Standing in the Rainbow

An interesting story but SO MANY characters!! It was hard to keep everyone straight and remember who's who.

I loved this book, as I do all of Flagg's works, up until Hamm Sparks came on the scene. From the git-go he reminded me of Willie Stark. Betty Raye? Stark's wife. The succumbing to the corruption of power? Affairs? Back room deals? All familiar if you've read Robert Penn Warren's classic. There are so many similarities, I am more than annoyed by page 365 and decided to write the review before finishing the novel. Flagg should have left Hamm Sparks in Louisiana with Willie and the boys.

I believe this is my favorite Fannie Flagg book. They are all great, but after reading this one you feel you know the town and people personally. She has captured a time and place that once was real. It is great to escape back in time and remember how wonderful it was.

I am an avid fan of Fannie Flagg and have read all of her novels. Her latest, Standing in the Rainbow, is nothing short of miraculous. I loved it! The writing, as always, is quick, light and honest, but it is the genius storytelling in this novel that makes it a 5-star read for me.Standing in the Rainbow tells the story of the lives of the citizens of Elmwood Springs, Missouri, spanning through five decades beginning in the 40s. We have Dorothy Smith, hostess of the radio program, The Neighbor Dorothy Show that is transmitted live from her own living room. And Tot Whooten, the town hair stylist, who seems to be a walking, talking advertisement for bad luck. Also in town are the Goodnight sisters; Ida Jenkins, a wanna-be socialite; the Oatman Family Gospel Singers; Hamm Sparks, a very ambitious salesman; and Doc Smith, the local pharmacist. This novel has them all and more -- every character under the sun, a perfect blend of a neighborhood.I wasn't even born during most of the time frame this novel takes place in, but Fannie Flagg sure makes me wish I had been! A highly atmospheric story that evokes feelings of nostalgia and longing for the good ole days. The characters are unforgettable, Elmwood Springs is the perfect town, and after reading this book, you will feel as if you've lived there your entire life.Not much by the way of plot, however. Standing in the Rainbow is more of a slice-of-life novel, a darn good story about the lives of people in a small town and the events that take place throughout the years. Engrossing, funny, sweet, wistful and warmhearted, all Fannie Flagg fans will delight in this novel, and new fans will discover a treasure of an author within these pages.

The year, 1946; the place, Elmwood Springs, Missouri. Life is good and filled with unlimited opportunities and promise, the future never seemed brighter, and spirits are lifted daily, by the "lady with the smile in her voice," radio homemaker, Neighbor Dorothy Smith, as she passes along recipes, friendly advice, local news, and a little entertainment, each morning, from her living room on station WDOT. Meet the Smith family, their friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, and revel in the joys of small town life, as Fannie Flagg takes the reader on an amazing fifty year odyssey, rich in insight, wisdom, humor, and truth. This is storytelling at its very best, filled with interesting twists and surprises, vivid scenes, engaging writing, and clever dialogue. But it's Ms Flagg's brilliant characterizations that make this book stand out and sparkle. These are complex and endearing, real people, warts and all, not cliched, cartoon characters, and Ms Flagg is able to breathe life into each and every one of them. Standing In The Rainbow is an intriguing and captivating story, sometimes poignant, often uplifting, but always touching and heartwarming; a story that captures the imagination as it pulls you in, and introduces a whole new generation to the simple wonders of living in a small town. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but mostly you'll remember what it was like to walk with your family down a decorated Main Street at Christmas to buy your tree at the town lot for $1.50, sit on a stool and have a sundae at the drug store soda fountain, watch a whole afternoon of movies, every Saturday, for a nickle, and listen to the voice of a friendly "neighbor" each day on the radio. And there was never a doubt that "something wonderful was always just about to happen..."

Fannie Flagg creates the warm, wholesome characters she is famous for and plops them down in the center of the US-- Elmwood Springs, Missouri, to be exact--- for a nostalgic look back at what life was like in the 1940s and into the 90's. If you are a baby-boomer and remember The Arthur Godfrey Show, the Ink Spots, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Wildroot Cream oil, wearing a shiny dime in your penny loafers and more, you'll fall in love with Flagg's charming characters who populate this small town. At the heart of the story is the family of Neighbor Dorothy, the homemaker cum radio personality we first met in WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL. This book more fully explores Neighbor Dorothy's family life as well as the people she connects with and the influence she wields throughout the state. The reader sees the world through the eyes of her son Bobby who longs for no greater honor than to become the Bubble Gum King of 1949 yet grows into a remarkable war hero and family man. Along with her daughter Anna Lee, her husband Doc who is the town pharmacist, and her mother-in-law we see a picture of a family that is not only idyllic but realistic in their affections, problems, and experiences.Delightful in all respects, this book takes you through the Korean War, the anti-war movement of the 60's, the political travails of country bumpkins who long for the national stage, the liberation of women, and other important factual events that colored the lives of the American people. Real people mix with fictional in a story that is engrossing, satisfying, and hard to leave behind. You'll treasure your time with Neighbor Dorothy from her first broadcast to her final sign-off and be glad to be a part of the lives of people who remember buying a Christmas dress for $1.50, being mesmerized by the department store window at Christmas, and thrilling to the sight of a new neon sign lighting up the main street.

This is the first book by Fannie Flagg that I have read, and it will not be the last. I finished it last night and all day I have been in "mourning" that I won't have Standing in the Rainbow to read tonight!! This book is one great story. It follows some truly lovable characters from the 1940's to the 1990's all the while bringing in a true feel for America throughout all of those time periods. This is a definite shoe-in for a spot on my personal top 10 books of 2002. I am now going to read all of Ms. Flagg's books. If you are looking for a heartwarming, good old-fashioned story that entertains you and makes you feel good, this is the book! I just want to hug everyone in Elmwood Springs, Missouri!!!! Great, great book! Get it immediately, it will make your day!