Reviews

The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg

sherwoodreads's review against another edition

This was a quirky, pleasant book that took me several weeks to read.

The first quarter of it or so involved me deeply in the nineteenth-century origins of the small town of Elmwood Springs. We are introduced to the settlers who established a village there, and eventually named it, everything centering around Swedish immigrant Lordor Nordstrom and his slow, steady search for a wife.

Once he’s married and established on his farm, and the town takes on a name and a slowly growing population, the book abruptly becomes another type of book—more like a synopsis of what might have been a saga or series. The abrupt change occurs around the time that the first settlers die, and turn up aware in the local cemetery.

From then on, we get brief snippets, mostly summaries, but sometimes scenes, of the population of Elmwood Springs over the rapidly changing decades of the twentieth century and on into the first two decades of the twenty-first. It finishes with an epilogue that pulls together a mystery set up in the last quarter, and also solves the mystery set up early on when the dead settlers turn up and talk to one another.

The writing is vivid, quirky, with a sense of humor, sometimes a sense of sharp tragedy, wistful and observant, and yes, a bit preachy by turns.

But I liked several of the main characters so much, sketched in as they were. Flagg’s sympathetic, humorous narrative voice plus the wacky and colorful details kept me picking up the book again and again, even though I’d frequently lay it down to turn to other things.

I think it would have been a tremendous saga, but it is what it is—skipping over the surface of several generations of interesting characters, the narrative beguiling enough to be entertaining, off-beat, good-hearted, generous, funny. And a surprise at the very end.

Review copy courtesy of NetGalley

winewalknbooktok's review against another edition

3.0

I really enjoyed this book as it chronicled the life of the people who live in Elmwood Springs, Missouri. It starts at the very start of the town when the 28-year-old Swedish founder Lordor Nordstrom finds the perfect spot to run his dairy farm. Later he places an ad for a mail-order bride, and the story goes on from there.

The author writes with ease the subtle humor and story make for an easy read. The story begins in 1889 continues through the decades until 2021. As the characters died they were buried in Still Meadows where they get another little "lease on life."

loreopoly's review against another edition

4.0

This isn't the sort of book I usually read but my mother-in-law said it was good so i gave it a go. I found myself laughing out loud at times and i really did feel a connection to many of the characters. it was a fun, fast read but for those of us living in the 'me too' world and trying to be socially conscience you'll have to put aside some of those emotions and just let it be what it was for the time(s) it was set in.

mashkhura_1378's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

wife228's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent

I love her books. The hold your attention. This one was long but a definite very good read. You will feel like you live there once you get started.

mo3942's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is the second novel I’ve read from Fannie Flagg, and her ability to make a whole town come ailive for over a century is insane. Still can’t believe I heard of this woman because she made raunchy jokes on Match Game and now I’m reading her novels and brought to tears by the simple life stories of people I’ve never met, towns I’ve never been to, and yet it feels like I’m mourning the loss of so so many great friends and family by the end.

I watched the movie Inside Out 2 while I was in the middle of reading this book, and I can’t help but compare the messages - IO2 speaks to every aspect of us (positive or negative) being central to our beings as people, and this novel’s being that every little life and every little moment is valuable, even those that society deems worthless. The way I think about everything is different now, and it is beautiful.

kat_rowlen's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I couldn’t wait for this book to end. There was no plot and the book completely changes from beginning to end. There were 402 pages and about 402 plot points. This book just glossed over some of the more interesting storylines and we never got a in depth put together novel. It felt more like a conglomeration of interconnected short stories. There were like 40,000 characters to keep up with and it was way too hard to keep them all straight. The characters could have been lovable but there wasn’t a chance to get to know them. This was my first novel by Fannie Flagg so I’m hoping her others are better. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

ckarako's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

beckca03's review against another edition

5.0

I am not ashamed to say I loved this book. It was so refreshing to revisit some of my favorite Fannie Flagg characters, and the "plot" was really engaging too.

allielit's review against another edition

3.0

Cute

This didn't have a climactic revelation, but the synopsis didn't say it would. So it made for a good Forrest Gump-like stroll through decades.