Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Deeply enjoyable. We follow multiple characters from youth till death, and see how their lives unfold. The tone is rather silly and doesn't take itself too seriously, but is still deeply moving. I think it holds the record of book that made me cry the fastest. I also laughed out loud multiple times, because it was just so surprising.

This book is also contains characters who are rather queer, anti-racist, and socialist for their time, considering it's set in 1930s USA.

THAT SAID, once again, this book crosses multiple very trying times in USA's history. It was also written in 1987. The language used in the book is not something we deem acceptable anymore, especially considering the ethnicity of the writer.

However, while there were some questionable portrayals of black stereotypes (a child with blue gums is expected to be a devil and in some ways lives up to it, as compared to a black chold with a fairer complexion), I found that every person was approached with a lot of nuance. It was very artfully done.

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rchristine11's review against another edition

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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.

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inthereads's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

while I thought the story in this book was told in a creative way (for example the way the story was told and the use of newspaper + recipe clippings in the text) I cannot fail to mention the use of the n-word and what seems to me like a white author using stereotypes to write her Black characters, which made me frustrated. If you're looking for a queer wlw book that uses media from the world in the book (such as recipes, newspaper articles, letters etc) then go read one last stop NOT this

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