Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by Fannie Flagg
Gentle reads
Discontented 80s housewife Evelyn Couch expected her weekly trips to the nursing home with her husband to visit his aging mother to be simply more dull hours spent ruminating on all that’s less than satisfactory about her life...but then she meets Mrs. Threadgoode. Mrs. Threadgoode is a spunky old woman full of fascinating stories of the past, when she lived in the tiny town of Whistle Stop, Alabama. While Mrs. Threadgoode’s stories tell of gentler days bygone, they also tell of the hardships of the Great Depression and the cruelties of a racist South--as well as the heart-warming triumphs of overcoming these grim realities of the past. But her stories focus on two people in particular, and they are Idgie and Ruth, the indomitable pair that created the Whistle Stop Cafe and, with it, a community. As she listens to these stories, Evelyn can’t help but first be drawn in and then downright inspired, as she comes to see that you only live once, and your life is what you make it.
Appeal Terms
-Upbeat: This gentle tale has a way of always finding the light as the inspiring--but realistic--characters ultimately do the right thing or get their just deserts.
-Heart-warming: Though poverty, racism, sexism, and abuse all make their way into the pages of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, the true story here is of overcoming these trials.
-Nostalgic: Details of life in the small-town South of the 30s and 40s are intricately and skillfully placed to bring readers vividly into this past era.
-Character-driven: While the escapades of Idgie, Evelyn, as well as all the other residents of Whistle Stop never fail to provide intriguing plot, the heart of this story is in the characters themselves--their failings and their successes alike.
> Extra! Extra! < This gentle read focused on women’s lives and relationships was made into a film, Fried Green Tomatoes, in 1991. The film stars Mary-Louise Parker and Kathy Bates, among others, and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Read-Alikes
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd: After her "stand-in mother," a bold black woman named Rosaleen, insults the three biggest racists in town, Lily Owens joins Rosaleen on a journey to Tiburon, South Carolina, where they are taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters. (NoveList)
The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore: Forging a friendship at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Odette, Clarice and Barbara Jean meet regularly at the first diner owned by black proprietors in their Indiana city and are watched throughout the years by a big-hearted man who observes their struggles with school, marriage, parenthood and beyond. (NoveList)
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen: Quiet, awkward Josey Cirrini's peaceful life--caring for her elderly mother, enjoying romance novels, and indulging in her secret passion for sweets--is turned upside down when Della Lee Baker, a sassy, confident, and bold waitress fleeing an abusive boyfriend, decides to hide out in Josey's home. (NoveList)
Hi Avery,
ReplyDeleteNice annotation! It is a quite a powerful story and I never really thought about it, however, it does seem to fit the bill as a gentle read. Despite the very powerful themes in the book there is a strong inspirational feel to the novel and I can see what you mean about the story always returning to or finding the light with an upbeat tone, despite remaining realistic. This has been one of my wife’s favorite movies since childhood and (now since reading it last summer) has become one of her favorite novels as well. Ironically, my wife greatly enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees as well!
I enjoyed both the Week 6 Prompt and you Gentle Reads annotation. It has been awhile since I slowed down to read a true uplifting book. You have inspired me to download this book and pull out my coloring materials and be transported to another time.
ReplyDeleteFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is an interesting choice. I am right there with Jonathan in that I would not have thought of it as a gentle read, but it does have many gentle read appeal factors. There is also a lot for people to relate to, whether it's remembrance of a bygone era or a connection with Evelyn's present-day struggles. Each of the read-a-likes similarly handles difficult and tragic topics by having interesting and diverse characters get together to overcome them.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, I love Fried Green Tomatoes, the book and the movie.
I was never into the gentle reads genre but then again I've never considered the books you mention in that genre. It's nice to see a little more choice and has got me thinking of looking into the genre again, perhaps actually reading something from it!
ReplyDeleteGreat annotation, I loved the extras, and you did a great job with the appeals. Full points!
ReplyDelete