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A review by shieldbearer
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
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