After reading The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by this author I was inspired to reread this, the original written 30+ years prior. I enjoyed it immensely! It still gets a 5 rating. So much funnier than the second book---made me laugh out loud several times. Now I REALLY want to see the movie of "Fried Green Tomatoes..." again!
See my original post of August, 2017.
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!
"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
-Psalm 119:114
The subtitle of this memoir is The Triumphant True Story of Corrie ten Boom. Corrie lived the first 50 years of her life as pretty much an ordinary Dutch citizen and after that, it got extraordinary!
Corrie's whole family were devout Christians and at the time of the Nazi occupation of Holland they became leaders of the Dutch resistance and saviors to many Jews. Father Casper was a watchmaker and much-beloved by the townspeople. Corrie and her older sister Betsie were spinsters who lived with him above the shop and helped in the business. Married sister Nollie and brother Willem, a minister, lived nearby. The Ten Boom family made their home a hiding place for Jews and used their connections and resources to help them escape to safety. Their compassionate work eventually led to the their arrest by the Nazis and time in various prisons and camps.
After a time of being separated, Corrie and Betsie were reunited and, I believe, survived a great deal of trauma by giving strength to each other---Corrie's physical strength and Betsie's strong faith. I have always thought of Corrie as something like a saint but after reading her story, it turns out Betsie was her mentor and inspiration. (And the apples didn't fall far from the tree, as both parents passed on their deep religious faith.)
This is a story of beautiful, profound Christian faith---of walking the walk, serving God. It is a story of resilience and miracles. I was so surprised to read some reviews that dismissed the book as being "too preachy" and unbelievable. As a Christian, I know that nothing is impossible with God. As I mentioned, I was touched and inspired, leading to my rating of 5. Now I want to see the movie again!
"But like the men of the Bible, the women of the Bible are complicated. They are, on the whole, neither fully good nor completely bad people, but simply people, in all their messy and uncomfortable humanity. And it's when we can see them in their full humanity that God can teach us something about ourselves."
-from the book
Subtitle: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today
I had recently taught several adult Sunday school lessons on women of the Bible so when I saw this book recommended somewhere, I ordered it. I planned to read it, loan it to family or friends and perhaps, eventually donate it to our church library. While it was not a page turner, I enjoyed it and was educated and inspired by the women's stories. I rate it a 4.
Ms. Bream chose to feature the women in pairs---some not-so-likely ones. For example, Mary and Martha of Bethany were sisters of Lazarus so could easily be compared and contrasted. Perhaps, Hannah and Miriam or Esther and Rahab would not be such obvious choices. Eight pairs of women are described and after each pair, discussion questions are offered which would make this a very nice women's Bible study format. The final section introduces women---many nameless---who encountered Jesus when they were accused or in great need.
I was struck by this statement: "The Christian life calls us to find a balance between cultivating our relationship with Jesus and also serving Him. The trouble comes when we become overly focused on all the things we can do for God, rather than on spending time and being in communion with Him." Definitely something I need to work on!
