Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant
Review: A fun read, but if you want to see what Flagg is capable of, read Fried Green Tomatoes or Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man.
Rating: 
Summary: Comfort Food for your Brain
Review: Fannie Flagg's new offering lived up to my expectations. It is brimming with warmth, humor, humanity -- her usual ingredients. I enjoyed it thoroughly
Rating: 
Summary: Great Title
Review: If you were born in the '40's or '50's and are into nostalgia, you will enjoy this trip down memory lane. Flagg's glimpse into a midwestern small town is uncannily familiar. I remember my Mother jotting down receipes from the radio's daily woman's program. Listening was a part of each day's schedule. Flagg's richly portrayed characters, were our neighbors. "Standing In The Rainbow," a hauntingly familiar picture of the past.
Beverly J Scott author of RIGHTEOUS REVENGE
Rating:
Summary: A pleasure from start to finish!
Review: I have to start by saying that I'm a big Fannie Flagg fan, having read everything that she's written. There are times in my life when I need a book that will make me grin, giggle, and chuckle out loud; when those times hit me, nothing fixes the mood like a Fannie Flagg book. Her characters are terrific. Flagg writes with an amazing authenticity of voice, making the characters so real I felt like I could feel them curled up next to me on the couch. This particular novel is my favorite of hers. This story about a southern family and their acquaintances, moves along at a comfortable pace, interspersed with snippets of a 50's-style radio broadcast that I found hilarious and oddly comforting, almost like sitting down with my grandma and having a chat. One aspect of this book that I particularly enjoyed was the fact that a group of characters is a stereotypical southern evangelistic gospel-singing family. I found their actions and beliefs funny, not being of a religious persuasion that buys into that kind of thing. Flagg managed to bring a great deal of warmth and charm to the characters, so that I really liked them, but could still giggle at their antics. Can't wait 'till this book comes out in paperback in June of 2003--my bookclub will love it like I did!
Rating:
Summary: As American as Apple Pie
Review: I had so many smiles while reading this book. I grew up in the Midwest during the period covered in the book and that is really the way it was.Having everyone knowing your business was good and bad. I remember stopping in the telephone office to use the phone to call my grandmother. The operator, who you gave the phone number to and she would make the connection at her switchboard inside said, "Oh, she's not home. I saw walking by a little bit ago." That was one good thing about small towns. The bad I won't mention. I loved Neighbor Dorothy. We had two such ladies to listen to.
Leanna Driftmier, not Driftmiller as the author wrote on page 14, on "Kitchen Klatter" and Wynn Speece as "The Neighbor Lady". There were several other errors such as the Gateway Arch date in St. Louis, but these are errors an editor should have caught. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations and the observations. Like those in the barber shop where no one saw themselves as the middle aged men they were. They remembered themselves as the little boys they still were. Bobby Smith's trip back to his friend Monroe's funeral was very touching. It was a turning point in his life. I recommend this book highly for its humor and telling it like it used to be. If you didn't grow up near or in a small town you may not understand it. That's your loss.
Rating:
Summary: Colorful Characters
Review: Standing in the Rainbow was enjoyable with great characters but I do feel it didn't live up to its full potential. This book really didn't have too much of a plot but it was more like a series of short stories which is my biggest complaint with the book. Although I did find the short chapters easy and fast to read, I felt that the author had the potential to come up with a true 5 star book with this great cast of character. The book is set in the small town of Elmwood Springs and the main character is Neighbor Dorothy who is the host of a local radio show. In the first part of the book we are introduced to her family but later in the second we follow the story of Betty Rae and Hamm, and last we follow Norma and Macky. I truly loved all of these characters and I wanted more details about what happened to them instead of brief updates in other parts. I really wanted to know about Bobby's life after leaving town and more about Betty Raye as Governor. Overall I have to say it was enjoyable and I would have rated it higher than 3 stars but I felt it could have been better. This is the first book I have read by Fannie Flagg and I do plan to read more book by her.
Rating:
Summary: Colorful Cast of Characters
Review: Fannie Flagg's novel, Standing in the Rainbow, paints a delightful story a fifty year span of life for the folks in the small town of Elmwood Springs, Missouri. Standing in the Rainbow is definately a feel-good novel exuding with family values and a simpler time. I thought Ms. Flagg did an excellent job of character building. The reader was able to enter the world and life of these characters and feel their feelings as they search for happiness and long to "stand in the rainbow". This was my first Fannie Flagg novel. Although a little slow, I did enjoy the life stories and color characters.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Elmwood Springs!
Review: Fannie Flagg's latest book is set in the picturesque town of Elmwood Springs, MO. We are introduced to the characters in the year 1946 and follow them through to present day (well, the 90's). While the story begins by mainly focusing on the family of Neighbor Dorothy, it broadens out to the town and the family that is within it. The citizens of Elmwood Springs are a family themselves.
Neighbor Dorothy is a radio show hostess who goes into the houses of people in the Midwest. She is held at highest regard among her listeners and the people of her town. She is genuine and the people relate to her because she is so honest and willing to share her life with the listeners. Through her show and the events in the book, we get to know her family, her boarders, and some of her listeners.
The characters are very colorful and you can relate to each of them in some way. Whether it was your childhood passing right before your eyes, moving away from home for the first time, or feeling that you just don't fit with the people who raised you, Flagg covers it all.
The setting is beautiful and depicts the South at different decades and the people who reside in it.
Being a southerner, I love Fannie Flagg and her storytelling and the way that she is able to capture the heart of the towns and the heart of the characters. There is a great storyline and it leaves you at the end wanting more. I just hope that Flagg keeps making more!
Rating: 
Summary: If you need to fall asleep this will help
Review: Had to read this for book club, BORING. Will never read a Fannie Flag book again. Only one person in our book club liked this book. Most people did not even finish it. The most boring and unbelievable book I have ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed in my first Fannie Flagg read
Review: I was overall disappointed in my first read by Fannie Flagg. I heard many people rave about Standing in the Rainbow. However, I was left somewhat bored by the story. I was able to draw out the theme of trying to find life and to stand in your own rainbow but was truly disappointed, as the story never seemed to go anywhere. There was no true plot, no climax build up and really no overall story. Perhaps if I wasn't in my 20's but rather in my 60's or 70's, I might have enjoyed the story more. To me it was a book I would have been better off giving to my Grandmother to enjoy. I haven't given up hope on Flagg, I would like to read Fried Green Tomatoes (have seen the movie) as this novel seemed to have been Flagg's signature piece.
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