Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

I have a secret crush on the South. And Fannie Flagg totally indulges me. Plus she's so . . . is quaint the right word? But I always feel like I'm reading books from before my time, but they're actually fairly current. For example, Can't Wait to Get to Heaven was published in 2006! 

Elner Shimfissle is an older lady, widowed by now, picking figs from up in a tree, when she is attacked by a swarm of bees and falls. This fall of Elner's, the subsequent rush to the hospital, and the state of Elner's health, or lack thereof, affects everyone in her family and many in her town. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven shows us just how short life can be, and how important each and every moment is. It's a pretty cute book. 

Daisy Fay & the Miracle Man

Once upon a time, a baby girl was born. Her parents couldn't agree on a name, and so grandma looked around the room. There was a vase of flowers in the room, daisies to be exact. And that is how Daisy Fay Harper got her name. She begins her journaling at age eleven and gives us all the details of her life, her parents' fighting, and the town gossip. A southern coming-of-age story, Daisy Fay makes a name for herself while making the best of her difficult situation. Her dad is a drunk who can't hold onto a job, or his wife, and Daisy Fay's life is rather unsteady. Yet she shares with us her zany adventures, crazy pranks, friendships, and coming back from the dead, as she makes her way to the top, paving her own road, making her own break, and giving the gossip. 
  
First off, apparently I'm way more into coming-of-age stories than I thought! 

But really. I did enjoy this book. It was long, and their were a few spots I found to be a little boring or unnecessary, and most of the story was not related to the title, which I found odd. I would rate this book probably a 7 or 8 out of 10. It was enjoyable; I do not regret reading it. It was well written and a good story, yet not amazing. Then ending was definitely worth it though! It was expected, but still nice. Daisy Fay is a great role model, determined, driven, and (eventually) successful. So read on!

Fried Green Tomatoes

 

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

by Fannie Flagg

"the catfish was so big, we took a picture of it, and the picture
alone weighed forty pounds!" 

I have read Fried Green Tomatoes many times, and it is one of the few books that I see as an entirely separate entity from the movie. This is because, to me, the movie is about the relationship between Idgie and Ruth, as framed by the Evelyn and Ninny (who I actually thought was Idgie when I first saw the movie . . . this makes me believe it's a common misconception) where as the book is about Evelyn, her life, her relationship with Ninny, and how Ninny encourages and empowers Evelyn through stories about Whistle Stop. 

For a fictional novel,  Fried Green Tomatoes deals with a lot of important women's issues.  It is the 80s and women's roles are changing (again). Evelyn is going through menopause and feels like her life is a waste.  Ninny is in a nursing home waiting for her best friend to die, waiting to die herself. Idgie and Ruth love each other, but Ruth is engaged, and they have a hard time admitting that they love each other.  It is presumed that they are in a lesbian relationship, and though it is never said so explicitly, there are many allusions and it is a cause for tension in their lives as they discover themselves and form their relationship. The issue of race is also present throughout the novel, but it is secondary to the story of Evelyn and Ninny. Despite the serious themes, many of the individual stories are hilarious, and Idgie is quite the character, as is Ninny.  Throughout the novel, one becomes very well acquainted with these women.

I really enjoy this book, but I am hesitant to recommend it to others because I am often accused of liking "weird books."  This is not in the same category of other "weird books" I like, but it is more of a "life journey" plot than an "action oriented" plot.  It almost reads like a connected collection of short stories, and I do think that anyone who enjoys the movie should read this, just for the knowledge, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys hearing stories from their grandmother!