Tring Book Club - Brave New World and The Help

It was my suggestion that we read a classic novel for our next book club. Avoiding popular books such as "Emma" or "Tess of the Durbervilles", I was recommended "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. I have to say it did not down at all well with our group. I think mainly that it had very little story before the latter stages. It was a very disturbing view of the future. Amazing to think that in 1932, before test tube babies, cloning and DNA were ever heard of, Huxley's imagination will not be far off the mark. I found that all the made up stuff was just too much, and detracted from the story. The plot takes off about two thirds through when Bernard gets permission to bring back Linda and John from the reservation. What follows is then pretty dramatic.

The writing seemed a little archaic, and there were a number of sentences that I did not understand. But there were a few gems: "One of the principle functions of a friend (maybe even a partner?) is to suffer the punishments that we should like, but are unable, to inflict on our enemies".

But I did find that I had no empathy with any of the characters, apart from maybe Linda. There seemed to be a flaw with the main character Bernard, he is initially the rebel we wanted to triumph, but later he relishes in his fame and reverts to being "normal". The big philosophical debate in the final section between the Controller and John is quite challenging, as if everything leading up to it set the background to a discussion of what constitutes happiness and the Controller's defence of the new regime. Not an easy read, but highly memorable.

The other book was much better received. I thought "The Help" would be a typical woman's novel, and although the three narrators were all women, it was actually a very powerful and dramatic story. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60's, we gain a huge insight into the relationships between the black maids and their well off white employers. The book is full of racial tension that at times overflows, but it is the writer's clever use of suspense that keeps the reader wanting to know more.

There are some wonderful characters. The two maids, Aibileen and Minny, with their employers, families and friends are very well drawn. But it is the young white woman, Skeeter, who I could not wait to carry on her narration in between the other two. There are some scenes that will live long in my memory. The dinner party at Senator Whitworth's, the loss of the satchel, Minny's secret, the first conversation between Minny and her lost white trash employer Celia Foote, the second time Skeeter sees Stuart when he calls to apologise and the scene at the swimming pool. Not forgetting the descriptions of the food. It really made me hungry.