The bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is at her superb best in this fun-loving, moving novel about what it means to be truly alive.
Elmwood Springs, Missouri, is a small town like any other, but something strange is happening at the cemetery. Still Meadows, as it’s called, is anything but still. Original, profound, The Whole Town’s Talking, a novel in the tradition of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and Flagg’s own Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, tells the story of Lordor Nordstrom, his Swedish mail-order bride, Katrina, and their neighbors and descendants as they live, love, die, and carry on in mysterious and surprising ways.
Lordor Nordstrom created, in his wisdom, not only a lively town and a prosperous legacy for himself but also a beautiful final resting place for his family, friends, and neighbors yet to come. “Resting place” turns out to be a bit of a misnomer, however. Odd things begin to happen, and it starts the whole town talking.
With her wild imagination, great storytelling, and deep understanding of folly and the human heart, the beloved Fannie Flagg tells an unforgettable story of life, afterlife, and the remarkable goings-on of ordinary people. In The Whole Town’s Talking, she reminds us that community is vital, life is a gift, and love never dies.
From the Hardcover edition.
Loved it. Loved it as much as all the Elmwood Springs books. This one might be my favorite. Ms Flagg makes a person want to move there.
A devoted fan of Fannie Flagg! Her characters become my friends and neighbors. Wish I’d grown up in their little town. That you, Miss Flagg, for the world you write about.
Now I understand! If I had read this book 15 or even 10 years ago I would just have thought it was an interesting story. However, being (ahem) older and having grown up in, and returned to, a relatively small town in Missouri, it really spoke to me. The author’s characters are so real that by the end of the book you feel you know them. Some readers might not approve of the “afterlife” conversations but they also added dimension to the characters. I particularly like the chapter, Macky Is Worried…