Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg

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An Overview

Take a nostalgic journey to Elmwood Springs, Missouri and follow the happenings of this all-American hometown as its quirky and endearing characters are born, grow up, and fade into old age. This hilarious tribute to small town USA is generally lighthearted and hilarious with a few twinges of sadness that it quickly brushes off.

Flagg presents her characters in Standing in the Rainbow with the nostalgia of an old radio show much like that of Elmwood Springs own Neighbor Dorothy Smith.

Main Body

Broadcast from her own living room with Mother Smith accompanying on the organ Neighbor Dorothy offers kitchen tips, contests, and a peek into the lives of her own family. There’s her husband Doc, the town pharmacist who speculates on the ailments of the town from their prescriptions, teen-age daughter Anna Lee with her host of boyfriends, and mischievous son Bobby, the bubblegum champion.

A revolving door of interesting folks comes to town, some staying, some going, but all leaving a lasting impression. There’s Betty Raye, not a native of Elmwood Springs. The shy member of the Oatman Family Gospel Singers and terrified of singing in public, Betty Raye comes to town and is exchanged for Beatrice Woods, the Little Blind Songbird.

As the book progresses from we meet charming Hamm Sparks, a small town boy who marries Betty Raye and makes it big in Missouri state politics before mysteriously disappearing without a trace. Narrating the story is Beautified Tot Whooten, who makes a better narrator than haircutter, as she introduces the book and occasionally offers commentary on the events of her town and townspeople.

Fans of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, and, of course, Fannie Flagg’s other books about the heartland, will no doubt enjoy this installment though perhaps not as much as her most popular novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. The number of characters alone will make your head spin and as lovable as they are, it’s hard to distinguish which storyline you should pay the most attention to at any given time.

Standing in the Rainbow is not meant to philosophize on a former way of life. Instead, sit back and enjoy an old-fashioned slice of humor, warmth, and small town gossip.

The Narration

It might be difficult to find, but look for the unabridged version of the audio book by Kate Reading, a recipient of AudioFile’s “Voice of the Century” award.