Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (1987)

I loved this novel when I first read it; I still do. I think Fannie Flagg really nails time and place and character, and the story she wove had me begging to buy into it. Plus there’s the added bonus of recipes in the back matter. I’ve tried some. The fried chicken in milk gravy was a little rich for my liking. Although the film differs somewhat from the book, I have to admit that I also loved the film – which just goes to show that not all adaptations turn out badly. ( )

Finished it last night February 3rd 2009 and I agree with the review of Nathalie a lot. The way this book was written annoyed me. lots of time you get spoiled for the important things that happened in this book and I like flashbacks but there were too many of those. It just did not have a nice flow to it.
never watched the movie but want to one day. ( )

Well-written, clever, funny...includes recipes! ( )

I've wanted to read this book for years, ever since watching the film long ago. I've always enjoyed books written with chapters alternately between characters and Idgie and all of the others are unique enough to make the story believable. A very fun read. ( )

If you’re in the mood for an easy-readin’, page-turnin’, charming tearjerker of a book, then I’d recommend Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe as just the thing for what ails you. It’s a marvelous story and it’s put together well; it’s also one of those books that makes you stop and think. Stop and think, for one thing, about how our society has declined in many ways, with its current nastiness and brashness. The former folksiness and simple sincerity are missed in many ways, I’m sure. And despite the godawful racism that people had to endure seventy, eighty, and ninety years ago, it seems there were so many other things that were so much better than they are now. For starters, people gave a darn about others and took care of their neighbors in a way that is not seen in this day and age. You really see that selflessness come out in this book.

There are slipups and implausibilities here and there with some of the dates being off a year or two (and in one case, ten). I found myself wondering if this carelessness should be blamed on the author, the editor, or the typesetter. (My vote goes for the typesetter. Bad typesetter.) In any event, this book is just not a four-and-a-half- or a five-star novel in my world. But it is well worth the time if you’d like to experience an easygoing, yet captivating read. ( )