FRIED GREEN TOMATOES(Book by Fannie Flagg, movie released 1991 starring Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates)
This is possibly one of my favourite books of all time - called 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.' It is now considered a classic story of two women in the 1980s.
The story alternates between the past and present, with elderly Mrs Threadgoode tells her life story to middle-aged Evelyn - who has hit a slump in life. The tale is of two daredevilish tomboy women who ran a cafe back in the 30s in Whistle Stop, Alabama. The cafe offered a good BBQ, coffee, plenty of laughs - and there is even a murder hidden in there.
Like all movies, not everything in the book was covered - but the filmmakers removed the fairly significant lesbian content of the book. It did, however, include amazing detail on race relations in the South at the time.
My favourite scene from the movie - my mother and I still refer to it, and have adopted the name 'Tawonda.'
GONE WITH THE WIND(Book by Margaret Mitchell, movie starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.)
One of the most successful books of the 20th century - this book is so deeply layered that to label it merely 'chick lit' is wrong.
Set in Georgia and Atlanta, the novel spans 12 years over the American Civil War and the Reconstruction. It begins with the life of Southern Belle Scarlett O'Hara, who loses everything and must do all she can to come out of poverty.
Throughout the novel is a love story between roguish Rhett Butler and Scarlett, who is convinced that she is in love with the gallant Ashley Williams. This novel has amazing themes of love, survival, and war and its' scars.
THE NANNY DIARIES(Book by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus, movie starring Scarlett Johansson)
A satirisation of Upper Manhattan, this novel follows the life of Nanny - a struggling graduate from NYU. She takes a job caring for four year old Greyer, son of the wealthy X family. She soon learns to love Greyer as if he were her own. It helps that 'Harvard Hottie' lives in the same building as the X's.
However, the X's marriage begins to fall apart and Nanny ends up more involved than is decent. Working for the X's becomes nearly impossible.
Over nine tense months Mrs. X and Nanny perform the age-old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude. 'The Nanny Diaries' depicts the manner in which America's over-priviledged raise their children, as if grooming them for a 'Best in Show' contest.
What's not to love about a movie starring Scarlett Johansson?
GOSSIP GIRL
(Book series by Cecily Von Zeigesar, TV show starring Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szhor)
I am a recent convert to 'Gossip Girl!' I am pretty sure the fame of the TV series has eclipsed that of the books - I didn't even know it was based on books to begin with!The novels are a young American series that revolves around the lives and romances of privileged teens in New York's Upper East Side. The addictive characters drink, smoke, do drugs, have sex and throw parties. Their party lifestyle is glamourised, and high end fashion labels are mentioned throughout. Such a fun read!
The show doesn't follow the same storyline as the books - even the main characters have major differences between print and screen. (I don't think I'd like to see Vanessa with a shaved head on the show, but in the books it is fine.) However, both are highly addictive!
Hope you enjoy! xx
