Queen Anne Books

Winner

We really do listen when you (our customers) tell us about a ‘must read’ book. We may not always get around to reading it, but we are listening. When three separate customers mentioned they had read and loved The Help by Kathryn Stockett, I listened. Set in the early 1960’s in Jackson Mississippi, the novel follows the lives of three women. The first voice we hear is of Aibileen, a woman in her 50’s who has spent her life raising the children and taking care of the homes of white families in Jackson. She is currently working for Miss Leefolt, a woman who does not seem to have the heart to raise her daughter Mae Mobley. Seeing the mother’s neglect, Aibileen finishes her days telling the child she is smart and she is beautiful -- each and every day. Minny’s is the next voice we hear. She is also one of “the help” and has the reputation of being a terrific cook as well as a smart aleck. When she loses one more job, she is certain no one in Jackson is going to hire her. And no one would have because Miss Hilly, a would-be political wife, spread her lies that Minny is a thief. But someone new moves into a mansion on the outskirts of town and, not knowing the community gossip, they hire Minny. And finally, we hear from Skeeter. She has just graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in journalism and ideas about making a living as a writer despite her mother’s aspirations for her young Southern daughter. But Skeeter checks the mail everyday hoping to hear about a possible position in New York City with the publisher Harper and Row. However, instead of a job offer, one of Harper’s editors tells Skeeter that she is pretty nervy to apply for such a high-level position straight out of college and with no actual writing experience. Then she makes Skeeter an offer. The Help is a novel about these three exceptional women and the turbulent times in which they lived. It contains moments of such poignancy and magic, I couldn’t put it down. It seems that once a year I come upon a ‘feel-good’ book that I can recommend without hesitation. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Barrows; The Hearts of Horses by Gloss; The Whistling Season by Doig; and this year it is The Help by Stockett. Thank you readers for your suggestion! ~Patti

Runner-Up

A brother looking for his missing twin, a teacher and student who decide to take their romance on the road, and a young man coming to terms with secrets about his past – these are the main characters of Dan Chaon’s fascinating new novel. Their stories all take place separately from each other, but they are joined by loneliness, isolation, and a search (a desperate search at times) for their identities. Chaon manages to turn that almost clichéd pursuit (aren’t most novels about identity in some way or another?) into something unique and very contemporary. You’ll probably want to check your credit report before you even finish the book. The world of Await Your Reply, like the one of Chaon’s wonderful first novel, You Remind Me of Me, might have seemed overly dark, if it hadn’t seemed so real. Yes, someone has lost a hand on page one. There are Russian mobsters and a dusty, depressing old magic shop, too. But there are also moments when the clarity of Chaon’s writing gave me the chills. As the threads of the different characters began to come together, I was completely unable to put it down. I can’t say more, just read it, and then come in and tell me what you think. ~Lillian