Flagg writes entertaining books, and this one is no exception. Her latest revisits many familiar characters readers have met along the way in Elmwood Springs. However, The Whole Town's Talking suffers in its execution. The tale covers a span of over 100 years, leaving not much space for anything other than short vignettes without much depth. It feels as if the book was more "this happened, and then this happened" telling the story rather than showing it. There is still a large amount of Flagg's quirky charm and humor, making it a worthwhile read for those who enjoy a lighthearted story.
Lordor Nordstrom and a host of other Swedish immigrants settle in an area of Missouri in the late 1800’s. Lordor is a reserved, quiet man who has been unable to find a wife, so the residents of the town encourage him to find a mail-order bride, and he gets acquainted with Katrina, who soon moves to town and becomes his wife. The town eventually becomes Elmwood Springs, and the residents start businesses, raise families and pass away for one reason or another. Still Meadows Cemetery, on the top of the hill, is the final resting place where strange things happen — well, strange to outsiders — but the residents find it perfectly acceptable

The only book I've read by Fannie Flagg was Fried Green Tomatoes, years ago, and I remember enjoying it it which is why I originally requested this book. And it sounded promising- A Swedish immigrant farmer starts up a small town in Missouri, orders himself a mail-order bride who turns out to be normal and quite amazing, and they're living life until eventually pass on, and then weird things start happening and it starts "the whole town talking."

Except that's not what happens. Actually NOTHING happens, the entire book. It's like a day by day (and eventually starts skipping to decades, thank goodness) life of all the neighbors and descendants from those early beginnings up through today. It was excruciatingly boring, and there were far too many characters to keep straight. The only interesting thing was on the very last page, which bumped my rating up from 1 star to two.

This sweet book was like comfort food in book form. Tracing the fictional small town of Elmwood Springs, Missouri and some of the people who live there from its founding in the 1880s to the present, it’s more of a series of vignettes and stories than a novel with a through line, but it was just such a charming read filled with indelible characters. I think I enjoyed the early parts of the book which went into more depth more, but the way the dead continued to look over the town in an “Our Town” kind of way was a highlight of the latter parts, and I finished the book with tears in my eyes. Quiet, quaint, and quirky, heartwarming and wholesome.

I picked this one because as a teenager I loved the author’s “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe,” but then was a little concerned that Goodreads numbered this one as fourth in a series. But don’t worry, you don’t have to have read the other books - I read the nominal first book 20 years or so ago and have no memory of it, and never read the other two (though now I want to), and by the descriptions this book is as much or more a prequel as a sequel, if that.

Love, love, love this book! Fannie Flagg has always created characters you'd want to sit and sip iced tea with and she manages to do so even when the characters are dead. I've always loved Elmwood Springs and I've often thought it would be a lovely place to live. And now, it doesn't sound like a half-bad place to die!

A multi generational story about a town called Elmwood Springs and the people that live and die there. Wildly imaginative and such a great story. I always love a Fanny Flagg book 💙💙💙 #bookworm #booknerd

RATING: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)

Please note that this is the fourth instalment of Flagg's Elwood Springs but can be read as a standalone. Again, Flagg gives us a saga of Elwood Springs that spans decades and has a crew of quirky endearing characters. I enjoy the way Flagg sucks the reader into the town and as you read you start to think of these characters as real people. If you are looking for an escape to a small town with laughter and tears, Elwood Springs is a place to go. I would definitely reread this series again at some point.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

In a very small town, generations of very nice people are born, grow up, marry, have children, grow old, die, are buried in the local graveyard where they continue to gather together to gossip about each new generation. The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg is character driven both in life and afterlife and it is at times, charming and humorous. But after a while, I found myself wondering if anything happened in this town despite the characters living through wars and a Great Depression only to die and continue their slow happy lives in their Afterlives together with all their relatives past and future. Trouble is, all these characters (and there are so so many both living and dead) pretty much all seemed interchangeable and, even with the odd names, every time I put the book down, I found myself having to go back to figure out which generation we were on now.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed The Whole Town's Talking for what it was, a nice charming even whimsical story of small town life but, in some ways, it seemed like those small towns in old black & white movies where just about everyone is really good and there are no scandals but, at least in those old movies, there was usually a crooked banker or mine owner or overly ambitious journalist to add tension. Here, everyone is...just nice.

The Whole Town's Talking
by Fannie Flagg

I love Fannie Flagg's books. She is my go-to author when I need a "fluffy" read that is folksy and has characters I can love or despise and laugh at - good naturedly of course..

This book was an absolute treat as it included many characters from most of her earlier works. It was fun to revisit them. I recommend reading her other books before reading this one. Her other books were more developed and had more sub-plots. This was not as well-rounded as her earlier books, but I still enjoyed it.

A few years ago, I heard somewhere that Fannie Flagg had passed away. I was heart-broken. When this title was released, I thought it was a book that had been in process and was finished after her death. I am so relieved that Fannie is alive and well and I look forward to spending time in her world. Sometimes I need a "puppies and sunshine" book and she is the author I depend on to write it. Ms. Flagg, I am awaiting your next one!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for an unbiased review.

I was given this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I do not know why I let this book languish on my to read pile for so long! A sweet book following the story of Elmwood Springs from its beginning and the lives of its residents from birth until beyond the grave. Elmwood Springs was founded in the 1800's by Lorder Nordstrom and his mail-order bride, and Fannie Flagg gives us the gift of watching how generations of the townspeople grow. I often wonder what happens to characters when a book ends, and this book was wonderful in that we got to see it. We even get to see what the residents do when they die and are buried at Still Meadows.

I can't wait to go back and read more Elmwood Springs books.

Fannie Flagg is a favorite author of mine, and I loved the title of this book! Vibrant characters, smart writing! Awesome read!!

In typical Fanny Flagg fashion this was such a great read that I enjoyed from the start. The progression of time and the interactions of the residents was amusing. This was a light hearted read that I would recommend to others.

I loved Fannie Flagg books and wanted so badly to like this one. When I wasn't able to get into my electronic copy, I reserved a copy to listen, even when I wasn't able to get into the book, characters or plot. I'm hoping that I can pick up a copy and read try it again.

What's happening in Elmwood Springs, Missouri? Mystery, surprises and a fascinating setting for Fannie Flagg's terrific book. I love all of her writing and intrigued by the theme of The Whole Town's Talking. Ms. Flagg has created a whole universe of delightful characters and I was sorry to see the book end. Highly recommend.

Fannie Flagg has a very poetic way of writing, which makes whatever you read easy, relaxing and highly enjoyable. Having not read anything of hers for many years and 'the whole towns talking' has not disappointed.

The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg was like nothing I have ever read. It was actually a lot of fun and had such a positive tone that at time it seemed naïve. Really that is the charm though. It was fun to literally go through a century of history with this town and it's inhabitants. Sprinkled here and there were historical references which lent authenticity to the story and the time periods. I would recommend this as a beach read. No cussing, no sex, no lies or major tragedies. Like I said, it's a little bit "fluffy" but who doesn't need a little fluff now and again?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This books follows the community of Elmwood Springs, Missouri from its formation in the late 1800s until the near future. It follows many of the town’s residents throughout their lives and even their afterlives.

Based on the book’s description, specifically “something strange is happening out at the cemetery”, I expected the living townspeople to know something was happening, but the living people were oblivious to the fact. Only the reader knows, switching back and forth between the people living their lives and the dead people talking at the cemetery. I did not realize there was already a trilogy about this town until after I finished this book. Reading the trilogy first might have made this book better; as a standalone, there were so many characters that it was hard to keep them all straight. There were also short asides in this book that had nothing to do with the storyline, and the characters never show up again – I wonder if those characters might have been in the first 3 books about Elmwood Springs. I would definitely recommend checking out the other books in the Elmwood Springs series before reading this book.

Lovely book. What a wonderful imagination! This traces the history of a town and its inhabitants from the 1800s to the present. It is great to get to know these folks. A sweet view of the afterlife. Not as hysterical as some of her earlier books but very sweet. Still humorous, but in a quieter way. A delightful escape from the cares of the world.

I love, love Fannie Flagg and her latest book does not disappoint this long time fan! She has a wonderful way of writing that sucks you in and makes you believe.

This is the first Fannie Flagg book that I've read and I have to say that I found it as relaxing as putting on an old pair of sweatpants. The book starts out in the late 1800's, as the town of Elmwood Springs is settled and Lordor is looking for a wife. The story follows the townspeople as they die, and are buried in the town cemetery, where they find a second life, able to watch and comment on their descendants lives.

I know that it sounds weird, but it actually worked. It was strangely comforting to read. The years went by so fast, and you got to see the progress and evolution of time on the people and the town.

I love reading about ordinary people's lives, and that's all this was. The chances they took, the heartache they faced, the happiness they found, and the loss they experienced. I will definitely be looking for more of her books, this one just made me happy.

Thank you to NetGalley for offering me an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This story begins in the 1889 when Lordor Nordstrom left his home in Sweden and headed for America. He found land he liked in Missouri and created a farm. Then he put ads in Swedish newspapers looking for others to join him, which they did. He also donated a piece of land on top of a small hill overlooking the town for a cemetery.

The town grew, babies were born, Lordor sends off for a mail-order bride, and life goes on. Up to this point, it is a nice-enough story. Then Lordor dies and goes to that cemetery, named Still Meadows. Come to find out, although people in Elmwood Springs, Missouri died, they didn't leave right away.

The story follows the town and the townspeople right up until the present day and Fannie Flagg once again delights with her wit and vivid imagination! (