Rating: 
Summary: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Review: (394 pages)- Book Description: Evelyn Couch visits the Rose Terrace Nursing Home to hear tales from and 86 year old woman, Virginia "Ninny" Threadgoode. Mrs. Threadgoode grew up in Whistle Stop, a small, railroad town. The story of Idgie Threadgoode's life is told from Ninny's stories, Dot Weem's newspapers, and first hand accounts told from the time they happened. Idgie, a tom boy, grew up as the pet of her oldest brother Buddy Threadgoode, the town's sweetheart. After Buddy's untimely death, no one could console the torn up little Idgie. Only Big George, son of the Threadgoode's maid, could come near her. That was until Idgie fell in love with Ruth Jamison, a Reverend's daughter from Valdosta, Georgia. The story unfolds as Ruth and Idgie grow together and open a cafe in their town. Conflicts arise throughout the novel, including when a man formally Ruth's husband, Frank Bennett, comes up missing.Review: Fried Green Tomatoes at theWhistle Stop Cafe is a beautiful depiction of the South from the 1930s to present and has an interesting, thought-provoking story. The short chapters make this book very easy to read and quick to understand. Chronological order was apparently thrown out when Flagg began. Concentration and memory prove important as the book jumps from year to year and from place to place. The story line and characters provoke the reader to be enthralled and amused. The time jumps keep one wondering and guessing as the book goes on. This novel deals with death, racism, the importance of every human life, and the kindness in many people's souls. Flagg did a wonderful job of playing out these character's lives. -Kailyn Derck
Rating:
Summary: Southern Comfort!
Review: Although I saw the movie based on this book several times, its only now 15 years after the book was published that I finally decided to read it. And now that I have gulped down the pages, I'm wondering what took me so long to read this book and envelop myself with this delightful book filled wth Southern charm. And while its also safe to say that many readers and movie viewers are now familair with the storis about Idgie, Ruth, Ninnny and Evelyn, rarely does a book today offer such wonderful and endearing characters as does this book. Add to that a plot which has you racing to the last page and sighing when you close the book. While describing a friendship between two women some 60 years before and a present day relationship between a nursing home resident and her loyal visitor, the reader is set off on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Dealing with subjects as far reaching as women's liberation, homosexual relationships, rights of minority groups and growing old, Fannie Flagg never fails to enitce her readers and allow then to view a slice of American life now sadly gone. It may have taken me all of this time to finally read a book by Fannie Flagg, but if her other titles are nearly as good as this one, I surely will be in reader's heaven. I recently purchased Welcome to the World, Baby Girl which I'm saving for the proverbial rainy day. I have a feeling it may be coming soon.
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Summary: Deceptively Simple Story Packs A Southern-Fried Punch
Review: Fannie Flagg's heartwarming stories never fail to entertain, and the characters in this one are some of the most endearing ones in all of Southern lit. The deceptively simple story is told in a witty and light-hearted manner, but delves into such emotionally-charged issues as lesbian relationships, the treatment of minorities, the problems of aging and more in an unforgettable narrative.
The story moves effortlessly between two time frames. The first story begins in the 1920's and centers on Idgie Threadgoode, a female Huck Finn, and her friend Ruth Jamison. Together, they own and operate the cafe which is the center of small-town life in Whistle Stop, Alabama.
The second story begins in 1985 when Evelyn Couch meets Ninny Threadgoode, the now-elderly sister-in-law of Idgie, at the Rose Terrace Nursing Home in Birmingham.
The two stories unfold in a light-hearted, folksy way that puts you into the lives of these poignant charaters and has you longing for the neighborly friendliness of a time long past. Evelyn is, in fact, so touched by Ninny's recollections that she is finally able to take control of her own life through the often hilarious and always inspiring life of Idgie.
For a feel-good read where the inherent goodness of people causes them to carry on through good times and bad, I highly recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Tales from the South
Review: Flagg has to be one of my favorite writers. For those who've been living under a rock and haven't seen or heard of FGT the movie, run, don't walk, to your nearest video store. Then buy the book, for the written word in Flagg's little hands is even more powerful. If you enjoyed books such as her WELCOME TO THE WORLD or Jackson McCrae's THE CHILDREN'S CORNER, then you'll completely devour this Southern classic. Five stars are not enough.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely great
Review: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe has been a favorite movie for many years. Earlier this year I finally got around to read the book as well, and was not disappointed at all. The story is similar, of course, to the movie, but the book gives lots of moving, touching and funny details which are lost in the movie.
Evelyn is a sad middleaged woman, who feels her life is empty and dull, and she is not impressed at first when she meets the old Ninny in a nursing home. Ninny starts telling Evelyn about her life in a small rural Southern town, and while Evelyn does not care at first, she soon becomes interested in all the people Ninny tells her about.
The story goes back and forth in time, from the early 1930'es to our day. We hear about the friendship between two very strong women, Idgie and Ruth, and all the people they know in the little town Whistlestop. Idgie and Ruth owns the town cafe, and more than once it is subtly hinted that they have a [...] relationship. A detail, by the way, left out of the movie.
The story also touches and deals with other subjects like slavery, racism, poverty but also love, faith, friendship.
It is a wonderful history that will make you both laugh and cry, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Rating: 
Summary: Great characters, but rather unbelievable on certain points
Review: I loved this story and the characters. I enjoyed seeing Evelyn grow and change and 'find herself.' I did think that the whole notion of everyone in a small town in the deep South in the 30's having no problem with two women living together in an unabashedly lesbian relationship was very unrealistic. I don't think you could expect that reaction even today! I wish that our world were as perfect as Whistle Stop.
Overall, a great read and I'm looking forward to trying out the recipes!
Rating:
Summary: Her best---and that's pretty darn good
Review: I saw this movie first, and liked it. Liking the movie usually means checking to see if it was based on a book (and not vice versa) and then deciding whether or not I liked the movie enough to actually read the book. In this case, I did, and don't regret it a bit. This was a very engaging story. Very similar to the movie, but as with all books (and as they should be), more detailed, and more intriguing. The style hooked me immediately, and the story stayed with me even when I couldn't continue reading it. I only read during work breaks so there was a lot of time between, and I looked forward to every break even more because I couldn't wait to continue the story. That's the mark of a great book for me. It's an endearing tale, and if you liked the movie, you'll love the book. Definitely worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming
Review: One of my favorite novels of small-town America in the South, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is the story of the friendship between Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Bennett. Covering a period of time of about sixty years, the story is told through the eyes of Evelyn Threadgoode to a middle-aged housewife in the 1980s.
Whistle Stop, Alabama, 1920s: suffering from the loss of her older brother, Buddy, tomboy Idgie goes into reclusive hiding. When Ruth Bennett comes into town to stay with her family, the unlikely pair become best friends, and open the Whistle Stop Café, where their specialty is Fried Green Tomatoes.
Its an anecdotal book, comprised of the memories of Evelyn and newspaper clippings from local columnist, Dot.
In addition, the disappearance of Ruth's husband Frank runs its course. When his truck is fished out of the river twenty years later, people begin to wonder, Was it murder?
This book made me laugh; it also made me cry. The movie based on the book is just as good as the book itself.
Rating:
Summary: Great Great Great !
Review: This book is about life in the early 1900s and life in the 80s. It's bout how no matter when you are alive you have to deal with the same types of situations. This story stays true to the south. The relationship between Idgie and Ruth is so inspiring. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a good laugh and a good cry. I personally enjoyed this book because it gives you a lot of life's lessons in a small book.
Rating:
Summary: Good for the Soul
Review: This book is one of my absolute favorites. I have read it again and again over the years. I will always have a copy of this book in my home. It's a keeper!
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