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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Some of the themes and language are problematic by today’s standards but it seemed fairly progressive for the time it was set in and published in. Couldn’t help but adore the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking
Minor: Dementia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Love it. Couldn't put it down. Love life and people in the deep south, Alabama. Akin to 'To kill a Mockingbird'. Looking forward to the sequel.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
The story takes place mainly in Whistle Stop, Alabama, one of the small rural towns that the railroad line passes through which lends the name to the cafe, owned by two women who share a unique bond. It takes a deal of research to create the atmosphere of the rural south during the 1920's onward as the inhabitants were separated by prejudices and the author has been effective in her writing of this work. We begin in a Nursing Home, where an elderly lady (who loves to gab and reminisce about days gone by) and a middle aged woman (who wonders what she is supposed to do next now that her family is raised and feels rather useless but compensates by eating), start a friendship that goes on for several months meeting one day a week. The women through their weekly meetings not only fill the voids missing in their lives but also offer “hope”. I really enjoyed the writing going back in forth in time, the characters created to fit into the different time periods, even the occasional news letter written by the post mistress of Whistle Stop and her husbands exploits which are very entertaining. If you've ever seen the movie by the same name, the basic story is there with minor changes, which is usual when the screenwriter's make it palatable as a visual. Highly recommend.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No