Reviews with content warning for Violence - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

17 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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pbraue13's review against another edition

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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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morenowagain's review

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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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zadam812's review against another edition

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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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booksillremember's review against another edition

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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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