Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

94 reviews

frogglin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The last time I read this I was probably about 20, and Evelyn's struggles with being in her 40s seemed a long way off. I definitely related more this time around as I'm about her age.

The jumping timeline can be confusing at times, but overall the past and "present" (late 1980s when the book was written) are clearly defined. The stark contrast of a nursing home compared to the warm community of Whistle Stop works well, and the sprawling cast of characters each bring their own flavour to the story.

It's a story that swings between gentle moments of community and tenderness and heart breaking  horrors of racism and violence. 

It's a shame the movie toned down the deep relationship between Idgie and Ruth, which is simply a marriage that never causes an issue or problem in the town. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Death and Domestic abuse

Minor: Terminal illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Child death, Grief, and Violence

pbraue13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Cannibalism

edwardinsane's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m really enjoyed this book! Some things to age well in regard to race. But overall I still really enjoyed the book.

I liked the end of the movie way more than in the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Child death, Sexism, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Body shaming

Minor: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Animal death

madnabox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I used CAWPILE (characters, atmosphere, writing, plot, intrigue, logic, and enjoyment) by Bookroast to get the star rating. This book is well written and it did make me nostalgic for simpler times. However, I cringed at the racism. It does jump around and that can be pretty confusing. But I've seen the movie so many times that it didn't bother me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Death

Minor: Cannibalism

morenowagain's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Sexism, Homophobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Police brutality, and Child death

robert_schreiner's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

zadam812's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Violence, and Physical abuse

booksillremember's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Came for the sapphic love story, stayed for the social commentary on racism, colourism, poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, sexism, diet culture, female friendship, aging, and the dying countryside. It's not as bleak as it sounds, it's hopeful and the characters are loveable.

This is NOT an easy read in 2024 - the main narrator is your typical white grandma who means well but can't finish a thought without throwing in some well-meaning casual racism, ableism, or poor mental health advice. In this sense, she is a VERY realistic character (and we have to remember she was born in 1899). The main story is set in 1930s-50s Alabama and many of the white characters are casually racist (but very liberal for their time). The message of the novel is anti-racist and I think the book does a good job at showing its complexity. I like how the black men and the homeless man get their own chapters (unfortunately, the female black characters don't).

I found the constant time jumps a bit tiring / confusing and I wish there was more POV from Idgie, Ruth and Sipsey (whose backstory and thoughts would have been really interesting).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence

Minor: Ableism

jazlynaw's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape

tessatea333's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Fatphobia