Fannie Flagg's (Standing in the Rainbow)

Fannie Flagg, I had a crush on big time. I loved her figure but her personality and charisma made med adore. She was the mother I never had during my early elementary school years when the Match Game show was about to come to an end. In that she appeared to be nurturing, fun, loving, and full of energy. Likewise, she seemed to be understanding and pleasing. But something in schizoid mind told me that it wasn't all it seems though I wish it would be.
Now to the book "Standing in the Rainbow", I read as if she was conversing with me. There were times I wanted her to hurry up and get to the point quickly but most times, I clung to every word she said. All I could get in my head was her reading to me with me cuddled up in her lap, hoping she would lean toward the back of my head. I didn't want to get perverse with her because she always seemed to be respectful and I wanted to respond in kind. But... oh, just this once.

Anyway, what made me read the whole book instead of a few pages, was her knowledge of of the state of Missouri's history concerning the St. Louis Browns baseball team from 1944. I felt like she was there and a fan of team even though she was born and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Likewise, she genuinely understood characters of both men and women in fluid motion concerning their roles in society, occupation, and family. Therefore, she was able to move from church, political & social arena, and time periods while marinating the depth of the characters.

Simplicity with complicity. I thought it was cute when she added for Elvis as a friend for Minnie Oatman when she asked me to support her daughter, Betty Raye or Harry Truman endorsing Hamm Sparks. I like the story concerning Bobby Smith and he grew from a mischievous kid to a man. Sister, Anna Lee looking for Mr. Right. Tot Wooten and the hard luck life as a hairdresser with an alcoholic husband and children going nowhere. Macky and Norma Warren as the happy couple who worried alot. Beatrice, the blind boarder who could sing. Finally, Mrs. Dorothy Smith as a cook and a radio social commentator for her town while her husband was the town druggist.

The bottom line was being about getting that man no matter how strong the women were. The impression you got was women were strong due to circumstances. Only a few were naturally strong. Vice Versa too for the guys in small town America. In return, the folks were very giving to those in need like Mrs. Smith taking care of Beatrice and Betty Raye without nothing in return. But you had to get married unless you were Cecil or Mrs. Vita Green. That was the 50's and early 60's of America. Fanny definitely lived it.

However when the book goes to the 80s'and 90's, it loses its steam concerning its candor but its more of a reflection of decline in small town America concerning the economy and its values. Fanny mentions about Tot's son being incarcerated on drugs but doesn't tell the devastating effects of meth in southern Missouri during the 90's and now. You wondered about Macky's and Norma's daughter Linda who moved to San Francisco, build her own career, and adopted a Chinese girl without a father. Something seemed edited. Yeah, early in her career, she paid for her boyfriend's law school but then got divorced when she miscarried a baby. Of course, it talks about him being weak and a deadbeat. Lack of candor concerning this period.

I thought she should have stopped in the mid-70's with a reunion at the nedbut it doesn't kill the book. I think she felt obligated to write due to the promise of a young Bobby to his best friend Monroe in 1946 of both making it to the year 2000. Unfortunately, Monroe doesn't make it as he died of a massive heart-attack in the 80's. The book ends with Bobby telling his story from 1946 to the present for "Readers Digest" starting with his mother.

As for me, this is one story I would be proud to have, fiction or non-fiction. She gives those value pointers for people who are given vs. those who aren't given. For instance, Hamm Sparks had to work for what he got which got him to the govenor's office but didn't feel comfortable with people on a social level because they were given so much from their parents. Yet, Hamm was idolized from the people he envied. In short, the grass is always greener from the other side. Same way that I love Fanny Flagg and always will.