Hollye reviews The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg, Random House Publishing, 2020, 285 pagesDo you remember Ruth and Idgie from Fannie Flagg’s novel, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe? This newest book is about Bud Threadgoode from Whistlestop, Alabama. He is Ruth’s son which makes him also Idgie’s nephew. If you’re familiar with the book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, or even the movie adaption, Fried Green Tomatoes, you will recall Ruth was the proper woman who was married to the abusive alcoholic. Coincidentally, the husband went “missing” on the same day the town had a giant “barbeque.” On the other hand, Idgie was the fun-loving hellraiser who was always misbehaving.
In Flagg’s latest novel, we learn about Bud, who married his childhood sweetheart and became a veterinarian. Bud and his wife had one child, their daughter, Ruthie. Ruthie was and remains the apple of her parents’ eye. Bud always loved to tell Ruthie all about his adventures in Whistle Stop and how lucky he was to grow up there. Sadly, Whistle Stop is now just a ghost town now, and Bud has gotten older. Bud decides to take Ruthie to Whistle Stop and so they meet new friends, and the two of them have new adventures.
This is such a sweet book and talks about all the characters we know and love in Whistle Stop. This is a very uplifting book and takes you back to a very different time in the 1950s for much of the story. I can guarantee everyone will want to live in Whistle Stop and have neighbors like these. Everyone helps each other and stays in touch over the years. I highly suggest reading this book.