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booksillremember's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Came for the sapphic love story, stayed for the social commentary on racism, colourism, poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, sexism, diet culture, female friendship, aging, and the dying countryside. It's not as bleak as it sounds, it's hopeful and the characters are loveable.
This is NOT an easy read in 2024 - the main narrator is your typical white grandma who means well but can't finish a thought without throwing in some well-meaning casual racism, ableism, or poor mental health advice. In this sense, she is a VERY realistic character (and we have to remember she was born in 1899). The main story is set in 1930s-50s Alabama and many of the white characters are casually racist (but very liberal for their time). The message of the novel is anti-racist and I think the book does a good job at showing its complexity. I like how the black men and the homeless man get their own chapters (unfortunately, the female black characters don't).
I found the constant time jumps a bit tiring / confusing and I wish there was more POV from Idgie, Ruth and Sipsey (whose backstory and thoughts would have been really interesting).
This is NOT an easy read in 2024 - the main narrator is your typical white grandma who means well but can't finish a thought without throwing in some well-meaning casual racism, ableism, or poor mental health advice. In this sense, she is a VERY realistic character (and we have to remember she was born in 1899). The main story is set in 1930s-50s Alabama and many of the white characters are casually racist (but very liberal for their time). The message of the novel is anti-racist and I think the book does a good job at showing its complexity. I like how the black men and the homeless man get their own chapters (unfortunately, the female black characters don't).
I found the constant time jumps a bit tiring / confusing and I wish there was more POV from Idgie, Ruth and Sipsey (whose backstory and thoughts would have been really interesting).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Ableism
kochi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Fatphobia, Child death, Death, Ableism, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, and Racism
chaoticmissadventures's review against another edition
2.0
Well. I don't get it. This is so racist, passed off as trying to be progressive. But the Black characters are all extremely cartoonish. The repeated use of the N- word was just gross. Add in the random use of the R- slur which felt very whiplash every time it was used.
The brothers, on lighter skinned then the other, and then the darker skinned one is a drinker who is arrested over and over while the lighter skinned brother is a god fearing, churchgoing do-gooder who never gets in trouble. Gross.
I remember liking the movie, I am going to try watching it and this may be one of those rare stories that is better as a film. I appreciate the story of Ruth and Idgie and wish the story was more about that. Instead of whatever the author was trying to prove about how modern she is in her views on racism, that just ended up with a very racist book.
The brothers, on lighter skinned then the other, and then the darker skinned one is a drinker who is arrested over and over while the lighter skinned brother is a god fearing, churchgoing do-gooder who never gets in trouble. Gross.
I remember liking the movie, I am going to try watching it and this may be one of those rare stories that is better as a film. I appreciate the story of Ruth and Idgie and wish the story was more about that. Instead of whatever the author was trying to prove about how modern she is in her views on racism, that just ended up with a very racist book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Ableism
Beware of excessive use of slurs (Particularly the N and R words)shieldbearer's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Ok, so i can see why this book is a classic and why it's so beloved. However, even the setting and time this book is supposedly taking place doesn't excuse the way the race angle is so often framed. Why are the dark skinned Black men the one who are always getting in trouble?
And the angle with the Klu Klux Klan just feels so. performative. We're supposed to cheer for Idgie to standing up to the KKK, and while yes, of course this is a noble thing, the narrative also sees no issue with her continuing to associate with Grady- who, of course, is a KKK member who happens to be also in her special club of do-gooders with another Black character. Grady is A Good KKK Member! He Wouldn't Try To Intimidate Idgie!
This does not touch on the sheer cowardice behind the narrative decision to make the KKK members who confront Idgie over her choice to allow the business of Black patrons (from the back door, of course) at her diner not her friends and peers, but rather total strangers who she doesn't know. There were many, many red flags I ignored to get to the halfway point, but that's the point I finally called it quits on this book. Idgie stands up to strangers who are racist, but she'll break bread with a racist who is ALSO a KKK member who asked her to stop serving the Black railworkers and call him a close friend, and the narrative sees no reason to question this. Nor does it see a problem with outting a Black woman in Idgie's Special Club with a KKK member and it never feels the need to examine how she might feel about this. The narrative simply doesn't care for the perspectives and agency of the Black characters.
I don't care if this is a gay classic, the racism, colorism, and white saviorism just isn't worth it. This doesn't touch on the infantilization or villification of nearly every disabled character, either.
And the angle with the Klu Klux Klan just feels so. performative. We're supposed to cheer for Idgie to standing up to the KKK, and while yes, of course this is a noble thing, the narrative also sees no issue with her continuing to associate with Grady- who, of course, is a KKK member who happens to be also in her special club of do-gooders with another Black character. Grady is A Good KKK Member! He Wouldn't Try To Intimidate Idgie!
This does not touch on the sheer cowardice behind the narrative decision to make the KKK members who confront Idgie over her choice to allow the business of Black patrons (from the back door, of course) at her diner not her friends and peers, but rather total strangers who she doesn't know. There were many, many red flags I ignored to get to the halfway point, but that's the point I finally called it quits on this book. Idgie stands up to strangers who are racist, but she'll break bread with a racist who is ALSO a KKK member who asked her to stop serving the Black railworkers and call him a close friend, and the narrative sees no reason to question this. Nor does it see a problem with outting a Black woman in Idgie's Special Club with a KKK member and it never feels the need to examine how she might feel about this. The narrative simply doesn't care for the perspectives and agency of the Black characters.
I don't care if this is a gay classic, the racism, colorism, and white saviorism just isn't worth it. This doesn't touch on the infantilization or villification of nearly every disabled character, either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Rape
gretag's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Racial slurs, Ableism, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness
chloenfp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Cannibalism, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Physical abuse, and Slavery
pancake_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Ableism, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
rchristine11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This was a great book. I knew very little about it going into it, and was pleasantly surprised at the sapphic relationship. This book is an adult novel and no character is without fault or flaw. The book is reflective and nuanced. It is told nonlinearly and touches on themes of sexism, aging, racism, abelism, colorism, domestic violence, euthanasia, non traditional family units, coming of age, and poverty. The book uses slurs continuously throughout. It’s not for everyone, and could easily offend. I usually stay in the fantasy/sci-fi/horror genres, but I ventured out for this one and I’m glad I did. I absolutely love a nonlinear story with multiple narrators. Sometimes it was an omniscient narrator, other times we are listening to ninny reminisce, or reading the weekly bulletin and the book jumps between decades, cities, and characters quickly. I really enjoy that narration style in a book. It takes a great writer to pull all that together to create a coherent story.
I’ve read a lot of critiques of the novel since finishing it and I think many of them miss the point of reading an adult novel (as opposed to children or YA lit). They mention the problematic nature of Idgie and Stumps relationship or the character Grady being likable while also being a KKK member. People point to colorism and racism and abelism displayed by the main characters. I feel like each criticism is saying “the narrative portrayed something bad and, because it wasn’t called out as such in the narrative, the book itself is promoting harmful ideas.” To which my response would be that this is a book for adults. As adults, we don’t need to be told when something is bad. This type of narrative style allows readers to engage critically with the issues presented and form their own nuanced opinions.
This is not an easy read. It’s challenging, slow, and reflective. But it is a good book regardless and is full of hope.
I’ve read a lot of critiques of the novel since finishing it and I think many of them miss the point of reading an adult novel (as opposed to children or YA lit). They mention the problematic nature of Idgie and Stumps relationship or the character Grady being likable while also being a KKK member. People point to colorism and racism and abelism displayed by the main characters. I feel like each criticism is saying “the narrative portrayed something bad and, because it wasn’t called out as such in the narrative, the book itself is promoting harmful ideas.” To which my response would be that this is a book for adults. As adults, we don’t need to be told when something is bad. This type of narrative style allows readers to engage critically with the issues presented and form their own nuanced opinions.
This is not an easy read. It’s challenging, slow, and reflective. But it is a good book regardless and is full of hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cancer, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While it was an easy and quick read, I cannot really put aside all the negative aspects I found in the book.
Got tired really quickly of all the uses of the n-word and the general "white savioury" vibe (I get that society at the time was racist and you cannot erase that but the author didn't realy need to go so hard on this trope), and I couldn't really stand the racism that still permeated the more recent story line. Also, like some other reviews mentioned, I find really unbelivable that in such a society (Alabama in the 30s) people would be so very much racist but at the same time be so cool about queer characters and not once say anything about the main relationship; I really cannot buy it. Not really a fan also of black characters being depicted in quite a stereotypical and one-dimensional way.
Moreover, I found the character of Evelyn to be all over the place and I also really really did not enjoy the fatphobia in her storyline, thank you but no.
Got tired really quickly of all the uses of the n-word and the general "white savioury" vibe (I get that society at the time was racist and you cannot erase that but the author didn't realy need to go so hard on this trope), and I couldn't really stand the racism that still permeated the more recent story line. Also, like some other reviews mentioned, I find really unbelivable that in such a society (Alabama in the 30s) people would be so very much racist but at the same time be so cool about queer characters and not once say anything about the main relationship; I really cannot buy it. Not really a fan also of black characters being depicted in quite a stereotypical and one-dimensional way.
Moreover, I found the character of Evelyn to be all over the place and I also really really did not enjoy the fatphobia in her storyline, thank you but no.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Rape, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Death, and Cancer
Minor: Ableism, Pedophilia, Murder, Cannibalism, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
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