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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
I was excited about the book for the first 1/3 of it, but then I got a little bored with it. There are so many characters that it gets confusing. It picked back up toward the end. The ending was pretty cute, but abrupt.
This was another enjoyable book by Fannie Flagg, filled with her wit and hometown comfort. I was really interested in the story at first, but somewhere along the way, I grew bored and just wanted it to be over. Perhaps it was just the mood I was in, so I hate to discourage anyone in reading this one. If you have enjoyed her books in the past, this one is worth a try. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
A bit episodic, but it actually works and is great fun.
I tend to read these way after publication and too many years apart for any continuity as a series, but, especially as audiobooks, they can’t be beat.
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.
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.
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Enjoyable at first, but I got a bit tired of it as it flipped though so many generations, and it was hard to keep track of all the characters
Usually I have LOL moments with Fannie Flagg's books. Not this one. After the first third, the book's plot became sophomoric and boring. Disappointed. Was hoping to have some good chuckles.
This was an easy read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was what I would call a very sweet novel.