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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
I love the movie, I struggled to get through the book.
I was ok with the fact that the story jumps from the 80's to the 30's & back, but nothing is chronological & it makes the story very confusing to follow. I was constantly flipping back to try to get dates to be in some kind of order in my head.
I also felt there were long side stories of characters that weren't that important & didn't really progress the overall story.
What was the point of following Artis to Chicago at all?
He's not the only one.
This book could have easily been 150 pages shorter & not missed anything.
I enjoyed it as much as I could. The main cast were endearing, like they are in the movie.
The book was ok, but I would never pick it up to read again & I would never recommend it.
I was ok with the fact that the story jumps from the 80's to the 30's & back, but nothing is chronological & it makes the story very confusing to follow. I was constantly flipping back to try to get dates to be in some kind of order in my head.
I also felt there were long side stories of characters that weren't that important & didn't really progress the overall story.
What was the point of following Artis to Chicago at all?
He's not the only one.
This book could have easily been 150 pages shorter & not missed anything.
I enjoyed it as much as I could. The main cast were endearing, like they are in the movie.
The book was ok, but I would never pick it up to read again & I would never recommend it.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
The movie is my favorite so I had to read the book.
Spoiler: the movie and the book are vastly different in several areas.
What the book did well: Idgie and Ruth's love was more clearly defined. They're partners, in business and in love. They love each other, raise Buddy Jr together, and live together. It's truly beautiful in its unspokenness but I also wish there was more. It was also nice to read something that feels like a time capsule for 2 different eras of society in America, and that was interesting. I think I really like that the 20-40's were around when my great-grandmother was growing up, and the 60s-80s were when my grandma and her siblings were growing up. & The end made me cry multiple times!
What the book did not do well: I read the n-word way too many times. I really didn't love how black people were portrayed at times in this book either. The writer clearly is commenting on social injustice and does it in some ways that do work, but I felt some of the language and contexts overshadowed the message sometimes.
I have to say, I appreciate how the director of the movie stuck to the important parts of the book and kind of crafted an Idgie I had imagined. Doesn't say the n-word, does right by all, is loving and rambunctious and loyal. The movie is really a lot of the necessary bits of the book with a great flow. And I'm glad the director let Ninny and Evelyn have a longer friendship and that she didn't die.
Spoiler: the movie and the book are vastly different in several areas.
What the book did well: Idgie and Ruth's love was more clearly defined. They're partners, in business and in love. They love each other, raise Buddy Jr together, and live together. It's truly beautiful in its unspokenness but I also wish there was more. It was also nice to read something that feels like a time capsule for 2 different eras of society in America, and that was interesting. I think I really like that the 20-40's were around when my great-grandmother was growing up, and the 60s-80s were when my grandma and her siblings were growing up. & The end made me cry multiple times!
What the book did not do well: I read the n-word way too many times. I really didn't love how black people were portrayed at times in this book either. The writer clearly is commenting on social injustice and does it in some ways that do work, but I felt some of the language and contexts overshadowed the message sometimes.
I have to say, I appreciate how the director of the movie stuck to the important parts of the book and kind of crafted an Idgie I had imagined. Doesn't say the n-word, does right by all, is loving and rambunctious and loyal. The movie is really a lot of the necessary bits of the book with a great flow. And I'm glad the director let Ninny and Evelyn have a longer friendship and that she didn't die.
While this book does hold some charm, it is most definitely not a good one to read. The most glaringly obvious issue is the depiction of black people through the several narratives. From one white woman wishing she was black because they’re “freer in spirit” to the downright bizarre depictions of black southern life (as written by a white woman). There’s a sheriff who is also in the Klan, but is also really good friends with the main characters and the black people in town. And everyone thinks that him being in the Klan is just a silly little character flaw.
Then there was the part dealing with a child’s sexuality. That was super uncomfortable. First they made it seem like him being gay was a disorder or something. Then they take him to a prostitute to lose his virginity because he spends too much time with his friends and not enough time with girls. All while being in high school.
Is this supposed to be quaint and charming? Is this just small town Americana?
I say a lot of it is lazy writing that dips too heavily in stereotypes and stock characters.
This book can go out of print. I don’t think anyone needs to read it. It says nothing new and feels super regressive.
Then there was the part dealing with a child’s sexuality. That was super uncomfortable. First they made it seem like him being gay was a disorder or something. Then they take him to a prostitute to lose his virginity because he spends too much time with his friends and not enough time with girls. All while being in high school.
Is this supposed to be quaint and charming? Is this just small town Americana?
I say a lot of it is lazy writing that dips too heavily in stereotypes and stock characters.
This book can go out of print. I don’t think anyone needs to read it. It says nothing new and feels super regressive.
i read this in high school, and i don't think if i read it now it would have the same effect on me. still, i'm giving it four stars for the book it was then, not the book it may be now.
I feel like I could read this book several times, each time spaced a few years apart. Just a wonderful book
