Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Retro Chapter Chicks

Nov 12, 2016 Brina rated it really liked it

Shelves: southern

Over the course of this year I have branched out in my reading choices. I have discovered multiple genres that I previously had not read, one of which being southern literature. It is in this regard that I found the writing of Fannie Flagg. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe invites the reader to small town Alabama. Through Flagg's southern charm you feel as though you are a part of the town and its cast of characters. In this light that I rate this gem of a book 4.5 stars.

Fried Gree Over the course of this year I have branched out in my reading choices. I have discovered multiple genres that I previously had not read, one of which being southern literature. It is in this regard that I found the writing of Fannie Flagg. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe invites the reader to small town Alabama. Through Flagg's southern charm you feel as though you are a part of the town and its cast of characters. In this light that I rate this gem of a book 4.5 stars.

Fried Green Tomatoes is a movie starring Jessica Tandy as Ninny Threadgoode and Kathy Bates as Evelyn Couch although I have never been privileged to view the film; thus, the book is new material for me. Evelyn Couch is a middle aged empty nester who accompanies her husband Ed to visit his mother at a nursing home. Evelyn having no patience for these visits instead strikes up a conversation with Mrs Threadgoode, which develops over the course of the book into an intimate friendship like that of a mother and daughter. I enjoy hearing older people reminisce about their lives so Mrs Threadgoode instantly became a charming character for me, and I, like Evelyn, was happy to enter into her world.

Whistle Stop, Alabama is an almost defunct small town on the outskirts of Birmingham. Mrs Threadgoode, inherently knowing that she is enjoying the twilight of her life, takes Evelyn back to depression era Whistle Stop. She regales Evelyn with tales of her family, the Threadgoodes, and their colored friends, the Peaveys. In a time where people were struggling to make ends meet, the citizens of Whistle Stop appeared to enjoy life to the fullest, with the cafe being the center of their world. Whites, blacks, and people of all walks of life lived in relative harmony, epitomized by Idgie Threadgoode and her Dill Pickle Club who went off on one daring adventure after another. In no case was there a mention of poverty, and Evelyn is charmed by Mrs Threadgoode's stories.

Meanwhile, in present day, Mrs Threadgoode urges Evelyn to live her life to the fullest. Just because she has entered middle age does not mean that her life is over. Written during the 1980s era of the working woman, Evelyn is coached on to get a new lease on life, a new career, and enjoy the second half of her time on this earth. In an interview following the novel, Fannie Flagg points out that she prefers older characters because they have many layers to their lives and much advice to offer to younger generations. It is in this mind set that she made Mrs Threadgoode the central point of her novel.

Flagg touched on non traditional families, the 1930s modern woman, racism and the lack thereof all in one town. Like Evelyn, I was drawn in by the characters and the town of Whistle Stop and finished the novel over the course of one day because I could not get enough of Mrs Threadgoode's stories. Whistle Stop is a small town whose people make up the fabric of this country, and the Threadgoodes and their descendants are cogs who embody southern life. I enjoyed my trip through Whistle Town and am looking forward to reading more of Fannie Flagg's southern novels. ...more

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Sep 30, 2018 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, historical-fiction, love, library, friendship, southern-lit, concierge, strong-women, relationships, alabama

Abridged audiobook narrated by the author
Unabridged audio performed by Lorna Raver.

When Evelyn accompanies her husband to the nursing home to visit an ailing relative, she meets Mrs Threadgood. As their friendship progresses, Ninny tells Evelyn about Ruth and Idgie and the Whistle Stop Café, and the time Idgie was tried for murdering a man.

This is actually the third time I’ve read this book and I love just as much now as I did the first time. Flagg does a marvelous job of developing these charac ...more

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Jul 19, 2014 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, america, humour, mystery, contemporary, southern, 1980s, 1900s, made-into-a-movie

4 STARS (1994 review)

I loved the movie!!! I recorded it on VHS when I was in junior high and fell in love with this movie. I would watch it whenever it was playing on television. When I saw that it was based on a book, I had to read the novel, which was of course even better. Tragedy, humour and love are so well balanced in this novel. Another great southern author to add to my list.

4.5 STARS (2020 review)

The novel opens in contemporary 1980s, Birmingham, Alabama. Evelyn Couch begrudgingly goes 4 STARS (1994 review)

I loved the movie!!! I recorded it on VHS when I was in junior high and fell in love with this movie. I would watch it whenever it was playing on television. When I saw that it was based on a book, I had to read the novel, which was of course even better. Tragedy, humour and love are so well balanced in this novel. Another great southern author to add to my list.

4.5 STARS (2020 review)

The novel opens in contemporary 1980s, Birmingham, Alabama. Evelyn Couch begrudgingly goes with her husband to visit her mother-in-law, who resides in Rose Terrace Nursing Home. Her mother-in-law does not really want her there, but expects her to come. After asking Mother Couch how she is, Evelyn goes to the waiting room and comforts herself with junk food. There she meet Ninny (Virginia) Threadgoode, a very chatty endearing elder woman. Ninny is there to be with her long time friend and neighbour, and there starts the stories of Whistle Stop and the townspeople. She specifically loves chattering about her family the Threadgoodes. At first, Evelyn tolerates the chatty lady, but soon she is drawn into Ninny's colourful stories just like the reader is.

This is my second reading of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, about twenty-one years apart, and I still love it. I was fourteen or fifteen when I first read the novel, soon after watching the movie. At that time the 1980s were not that far off. Reading it at age 39, it definitely has more of a quaint feeling, that doesn't take away from the story, but rather enhances it. I have read all but one of Fannie Flagg's novels (I always keep one to the side when I need a fix) and have loved almost each one. Flagg has this great writing talent that balances humour and drama in this way that drags you into the story. You immerse yourself in the small towns, with the quirky lively characters. I will probably end up rereading every one of her novels as it's comfort read and one that I just have to revisit. This novel feels like a classic that everyone should read. I was lucky enough to read it this time with some great friends. When a friend reads a book that means the world to you, and loves it to, well that just adds to your friendship. While I enjoyed the historical components of the novel, I also really liked Evelyn's storyline. She is a "middle age woman" (40-something, now that I am edging towards it does not seem middle age, lol) who has sort of started to give up on herself. She has some sparks of motivation, but when she meets Ninny, she starts to take more risks. Unfortunately, they don't always work for the better. I like that she is a realistic character and that for the movie they picked Kathy Bates who just played her so well. I could go on and on about this one...and will eventually spoil some stuff...all I have left to say is, this is a must read for book clubs, book groups online and anyone who has not read it. ...more

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May 28, 2020 debbicat *made of stardust* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spring-challenge-2020, alabama, apocolypse-read-2020, 2020

I just loved this! Review to follow!
Book with movie tie-in on my spring challenge in Retro Chapter Chicks.
I can't wait to read the sequel coming out.
I saw the movie years ago...I was afraid that would ruin the book for me but it didn't. Not one bit!
Highly recommended! ...more

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