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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
I really wanted to read this after seeing the movie.
Things I liked:
- I love the author's writing style. She draws you in and you really feel like you are in the town with the characters.
- Great character depth and development.
- Funny and unique plot.
Things I liked:
- I love the author's writing style. She draws you in and you really feel like you are in the town with the characters.
- Great character depth and development.
- Funny and unique plot.
Este es y será siempre uno de mis libros favoritos, en el que podemos encontrar amistad, lealtad, amor entre mujeres y heterosexuales, racismo, religión, aprendizaje, etc
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
I’ve watched the movie many times and it’s so different from the book. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I like the movie better.
I liked that in the movie, there was some mystery and room for interpretation about Ruth and Idgie’s relationship. They could have been best friends, lovers, or a mix of both. In the book, it makes it clear their relationship is romantic. Nothing wrong with that, but I really liked the movie portrayal of their relationship so much more.
Another big difference is the character Ninny/Mrs. Threadgoode. In the movie it seems like Mrs. Threadgoode is Idgie. I loved that. I always assumed Mrs. Threadgoode was lying about marrying Cleo because how could she know so much intimate detail about Ruth and Idgie’s time together if she wasn’t there herself?
The other difference with Mrs. Threadgoode is that in the movie it seems like she is telling Evelyn every detail. While in the book Mrs. Threadgoode is telling Evelyn what happened, she doesn’t come across as the narrator. For example, whenever the book is depicting a scene from the past, it’s always told from an unknown 3rd person perspective. But the movie goes directly back and forth from scenes in the past to Mrs. Threadgoode talking with Evelyn, as if she’s relating events she personally saw.
Something else that really stands out to me is how the book and movie handle Towanda. In the book Towanda is a symbol of negativity and women losing their minds. The movie portrays Towanda as a symbol of female power, with a splash of crazy. I much prefer Towanda as a symbol empowering women to be strong, wild, and outspoken like Idgie was.
One last thing I want to mention is that the book has a stronger focus on life in the South. It’s clear that this was really important for the author to get across. The book paints a good picture of life and relationships in the south, for both white and black people.
The book also gives more details on all the characters, many not mentioned in the movie, which is normally good, but in this case I think it makes the book weaker. Since the movie is all about Ruth and Idgie, it really drives home that it was Ruth, Idgie, and Mrs. Threadgoode that changed Evelyn’s life. It made the story of Ruth and Idgie more powerful.
So my final thought on the book is that it’s good, but it didn’t capture my heart like the movie did. I really wonder what I would rate this book if I hadn’t fallen in love with the movie first.
I liked that in the movie, there was some mystery and room for interpretation about Ruth and Idgie’s relationship. They could have been best friends, lovers, or a mix of both. In the book, it makes it clear their relationship is romantic. Nothing wrong with that, but I really liked the movie portrayal of their relationship so much more.
Another big difference is the character Ninny/Mrs. Threadgoode. In the movie it seems like Mrs. Threadgoode is Idgie. I loved that. I always assumed Mrs. Threadgoode was lying about marrying Cleo because how could she know so much intimate detail about Ruth and Idgie’s time together if she wasn’t there herself?
The other difference with Mrs. Threadgoode is that in the movie it seems like she is telling Evelyn every detail. While in the book Mrs. Threadgoode is telling Evelyn what happened, she doesn’t come across as the narrator. For example, whenever the book is depicting a scene from the past, it’s always told from an unknown 3rd person perspective. But the movie goes directly back and forth from scenes in the past to Mrs. Threadgoode talking with Evelyn, as if she’s relating events she personally saw.
Something else that really stands out to me is how the book and movie handle Towanda. In the book Towanda is a symbol of negativity and women losing their minds. The movie portrays Towanda as a symbol of female power, with a splash of crazy. I much prefer Towanda as a symbol empowering women to be strong, wild, and outspoken like Idgie was.
One last thing I want to mention is that the book has a stronger focus on life in the South. It’s clear that this was really important for the author to get across. The book paints a good picture of life and relationships in the south, for both white and black people.
The book also gives more details on all the characters, many not mentioned in the movie, which is normally good, but in this case I think it makes the book weaker. Since the movie is all about Ruth and Idgie, it really drives home that it was Ruth, Idgie, and Mrs. Threadgoode that changed Evelyn’s life. It made the story of Ruth and Idgie more powerful.
So my final thought on the book is that it’s good, but it didn’t capture my heart like the movie did. I really wonder what I would rate this book if I hadn’t fallen in love with the movie first.
DNF 61%
Book content warnings:
Ableism, alcoholism, fat shaming (possible ED?), cancer, vivid suicidal ideations, a grand variety of racism, domestic abuse, abuse, rape, attempted rape, murder
Book content warnings:
Ableism, alcoholism, fat shaming (possible ED?), cancer, vivid suicidal ideations, a grand variety of racism, domestic abuse, abuse, rape, attempted rape, murder
Fannie Flagg does a wonderful job of creating characters that you fall in love with from the minute they’re introduced. Sipsey, Big George and Stump were fantastic and I loved the fact the book jumps from different timelines. The Weems Weekly segments are an excellent piece of story telling that make you feel much more a part of the environment she has created. Would highly recommend.
The reason I’ve given 4 star and not 5 is for two reasons:
(1) I struggled with Idgie for large portions of the book. Whilst for the most part she was a good character, some of her actions were strange and didn’t feel like they would be tolerated by a real word spouse. I didn’t care for the big reveal near the end regarding the train either…
(2) The elephant in the room is the use of racial language. I understand it’s “of it’s time” and southern America was an inherently racist place in the 30s; but at times it felt a bit much. Replacing ‘sir’ with ‘suh’ and other stylistic choices made me a bit uncomfortable. I also got a lot of white saviour vibes.
I would recommend the book, it’s one of the best books I’ve read to date and, the racial aspects aside, Fannie Flagg has created a fantastic world that makes you crave to be apart of the Whistle Stop community.
G
The reason I’ve given 4 star and not 5 is for two reasons:
(1) I struggled with Idgie for large portions of the book. Whilst for the most part she was a good character, some of her actions were strange and didn’t feel like they would be tolerated by a real word spouse. I didn’t care for the big reveal near the end regarding the train either…
(2) The elephant in the room is the use of racial language. I understand it’s “of it’s time” and southern America was an inherently racist place in the 30s; but at times it felt a bit much. Replacing ‘sir’ with ‘suh’ and other stylistic choices made me a bit uncomfortable. I also got a lot of white saviour vibes.
I would recommend the book, it’s one of the best books I’ve read to date and, the racial aspects aside, Fannie Flagg has created a fantastic world that makes you crave to be apart of the Whistle Stop community.
G
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Weird but gripping tale!
This was categorized as a murder-mystery when I found it. Do not read it expecting a murder-mystery!
It was a gripping novel with lovable characters and weird misandrous undertones. Almost all the male characters were trash and a lot of the language is- weird. Would be neat to go back and analyze more deeply.
Enjoyable, but not a murder-mystery. Fun for anybody who loves hearing the stories older people like to tell.
This was categorized as a murder-mystery when I found it. Do not read it expecting a murder-mystery!
It was a gripping novel with lovable characters and weird misandrous undertones. Almost all the male characters were trash and a lot of the language is- weird. Would be neat to go back and analyze more deeply.
Enjoyable, but not a murder-mystery. Fun for anybody who loves hearing the stories older people like to tell.
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes