Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 23
 even better than the film June 16, 2010
Jo39 (london)
I have seen the film many times so decided to read the book, I find Flaggs writing style very readable and interesting, the Lesbian theme is much more apparent than the screen version which was very watered down, loved it and have since bought other fannie flagg novels to try, cant wait !
Wistful, wise and wonderful January 11, 2010
H. Beentje (Kew, England)
Synopsis: an old lady in an old people's home tells stories of her youth and the people she knew in Whistle Stop, Alabama, to a visitor. We learn about Evelyn, the visitor, trapped in a boring marriage and a body that doesn't please her; we also learn more and more about Whistle Stop and its people, not just throught the old lady's stories, but by snippets from the local paper and little cinematic shots of peoples' lives. The changes in a small town through the depression, through the Segregation, through the loss of industry - but all told through vivid tales about real peoples' lives.
Reading what I just wrote, I don't think I would want to read a book like that, particularly. But this great book is written with such warmth, the people are so real, the feeling of time fading away so strong... It is about life in a small town in the South, about old-fashioned people, about race, about getting old, about death - but most of all about life. Time and again I felt moved, humbled even. And I have never even been to Alabama! This is one big-hearted book, and I feel richer for having read it. Brilliant!
an empowering read September 6, 2009
Allhug (Newcatle upon Tyne)
This is a great book - 5 out of 5 from me.
I thought that the plot was fantastic - full of extremely engaging story lines and loads of sub-plots but never so much going on that it became overwhelming. There was enough intrigue for it to be interesting (the murder, the relationship - were-they-weren't-they, Towanda etc) and lots of humour to make lighten the mood when the going got tough...and there were many moments of extreme empathy within the plot to touch your soul. Simple yet engrossing.
The characters were very well drawn, each entirely believable. I particularly loved Eva's character, Sipsey, Idgie & 'Railroad Bill' (...who isn't exactly a character but embodies an idea or a 'spirit' that is sadly a lot more rare than it should be).
The messages within this novel were put across simply but spanned a lot of areas - we have feminism, racism, homosexuality - basically human nature in all its forms. The message came across very strongly to me that we must all think of exactly how we treat each other and what we base our opinions on. A very gentle way to give some stark messages - using the clever juxtaposition of humour & empathy to make those messages stick was genius.
The writing was engaging - I loved the three main 'streams' of narrative (Weems Weekly, Evelyn & Ninny, & 'real-time as-it-happened') and how the author played with time and the order of events. We got to see some things in advance and had to wait for others - we also got a number of different points of view on the incidents portrayed. Flagg's techniques really helped with the pacing - which I thought was strongly linked to the 'railroad' theme - I definitely felt I was being rhythmically transported through the narrative as if on a train. Each strand of narrative felt like I was in a different carriage hearing a different point of view - very clever
...and I read it in only a few days, I love novels that allow me to do that. I think this is going onto my shelf with all of the other books that I read over and over again!
Fab., obviously; but should be more than a 2-disc recording March 22, 2009
r.e.k. (Midlands, UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Refers to audiobook CD:
Fannie is great to listen to, and I loved her 'Ninny Threadgood' voice. This is a must for fans of Fannie Flagg, specifically; and fans of the book, generally.
I think the audiobook is mid-way between the book and the film because although it isn't subjected to the re-write that film scripts are, it is still an abridged version, and the relationship between Idgy and Ruth still appears neutral due to editing. I think the audiobook should have been 4-5 discs, like other of Fannie's books; this would have allowed more of the story to be told, even if it still remained abridged.
The CD is a cardboard book-style case. The case opens like a book, and there is a disc clipped to either side. There is no additional material (recipe cards, biog. info, etc). When opened, the card CD-case does not have any protective sleeve to stop the edges getting roughed, similar to many (not all) CD's of similar packaging.
So good! Make it last... February 11, 2009
Lulushka8 (London)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is such a brilliant feel good book, I can't imagine anyone reading this to not enjoy it. I only wished that it wouldn't end, the story was so heart warming and the characters so lovable and real that you can't help but fall in love with the book. The style of writing is faultlessly brilliant and simple, with that effortless feel to it that all good page-turners have. If you haven't already read this you've been missing out. I can't wait to read Fannie's other novels now!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 23
|
