Book review
Almost exactly a year after first reading this book, I decided to read it again. I don’t usually reread books, especially not in the span of a year, but I thought I’d give it a go before reading the recently published sequel. Since my friend, who happens to also read my Goodreads reviews (hi :P), has promised me for ages to eventually read this book, I will not include any spoilers in this review.
There are books that leave an impression on the reader because they have a rich vocabulary and lyrical sentences, and, although it feels cruel to rob Ms. Flagg of this descriptor, her true power as a writer lies in the overall story, not the words themselves.
The story is one imbedded into another, with a huge cast of characters that are followed over the course of up to 50-60 years. It begins in the present (1980s) with Evelyn Couch, a woman going through menopause and thus feeling rather depressed about her life. She is weighed down by regrets, them being the more unconventional kind associated with lack of action. Evelyn feels at loss with her current state and her marriage, resenting the fact that she chose to adhere to a ‘good girl’ lifestyle and now finds herself deeply unsatisfied despite having done ‘everything right.’
Over the course of a year, Evelyn frequents Mrs. Ninnie Threadgoode, a sweet old lady at a nursing home who has loads to tell about her life in Whistle Stop during the Great Depression. Mrs. Threadgoode’s stories mainly follow the rambunctious Idgie Threadgroode, a woman with great spirit and heart, and co-owner of the Whistlestop Cafe, a common hangout spot for the townspeople. Through the cafe, the stories of various people are interwoven: Smokey Lonesome, the hobo; Jasper and Artis, twins who come to lead vastly different lives; Big George and Sipsey; Ruth Jamison and her son, Stump; and all the other vivid characters that make the whole town come to life.
While in the present (80s) Evelyn struggles to claim back power she had submitted long ago, the Whistlestop of the 30s-40s revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Frank Bennett, while also detailing other short, fun stories, like Dot Weem’s goose of a husband, the Robin Hood-esque Railroad Bill, and the asteroid that hit Ninnie Threadgoode’s radio, to name a few. Idgie and her pranks keep the town on their heels as they frequently come to believe her ridiculous stories.
It is important to note, however, that Flagg did write black characters set during a very harsh time in history for black people. She describes the Klan in Alabama, and as such the book contains racial slurs and prejudices of the time. I will also note that Flagg acknowledges Evelyn’s own innate racist beliefs, which serves to be a point of character development for her but is still a bit off-putting to read from a Gen Z-er’s perspective. With this in mind, I encourage any reader like myself to broaden their historical knowledge and look into the strife of many black people during the Great Depression and onwards, which is greatly left untold as black voices and black history continues to be misrepresented and not heard. No better time than February, Black History Month 🙂
The chapters are incredibly short (2-4 page) and bounce back and forth between the past and the present, which makes for a very engaging book. Although one would expect that so many characters would be difficult to properly develop and describe, Flagg manages to give every character their deserved story. I find it most intriguing that she chose a less-involved townsperson, Ninnie, as opposed to Idgie, to tell the story–even those who may not have the best or most interesting lives have something to tell, a sweet lesson for all of us.
The deep nostalgia I feel for a place and characters that never actually existed is unreal and I applaud Flagg for being able to create such emotion in a short book. This is a must read for anyone who values friends and family and a great story. 5/5
- Goodreads rating – 4.28
- REVIEW – Stump