Fannie Flagg’s WHISTLE STOP CAFE & FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. The book is written in a series of chapters, somewhat long and others extremely short, all concerning events in Whistle Top, Alabama, a very small area that several trains stop prior to continuing to Birmingham. And if you’ve never read Fannie Flagg but have bypassed her books, thinking they were extremely soapy as I did earlier, pick up one of them and enjoy it.
The Whistle Stop Cafe is run by two very unusual women, Idgie and Ruth; two women who are totally involved with each other though not in the sense one finds today. The book takes place from the 30’s and slightly later following the closure of the railroad lines till the 80’s as recounted by a former resident who now lives in a nursing home in Birmingham.
Reading the book and remembering bits and pieces of growing up in the West, it is slightly shocking to me concerning the emergence of the KKK in this small town. But I did giggle when Idgie recognizes one of those sheeted wonders by his shoes; then tells him that he shouldn’t be involved in that type of an organization. The book is extraordinarily well written; one laughs and cries while reading it. I will be looking for more books by Ms. Flagg … should be interesting.
Another book whom I heartily recommend is PAYBACK by Carl Deuker. Set in a small town adjacent to Seattle WN, the book is written in the eyes and mind of an incredibly unusual young man who is now a senior in his high school. Feeling fully credible with the talent to become the next editor of his school paper, he loses the position to a classmate who seems to have nothing in common with either journalism or running a paper. But he becomes more than a little involved when he becomes the Sports Editor and with the aid of a totally turned on photographer, they start to unveil an interesting (though possibly illegal) situation on their football team that is yearning to win the Statewide Championship.
Stunningly written from the eyes and mind of a 17+ year old high school student, who is more than a little overweight and a “non-fit” in with others, the book details the efforts that he puts forth to lose the weight and the personal benefits he earns while doing so. I heartily recommend this author and certainly hope that he has other books in line.
Again, if you’re traveling or just here for a short time, we have a number of books at the Library for sale at a very reasonable price. Do come and check us out!
