is supremely entertaining and moving from the first word to the last. Best of all, it leaves you with that positive feeling that change, however small, is always possible and we should never stop striving for it.

Author: RK Narayan
Genre: Fiction
Keywords: Delightful. Humourous. Natural.
 
Few writers have the gift to make everyday life interesting. RK Narayan does so with a flourish. He makes us want to journey back in time to the town he writes about. Life was simple, and the range of characters makes for a perpetually entertaining townscape. The reader feels as if these are real people, so effortless is Narayan’s storytelling. The stories themselves may be simple, but the writer’s astute observations give us insights into human nature and the societal norms of the time. RK Narayan is one of those rare writers who notice what most of us overlook.