Reviews - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

What I wanted to know was whether the book called them out as lesbian lovers, which the movie did not. I'm not going to tell you the answer, but I was satisfied. It was better then the movie, much more about the character of Evelyn. My weakness for southern writers surfaces again.

blinkedwards's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

emma_hensley's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

5.0

egg_man's review against another edition

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dark emotional relaxing 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

3.5

cathi77's review against another edition

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2.0

Years ago I watched the movie, I don't remember much but I do remember that I enjoyed it. I thought i would love the book as I usually enjoy them more than the movie but it was not the case.

I loved Evelyn and Ninnys relationship and learning about the Threadgoodes but that was about all I loved.
I found the jumping around years very confusing as you were never sure were in the timeline it fitted it. I didn't find the point of Dot Weems because she was essentially repeating what either Evelyn and Ninny were talking about and then you were taken back into the timeline to when it did happen. A lot of repetition.

trudesreads's review against another edition

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4.0

For the nostalgia lovers out there... The structure of this being like listening to someone tell their life stories in little bits and pieces, all of it building out this world in your head and feeling almost like you could reach out and touch it was really quite something. It is very readable and light in the small chapters and vignette storytelling, but also lends itself to these almost shocking stings of melancholy — chapters end as abruptly and without song as lives do.

Thought Evelyn having this rebirth by being exposed to the bravery, humour and love of people she had never even met was moving, and it's understandable because the characters (Ruth and Sipsey in particular, imo) are incredibly endearing even though you really don't get to dig into them or spend too much time with them.

I had watched the movie which I remember being quite different but I did like its approach to more Ruth and Idgie focus (even if it avoided explicit romance), but this book is a bit more honest. The matter of fact-ness was quite refreshing.

I think we all live our lives quite scared of time's passing and the fact these big moments in them can ultimately be blink and it's gone. Fried Green Tomatoes doesn't deny the dark humour, sadness, and mourning of memory that naturally occurs as the best moments of our lives pass us by, but it also approaches these things with an appreciation and positive response that didn't make the whole outing a downer

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