The Completion Date

So I got my book in the mail yesterday! I started reading it and got through about 35 pages. The book is 450 pages long - I think we should extend our deadline and try to be finished by the last day in February. Any objection?

DUE DATE: FEBRUARY 28

Also, we should choose our next book by February 21 so we can find a copy with in the week. Who wants to choose?!

The Help

The first book of the book club is The Help, unless anyone has already read it or is not interested. I wanted to read this book when I read a blog post on "A Cup of Jo" where she asked her readers to give her a new read. Out of 297 responses, it seemed like half of them suggested this book. It makes me think it must be a good read!

I found this book on amazon for $9.50 - -
http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel (and maiden publication of Amy Einhorn's new imprint) set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it.
What should our "read by" timeline be?