Unbelievably disappointing....

I was excited to see that Fannie Flagg had written a new novel updating us all on characters from her wildly successful novel Fried Green Tomatoes. Unfortunately, nothing about this worked for me. It bounced around so much from place-to-place, time-to-time and character-to- character that it was impossible to develop a connection with any of them. I found myself bored. The writing was shallow and detached which surprised me. If you are a die-hard FGT fan then this maybe a fun way to reminisce about the original, otherwise I’d skip it. Really, really hate saying that. 2.5 stars rounded up... just because it’s Fannie Flagg.

Fannie Flagg is the kind of author who provides a near-identical experience with each of her books, though not necessarily in a formulaic way. Her version of the South is always charming, quirky, loving, and sanitized of any tensions that might seem untoward. There is just enough hardship to have a plot, but everything usually works out for the nice, good people. The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop takes some old characters into modern times, but I read it more as a stand-alone since it had been so long since I had read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. It worked out, but I wonder if my experience of reading this book would have been different if I had remembered some of the characters' back stories more. The characters were likeable, but a few of them lacked dimension and that might have been because the majority of their stories had already been told in the earlier book. The format of the book included lots of back and forth movement between different eras, and while they could be confusing at the start of a chapter, a short while later they were usually sufficiently explained so that you knew how they fit into the larger picture. All in all, this was exactly what I expected from Flagg.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley.
What a delight to return to Whistle Stop and see how favorite characters have grown and changed. Flagg moves readers all over in time from chapters set during the time during the first book to last year (2019). Switching timeframes lets readers see how changes come about. I admit I was crying when I finished the book. It's refreshing to see the human spirit renew itself and triumph over all sorts of difficulties. I wish we had seen more of some characters but feel that everyone was connected together at least through Dot's letters and emails.

I absolutely adore anything that Fannie Flagg writes. "The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop" is no exception. I couldn't put it down, and I thought about it all the time! I love the little tie-ins to her other books and the way she flashes back and forth in time. She's laugh-out-loud funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at the same time. It's classic Fannie Flagg.

Phenomenal southern characters with a charming old fashioned story! If you loved FRIED GREEN TOMATOES you will love this book. While the characters are continuations of the first book, it helps to have read it to know the context of the relationships. I loved Buddy and his daughter's conversations as they really show the love and family connections. I thought the author did a good job weaving in history and side characters into the main plot. The chapters were sometimes a bit choppy going back and forward in time but the dates at the chapter start help you keep track. Loved the Evelyn and Ruth sisterhood and the ending was awesome!! It felt like an old time visit with my grandmother and all her friends. Truly loved the ending and the funny side stories about Idgie and Buddy and their adventures!!

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop is another of Fannie Flagg’s endearing stories of this little Alabama town. We are reacquainted with Idgie and Ruth, and Billy in this novel, and learn what has happened to them and Whistle Stop ov er the years. Fannie Flagg brings things together in a lovely way. This book will remind you of how we lived generations ago, but more importantly, you will come to love these authentic, loving characters as dear friends.

I fell in love with the characters from Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe years ago. I was pleasantly surprised that author Fannie Flagg has written a post script to that wonderful book. The Wonder Boy is like a scrapbook of quick images and explanations of what happened with certain characters after the main story had been told. They age, move forward with life as we all do. Is this book as powerful as the first story? No, not at all, but it is a smile here and there. It's a bit disjointed and that's okay. Sadly, Whistle Stop, the town and community has aged badly and is becoming dust in the wind, or has it really? It's Wonder Boy, Bud Threadgoode, goes searching for it and that journey sets off a new series of happenings and friendship that even Aunt Idgie and his mother Ruth, would be pleased with. And yes, we see another main character or two show up! If you have one question I will say, yes, you have to read Fried Green tomatoes first. This book makes me want to go back and read it again.

Reading The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop was a visit with old friends, renewing acquaintances and learning what happened to so many of the dear people who made up the fictional community of the Whistle Stop Cafe. It was as soothing as snuggling with a cozy blanket and a cup of chamomile tea As I traveled down memory lane to the delightful, quirky characters that I had come to love in The Whistle Stop Cafe. It was a completely satisfying, pleasant story that was just right for these troubled times. I finished feeling that all was right with the world again, despite the pandemic, economic turbulence, social unrest, forest fires and all that rest that has characterized 2020. Thank you Fannie for the delightful read!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my honest review. I have enjoyed Fannie Flagg’s other books and was excited to see her newest book available. There are so many fun characters and outrageous events that I couldn’t put the book down. Close knit families, small town community,
and memories bring Whistle Stop to life. If you enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes or Redbird Christmas, you will want to read The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop!

I have been a fan of the original story of this series for decades and reading this book was like visiting with old friends. The format was somewhat disorienting.. the plot is NOT linear in the slightest. And every once in a while it was a bit annoying. However. The charm of the original story is still there and for that reason I absolutely loved it.

Ms. Flagg’s book are like a warm blanket on a cold day, pure enjoyment! This book picks up with a lot of the characters from Fried Green Tomatoes and lets you know what happened to them and their families. Beautifully written and full of humor and joy, this book is definitely a keeper. Highly recommended.

The book has too many flashbacks to Fried Green Tomatoes. It also jumped around in time too many times. I would have like it if it had told the story straight on and not jumped so much.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop ties up loose ends from Fried Green Tomatoes. A pleasant read but you would really need to read FGT to know, who is who. A little meandering, but nice with a glass of sweet tea.

Oh my! I adored this book just as much as I loved the first one - "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe". For those readers who loved the first book, you definitely need to pre-order this one. It is written in the same manner as the first book with short chapters and the story going back and forth in time. I found it very easy to read.

Unfortunately, we do lose a few of our beloved characters, but that is expected when the dualogy starts at the beginning of the 19th century!

This book centralizes on Buddy, his daughter Ruthie and Evelyn and how their lives growing up has affected them. However, there is a surprise toward the end just waiting for you!

This sentence may be a tad spoilerish, but I'm going to let you know that none of our main characters die! Thank-goodness. Life is good in Whistle Stop. I hope to see you soon at the Whistle Stop Cafe, and I hope we can share a plate of fried green tomatoes!

**ARC supplied by the publisher and the author. Many thanks for that, and for trusting me to write an unbiased review!

Another great story from Flagg that gives us an update to many of the characters from Whistlestop and their progeny. I loved the letters from Dot. Great ending.

4.5

I've only read one other book by Fannie Flagg, and it was not Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I have never read, so I had no idea that this was a sequel.

That might go a way toward explaining how this story read like a scattering of smaller stories. On the other hand, the book I read, The Whole Town's Talking was also spread over time (longer, actually), with a huge cast in a relatively small book. It, too, relied on the narrative device of small stories stitched together to make a whole.

I enjoyed this book. Flagg makes small town life sound wonderful, so the idea that Whistle Stop has been abandoned to go to seed made me feel for the characters who missed it so badly, even though I was just meeting them. Flagg has a way with getting straight to the emotional core of characters, with feelings we can all resonate with, even if the characters are all pretty much Quirky McQuiryson from Quirky Central.

But I enjoy quirky characters if they aren't unpleasant to be around. And Flagg has a way of making even the less likable ones at least human.

The entire arc was lovely and heartwarming and just the ticket for these stressful days.

Be still, my heart! It's a sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes! FGT is one of my all time favorite novels so I was all ready to dive back into the world of Ruth, Idgie, Evelyn, and the gang. I was not disappointed. This book has so much heart and it felt like I was visiting an old friend. If you loved FGT like I did, you have to read this book. If you haven't read FGT, don't read this one until you do. This is going to be one of 2020's most popular books and rightfully so.

A delightful story full of joy, warmth and humor. A truly delightful book of small town and family. Fannie Flagg has done it again!

This book was fluffy and pleasant, but had nothing like the depth of some of Fannie Flagg’s earlier books. It’s highly nostalgic for Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, and is definitely not worth reading if you haven’t first read the other. It was fun to revisit some of the characters and learn a little more about them and see their families updated through to the modern day. The last 20% of the book felt super rushed, though, and my suspension of disbelief was sorely tested. And the characters and their motivations just weren’t as well developed as what I’m used to from this author. Not a standout for me.

If you liked the movie or the book fried Green Tomatoes by this same author, you’ll enjoy this story as well. I found it really difficult to get into because there were so many characters introduced quickly, and the time periods jumped around way too much for cohesion.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.