The Whole Town's Talking

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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.\n\nWINNER OF THE SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE \n\nElmwood 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.\n\nLordor 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.\n\nWith 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.\n\nPraise for The Whole Town's Talking\n\n"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\n\n"Fannie Flagg at her best."--The Florida Times-Union\n\n"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\n\n"Delightful."--The Washington Post\n\n"A ringing affirmation of love, community and life itself."--Richmond Times-Dispatch\n\nEditorial Reviews\n\n[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\n\n"The Whole Town's Talking [is] Fannie Flagg at her best."--Florida Times Union\n\n"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. . . . Another brilliant novel--equally on the level as her famous Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe."--The Newport Plain Talk\n\n"Told with warmth, humor and remarkable characters, this touching novel is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of love."--The Columbus Dispatch\n\n"Delightful."--The Washington Post\n\n"I could not put this book down and didn't want the tale to end. Fannie Flagg does it again; a great read you won't want to miss."--The Missourian \n\n"It's a sweeping, cinematic approach. . . . Flagg's gentle storytelling makes the novel an easy, comfortable read that will leave a reader thinking about life, love and loss"--Minneapolis Star Tribune\n\n"[Fannie Flagg] creates a world familiar in its reality and its hopes, and she displays her storytelling skills, ones that are enhanced by her humanity, her optimism and her big heart. . . .The Whole Town's Talking [is] a story of life's peaks, valleys and ordinary days--and a ringing affirmation of love, community and life itself."--Richmond Times-Dispatch\n\n"The Whole Town's Talking is warm and inviting. Flagg's Elmwood Springs novels are comfort reads of the best kind, warm and engaging without flash or fuss."--Miami Herald\n\n"Flagg's humor shines through as she chronicles their successes, disappointments, and even a mysterious murder or two. . . . The interwoven lives of these completely engaging characters twist and turn in unexpected ways, making this chronicle of a close-knit community a pleasure to read."--BookPage\n\n"[A] charming tale."--Booklist\n\nPraise for Fannie Flagg \n\n"A born storyteller."--The New York Times Book Review\n- From the Publisher\n\n05/01/2016\nBest known for Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, Flagg routinely turns out hits; 2013's The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion has sold 405,000 copies across formats. In Elmwood Springs, MO, townsfolk who die wake up once they are buried and convene amiably with friends and family. But, puzzlingly, some of the dead simply vanish.\n- Library Journal\n\nKimberly Farr maintains narrative drive as Flagg's book follows several generations of a town's residents from 1889 to 2020. The story begins in 1889, when Swedish immigrant Lordor Nordstrom founds the town of Elmwood Springs, Missouri. It's easy to be lulled into thinking this is a typical idealistic story of old times-until the older generation begins to pass away, to be buried in the town's cemetery. Then things take an interesting supernatural turn. Farr's slow-paced, clearly enunciated narration completely fits the tone of the story. She creates excellent character voices and accents, adding charm to the production. Listeners will either love the author's take on what may happen after death or be completely put off by it, but Farr's narration makes for easy listening either way. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine\n- DECEMBER 2016 - AudioFile