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Review: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg


Pages: 416
Original date of publication: 1987
My edition: 2000 (Ballantine)
Why I decided to read: Haven’t re-read this is a while, but I’m digging up one of my old Amazon reviews (August 2004)
How I acquired my copy: Borders, about ten years ago

This is a review I posted on Amazon in August 2004, back when I was just staring to write reviews of the books I read. I was prompted to post this after re-watching the film version a few weeks ago. My how my writing style has changed!

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.

It’s 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.

Comments

Joanne said…
I loved both the book and the movie!
Amy said…
I love love love this book! It is one of my favorites!

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