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The Whole Town's Talking: A Novel
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The Whole Town's Talking: A Novel
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The Whole Town's Talking: A Novel
Audiobook12 hours

The Whole Town's Talking: A Novel

Written by Fannie Flagg

Narrated by Kimberly Farr

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

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.

New York Times Bestseller • Southern Book Prize Winner

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.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 29, 2016
ISBN9780739354049
Unavailable
The Whole Town's Talking: A Novel

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Reviews for The Whole Town's Talking

Rating: 3.6000000400000003 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book left me feeling a little time line over done. It seemed to just flow through time between the town growing and the population in the town cemetery growing also. It was just a little too whimsical for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to hear a different view on what might happen to us after we pass away. I also liked hearing about the town and the people throughout the decades.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fannie Flagg is such a wonderful writer, and always surprises me with her stories of small town life. The story starts with Lodor Nordstrom, in 1889 Missouri, and travels a century in the life of a small town and its people. You first fall in love with Lodor and his mail order bride Katrina, but the love affair soon includes so many of the towns people. Through wars, cultural change, and small town stories, everyone is talking, and not just the living. The only thing better than reading a Flagg book, is listening to her narrate one.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a pretty good book from Fannie Flagg. The premise of what happens to folks when they leave this world was interesting, but after awhile, the characters really piled up fast and I got a little confused at times. The story lines jumped around even though there was a chronology of decades. I really enjoyed it at the beginning, but as the book went along, I was looking forward for the end.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What a wonderful book. I laughed and I cried. Sometimes at the same time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What an interesting book with a different viewpoint. In the pages of this novel, we have the history of a small town, Elmwood Springs, MO. It's not just any history, however, given the proximity of some of the characters. Beloved characters are followed from the beginning, and we learn of their lives, their families, and what they contributed to the growth of the town. It is also a sad look at the state of some of our small towns today that have been taken over by big-box stores, leaving once picturesque downtown areas deserted. I laughed out loud more than once, and I teared up a couple of times too. Good read!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This simple, multi-generational story is best described by paraphrasing Ms. Flagg's words: They had lived and died. It was as simple as that. They were each "another little link in the chain of life, inching forward from generation to generation."

    Fannie Flagg introduces the reader to the sturdy Swedish settlers of a small Missouri town and moves their stories forward from 1889 through 2021. At the beginning and center of the story is Lordor Nordstrom and the dairy farm that touches and supports so many of the residents of Elmwood Springs. Her characters span the gamut and would be recognizable to anyone who grew up in a small town. Ms. Flagg touches on a myriad of social issues through the decades with intelligence and wit.

    Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This is not one of the better novels by Fannie Flagg. Flagg's novel spans too many years and reads like the book of Genesis of the Bible. The novel seems to be who begat who, and in the end, the reader has too many characters to remember. Flagg does bring into the novel all the historic events form the 1890's to the 2010's. The majority of the story deals with the town's dead residents talking among themselves that parallels Spoon River Anthology. The story deals with death and how people handle death. The story also centers on love and disappointment, but again too many characters and too long in time. Too many issues remain unresolved.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fun little exploration by audiobook of the life of a small town. Kimberley Farr does a credible job of the different voices and there are lots of them. It seems this is the fourth in a series of novels about this small town. I haven't read any of the others and I don't know that I would seek them out but I might listen to another if it pops up.Elmwood Springs Missouri was founded by Swedish settler Lordor Nordstrom. After getting established he advertised for a bride and soon was married to Kristina. Their family along with those of other Swedish settlers grew and soon the town was thriving. Lordor set aside the land for a cemetary and each original settler were given a plot. Others were able to buy a plot for a reasonable price. The cemetary was a place were people went to celebrate special days with their deceased loved ones. Little did they know that their loved ones were able to see and hear them and talk with the other deceased. The deceased kept up with the news of the town and the greater world by questioning the newly deceased as they arrived. Occasionally one of the deceased who had been taking part in the discussions would just cease to be. At the end of the book we find out where they went.An amusing look at life after death and also at life in a small town.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not as good as her previous books but a sweet easy read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Entertaining, but not as good as past books that I've read by Fannie Flagg. This one was a history of the town and characters of Elmwood Springs, Missouri. So if you've read her other books, you might recognize several of the characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Every time I read one of Fannie Flagg's novels I fall in love with it- The story, the characters, and her writing style. This book was no exception and I actually felt like I was part of Elmwood Springs. The book tells the story of Elmwood Springs from the beginning, even before the town even had a name. Lordor Nordstrom started it all when he decided on the perfect place to begin his dairy farm and eventually find himself a Swedish mail-order bride. The book continues until present time. I read Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!(Elmwood Springs #1) over ten years ago, so it was good to find out more about the characters. Some of the names seemed familiar, but I didn't remember all of them. Now I want to read more of the Elmwood Springs books!!Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and the author, Fannie Flagg, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    LOVED THIS BOOK! Very enjoyable,creative and imaginative! Funny and bittersweet too! A wonderful read! Just as you get used to Still Meadows and its residents,you also get a surprise ending! AS a family historian, this book will make my next trip to the cemetery much more fun! Fun,lovely,read!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good read. Not a can't put down book, but fun.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I absolutely love Fannie Flagg's books. Reading one of her stories is like comfort food, warm slippers and a purring cat in your lap all at once. I was looking forward to reading this one, but I found that it wasn't like any of her previous books. As usual, I loved her characters, but in this book there were just so many of them, and the time covered by the book (80+ years), is very long, so it's diffiuclt for a reader to really get to know the characters. I would begin to think that I would know a certain character and then that character would be gone.. Gone, but not really gone, as they all eventually meet up again up on the hill in Still Meadows. In spite of all this, the little town of Elmwood Springs was very realistically portrayed. It was like Elmwood Springs itself was the main character in the book. Ms. Flagg's writing is so folksy and so warm that it's impossible not be drawn in to the world she creates. I just would have liked to be able to spend more time with Lorder Nordstrom and with Aunt Elner and a few others. A nice little comfort book is how I would have to describe this one.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fannie Flagg writes books that you, or at least, I want to live in! This book tells the story of Lordor Nordstrom, his Swedish mail-order bride, Katrina, and their neighbors and descendants as they live, marry and then die in their little town. Lordor Nordstrom created a wonderful, prosperous little town. And, also had the foresight to set aside a beautiful piece of land for the final resting place for his family and neighbors. Imagine their surprise to find out that it's not actually the final resting place. Just a delightful story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg is a highly recommended sweet, charming novel that follows the residents of Elmwood Springs, Missouri, from 1889 to 2021. Elmwood Springs was founded by Swedish immigrants, specifically Lordor Nordstrom. At the beginning of The Whole Town's Talking the citizens in the area, before they are even officially a town, mark out on a hill where the cemetery is going to be and choose an area for their family plots and final resting places. They name it Still Meadows, which it is anything but still or restful, as you will hear in the future.Lordor advertises for a wife and Katrina replies, a young Swedish woman living in Chicago. They exchange pictures and letters. The women in the town try to help Lordor's cause, assuring Katrina that "Lordor is a good eater and has all his teeth" and that it "is not like Sweden here. We do not let the men rule with an iron hand. We are all free American women in Missouri." Katrina accepts his invitation to come to Missouri and Lordor pleads with her to "Please hurry. All the ladies around here are busy trying to improve me as well. By the time you get here, I may be over-improved and not much good for anything.After the opening Flagg introduces us to the citizens and families of Elmwood Springs and follows the happenings decade by decade. It's an epic novel for those who like sentimental lighthearted novels that are extremely well written. Flagg has always been a wonderful story-teller and she brings that innate gift to bear on The Whole Town's Talking. It is a pleasant, feel-good story, but it is also a witty, funny tour through the decades with the citizens of Elmwood Springs. There are a few serious and sad moments, but the citizens pull together and keep a positive outlook on life.Soon enough readers will learn that once you have reached your final resting place in Still Meadows, you may be resting, but the meadows are anything but still as those interred there are able to talk to each other until they mysteriously seem to just quietly disappear. Just as the community below the hill is active, the discussions are also ongoing on the hill top. I especially appreciated the thoughts at the end from Macky who is worried about the country because he felt something was rotting from the inside, a slow decay of what was right and wrong. If you would find the idea of souls living on talking to each other objectionable, then you might want to skip this one. If that isn't going to bother you, then this is a pleasant comforting stroll through the decades with the citizens of a small town.Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    If anyone likes Fannie Flagg or thought provoking, light fiction -I just finished (and turned right around to read it again)The Whole Town's TalkingWhat a sweet and entirely thought provoking book. This is written in very short chapters by many different points of view and spans time from the founding of this town in the 1880's to 2016 and the generations that come from the (Swedish and German)founding fathers. There really is no plot (well two tiny mysteries, but they are more of an aside) and this is written in an almost diary type style with no ones voice any louder than any others. This is simply a novel about the founding, growth, happiness of a town and its inhabitants.Funny at times, sad at others I imagine that you'll be as surprised at the ending as I was and then sent into a what if mood.But I think it's worth it - I may even read it for a third time over the weekend.It is the perfect calming book - no chase scenes or sword fights, no great angst or lust filled sex scenes, just quiet loves and lives lived to the fullest. Not always the best of lives; just the fullest.*ARC Supplied by publisher
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5 I consider Fannie Flag one of my ultimate comfort read authors. The book started delightfully strong, with letters back and forth from a farmer looking to take on a mail order Swedish wife. But.....I guess I wasn't in need of as much comfort as I thought at the time, lost interest and put it aside. Then yesterday we had cold, hard rains, my basement took on a little water and I was definitely in need of comfort and picked it back up. Better of mind and I fond it chock full of the things I associate with this author,Quirky plot, a little silliness, likeable characters, well most of them, a few intrigues, always have to have those and just a general niceness and people who pretty much like each other. We are there at the start of the town, a follow the generations down the lime to the end of the town. There is also a subplot concerning the town cemetery that was alot of fun. At times it was a bit to sweet, a bit too corny but all in all it was delightful, just what I needed.ARC from Netgalley.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed the community depiction and the characters are endearing. I couldn't finish the (audio) book though as the accent the reader takes when reading the dialogues is really annoying. I don't see why a Swedish girl talking to her mother would speak English with an accent. And if translated, the accent makes no sense. The rest of the book is beautifully read but if you like natural voices... It won't work for you either
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    It's amazing that a publishing house would publish a book written by someone with the mind of a ten year old. This book is so sticky sweet that it hurts your teeth to read it. It should be in the children's section.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I enjoyed the first third of this book, but then it stopped resembling anything I would call a novel. It didn't maintain a coherent storyline and the ongoing introduction of new, poorly developed characters became tiresome. I lost interest and did not finish it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was such a good book! I loved the premise of the story, I cared about the characters and genuinely could not wait to finish the book. The thought that those who passed away have the ability to interact with each other and transcend to other beings is so comforting. This is my third Fannie Flagg book and it was definitely worth the read.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Probably my least favorite of her books. Easy reading if you want something light with no particular conflict or zip.

    It's the story of a pleasant little town and its pleasant people.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I guess 3 and a half... I LOVE her stories and I got into the characters (slowly this time) but it was a good story. I couldn't wait to see how it would end. And -eh- it ended but I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. I suspended my disbelief easily in the story and even enjoyed it, but the ending -eh-.

    So not 4 stars.. but not 3 either.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Whole Town's Talking is a classic, feel-good story, with lovable characters, a quaint wholesome town where almost everyone does the right thing and a rather interesting town cemetery. It is not all proper, it is spiced up with a few down and out characters, like a drinker, a cheating husband, and even a plot involving murder and fraud. It is all told with that typical Fannie Flagg humor and wit we have come to expect. The story takes place in a small town in Missouri and spans from 1889 to 2020.

    Lordor Nordstrom, a farmer who emigrates from Sweden, buys some desirable land in Missouri which he clears for a dairy farm. Then, he places an ad for other farmers to come settle in this area, which several do, so they can build a community. Lordor decides that every community needs a cemetery, so he designates an area and they call it Still Meadows Cemetery. This is an odd idea to me as the townspeople actually stake claim to the area they want to be buried and take care of it like it is a garden or park. They plant trees, bushes etc. and often come to weed it etc. When Lodor realizes that he is not going to find a wife in the community, his friends convince him to place a second ad in the paper looking for a "mail order bride". The letters back and forth between Lodor and Katrina are delightful. After their marriage, and the establishing of the town, Elmwood Springs, the story continues through the years focusing on the residents of the town through love, marriage, birth, death, war, depression, and even murder. At the same time, something strange is happening at Still Meadows Cemetery....

    All the characters you'll meet in this book are people you wish were your neighbours. If you ever needed anything, they are there for you. This is a charming multi-generational story of life (and afterlife) in Elmwood Springs, MO starting in 1880's. It is an enjoyable read meeting these fun, wholesome, quirky characters that takes you back to a simpler time in America. This is a wonderful book for lovers of women's fiction as well as those interested in a lighter view of history. My only complaint is that I was not sure if I liked the ending or not. It is definitely a unique view of the afterlife. Thank-you to the publisher Random House who generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I've previously read two of [[Fannie Flagg]]'s books: the iconic [Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe] and the enjoyable [Redbird Christmas].So when I saw this audiobook at a FOL sale, I picked it up. This follows the townspeople of a Elmwood Springs, Missouri, from it's first settling in 1889 by homesteader Lordor Nordstrom and his mail-order bride.The original group of settlers grows, marries, has children, becomes elderly and die. We then see their offspring and their offspring's offspring through several generations.'The Whole Town's Talking' is a gossipy column in the local newspaper. It also refers to those buried in the cemetery who continue to observe and comment on events; until one by one, the dead mysteriously disappear.I enjoyed the pioneer section of this novel. And I also liked the moments of humor, especially with the wonderful Elner Shimfissle. But as this novel progressed through the generations, there became dozens of inhabitants living ordinary lives. And while the day to day can be certainly beautiful, unfortunately, these characters and their brief appearances in the novel did not really catch my attention. I thought most of them had little depth due to their very numbers.I listened to the audiobook while driving and it worked well for that. But it's not on my recommended list. I will, however, try Fannie Flagg again.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Now that was an interesting look at the live in an imaginary town.... I loved the "appearances" of characters from other books by Fannie Flagg! Quite enjoyable!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I love Flagg and her novels, but this one fell a little flat for me. For a survey of the 20th century by decade, the absence of any mention of race or the Civil Rights Movement was conspicuous. A little cutesy even for Elmwood Springs.