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This week on Is the Book Better?, we're heading to Whistle Stop, Alabama, to compare Fannie Flagg's beloved novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe with the iconic 1991 film starring Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker.

I watched Fried Green Tomatoes far too often and far too young, so this one comes with a hefty dose of childhood nostalgia. But does the book offer something the film can't?

We explore the unforgettable characters of Idgie Threadgoode, Ruth Jamison, Ninny Threadgoode and Evelyn Couch, the differences between the book and movie, the darker themes hiding beneath the Southern charm, and the mystery of what really happened to Idgie.

I also share my fascination with Fannie Flagg, including the embarrassing number of years I spent believing that the Fannie Flagg from Match Game and the author of Fried Green Tomatoes were two completely different people.

From the Whistle Stop Café to the infamous barbecue, we discuss the changes Fannie Flagg made when adapting her own novel for the screen and why I find that creative process so impressive.

The book is wonderful, but can it compete with a film I've loved since childhood?

Spoiler warning: This episode contains major spoilers for both the novel and the film, including the ending.

Join me for a nostalgic, funny and heartfelt book-versus-movie discussion as we answer the all-important question: Is the book better, though?

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