I know I'm just a little early, but I've started a new job that keeps me busy and I have little time to surf the net at work. I suggested Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg because it seemed like an easy read and I wanted an easy go as my first time as moderator. I had also seen the movie. Little did I know there would be complex story lines that are hard to keep straight. I also didn't realize that there would be so many topics and characters to cover.

The structure of the book is one that switches back and forth between past and present. It reminded me of the time shifting in Middlesex. Things did get a bit confusing for me when the point of view kept changing to so many different characters. I had to flip back and try to remember who which Peavy was. When I took creative writing in college, the first thing we learned was to pick a character and stick with that character.

In Fried Green Tomatoes, we have several different characters that could qualify as the main character. There are Evelyn and Mrs. Threadgoode, the present day characters, and Idgie and Ruth, to whom we're introduced through the story telling of Mrs. Threadgoode. Then characters of the past magically became narrators. This ominipotence of authors usually bothers me, and did in this case. Although I did enjoy Dot Weems weekly dispatches. Some of the story lines seemed like page filler to me. I felt they weren't given the attention that could have made them interesting.

The thing that struck me most was the relationship between Idgie and Ruth. It was hard for me to understand a relationship between the two women. Was Idgie truly in love with Ruth? Idgie's mother says at one point that Idgie has a crush or Ruth. Is there something more to this relationship? Why did Ruth leave Idgie and marry Frank? Why did she come back?

Another obvious theme to this book is the racial aspect. You can't have abook about the South without talking about race. Anyone care to expand this subject? I'm struck by Grady, the sherriff, member of the Ku Klux Klan, and also accomplice to Idgie as Railroad Bill. What kind of person is Grady? What motivates the decisions he makes?

Here are just a few questions to get us started. There were so many ways to go, and there is so much to be covered. Remember, this is my first time. Hopefully, I'll see you tomorrow.

Just a reminder that the discussion of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe this month starts on Monday. Hope you've read it, and if you haven't, that you'll have a chance before then.

There are several recipes listed in the back of the book. I'm going to try to cook one or two this weekend, and I'd like to encourage you to do the same and share your experience as part of the discussion.

See you on Monday!