The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg

 From 11/29/2020

"'That boy of yours is a real wonder boy.....Because he's always wonderin' about somethin' or another. Why do kittens purr, or why do rabbits have long ears?'"        

                         -Aunt Ninny Threadgoode to Buddy's mother, Ruth

Although I don't believe it is advertised as such, I saw this book as a sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, written by this author and published in 1987. I loved that book and the film version of it which made this one enjoyable in many ways. So many delightful characters were reintroduced that it almost felt like going home. I found myself visualizing scenes from the movie, especially of the wild but loveable Aunt Idgie.    

This novel centers around Bud Threadgoode, called Buddy in his youth, in the 1930's when Whistle Stop, Alabama was a bustling railroad town. By the 2000's Whistle Stop has become a ghost town and Bud is living in a senior residence facility in Atlanta, near his daughter, Ruthie. Feeling nostalgic about his hometown, he sets out on a trip to find out what has become of his beloved home town. His journey sets in motion a series of events---meeting new people, discovering surprising facts about beloved characters of Fried Green..., like Ninny Threadgoode, Evelyn Couch, and his indomitable Aunt Idgie---plus some lucky coincidences (or God winks?).

Thomas Wolfe wrote, "You Can't Go Home Again." In this novel, maybe you can!

The only downside of the novel is the changing of date settings for the very short chapters---from 1933 all the way to 2017 and Present Day. I counted 33 different dates that bounced forward and back, all over the place! It was confusing for this reader until I got used to it and the plot started to be unveiled so that the pieces fit together. The story is touching, to be sure, and entertaining, so I am rating it a 4. I hope a film will be coming soon!

Updated June 24, 2021

"During all this upheaval in the world...people are feeling a little rattled. They sort of want to go back home, you know? To a time when it was different. I just thought, I want to revisit that little town and revisit those characters that I love. And it was like a comfort type thing."           -Fannie Flagg, as to why she was inspired to write this book 33 years after the first Whistle Stop saga

Since The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop was the Page Turners' June selection, I reread it. I gave it a 4 the first time through and would not change the rating after a second reading. Our group met today and the average rating was 3.4. Most of us enjoyed the lighter, "homier" tone of the novel after some of the heavier themes we have encountered recently. Those of us who had read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café (August, 2017---Page Turners rating was 4.1), agreed it was somewhat disappointing in comparison. For one thing, it was not as funny. Secondly, it was somewhat repetitious. Since Amazon shows a rating of 4.6 and Goodreads a 4.1, we agreed the book is overrated. 

If we could ask the author, we would like to know how Buddy Threadgoode got into the military with one arm and---what is the significance of the title? One of our favorite parts was when Buddy took off on the train to revisit Whistle Stop. A few of our members thought the story could make a very entertaining film. I, for one, would buy a ticket!