Reviews - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

3.44k reviews for:

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Fannie Flagg

4.14 AVERAGE

piratenami's review against another edition

3.0

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The framing story for this novel begins in the late 1980s, with a woman, Mrs. Evelyn Couch. She in her late 40s and is visiting a nursing home with her husband, who is their to see his mother, when she sneaks off to have a snack. There she encounters Mrs. Ninny Threadgoode, who is in her late 80s. Mrs. Threadgoode just starts talking, telling Evelyn stories about her life, and Evelyn, who is reluctant at first, soon becomes enamored of the old woman and her stories, and the two of them become friends. The novel interweaves flashback sections of Ninny's memories with Evelyn current-day life, including menopause, feeling unsatisfied in her life, and struggles with her weight.

The flashback portions of the book begin in the 1930s in Ninny's hometown of Whistle Stop, Alabama, once home to the titular Whistle Stop Cafe, which was run by her sister-in-law, Idgie, and Idgie's lifelong companion, Ruth. (The word lesbian is never used, but it is heavily implied.)

We hear about Ninny's young life, and in general about the Threadgoode family, which included lots of kids, as well as tales of their black housekeeper, Sipsey and her family, whose lives were deeply entwined with the Threadgoode family's. In general, the anecdotes are told with a light-hearted voice with the occasional very quotable passage. There is racism in line with the time period, including frequent use the n-word and appearances by the KKK.

Overall, I thought this was fine, and I don't regret reading it, but it didn't blow me away.

madisongrace17's review against another edition

5.0

Such an amazing heartfelt book😭😭😭. But I do wish Ruth & Idgie’s relationship had been fleshed out more. Poor Smokey & Artis. The passage of time is the saddest thing about this book. Evelyn felt so real.