The Whole Town's Talking

A Novel

By: Fannie Flagg

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

The best-selling 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.

Winner of the Southern Book Prize

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.

Praise for The Whole Town’s Talking:

“A witty multigenerational saga.... [Fannie] Flagg’s down-home wisdom, her affable humor and her long view of life offer a pleasant respite in nerve-jangling times.” (People)

“Fannie Flagg at her best.” (The Florida Times-Union)

“If there’s one thing Fannie Flagg can do better than anybody else, it’s tell a story, and she outdoes herself in The Whole Town’s Talking.... Brilliant...equally on the level as her famous Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.” (The Newport Plain Talk)

“Delightful.” (The Washington Post)

“A ringing affirmation of love, community and life itself.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

©2016 Fannie Flagg (P)2016 Random House Audio

So many characters!

This book goes along with Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, also by Fanny Flagg. Easy fun read, an interesting take on death. The only drawback for me is the large number of characters. In true Fanny Flagg style this is a good balance between humor and serious real life situations. I would recommend this book.

always like Fannie Flagg books

Great narrator! Always love Fannie Flagg books , I've read them all and would read them again.

Fun fun fun

I enjoyed every minute of this book. Following the generations from the start of a town. The people talking in the cemetery often made me laugh. But it also gave me food for thought.

Was so looking forward to this...but disappoints.

Not as much wonderful
Fanny Flagg humor as I've grown to expect. I just couldn't get invested in the characters. Maybe just too many of them.

I loved this book!

In the beginning I thought it was just a fun, fluff sort of novel. By the end I decided that there was a lot more substance. I find myself thinking about it and talking about it. That's the indication, for me, that it was a very worthwhile book!

Expectations not met

Kinda slow moving but that's one of the things I like about Fannie Flagg. Her other books were much better IMHO.

Lovelfy. <br />

A great tribute to small town America as well as a thoughtful reflection on the eternal spirit.

A fun history lesson without realizing it

It was wonderful getting to know generations of families in this small town. It was easy to relate to many of the characters and the time frames they lived in. It was romantic, funny, and informative.

very inspiring

I have referred this book to my entire family and friends. none of them could put it the book down. I look forward to the next book.

The whole towns talking.

I liked this book all except for the last chapter. Without spoilers, it was just super anticlimactic and disappointing. The book was a good one to listen to while I did my housework because it wasn’t complicated and it was an easy, fun listen. I lenjoyed the back stories of the town and the people I came to love in Fannie Flagg other Elmwood Springs books. It was just a nice, easy book. Except for the last chapter! I think it could’ve just been left out completely.