Fannie Flagg is a sure thing.

Her characters are incredibly charming and have the ability to make you smile and be moved at the same time.

In my opinion, one of her most beautiful books is [book title]. The story is engaging and filled with heartwarming moments that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

Fannie Flagg has a unique writing style that draws you in and makes you feel like you're a part of the story. Her attention to detail and ability to create vivid characters is truly remarkable.

If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel good inside, then I highly recommend giving Fannie Flagg a try. You won't be disappointed.

Checking off "a book your mother loves" for my 2015 reading challenge. It's quite an interesting task, but unfortunately, my mother's taste in books seems to be rather horrible. I was really looking forward to exploring a book that she adores, thinking it might open up a new world of literature for me. However, as I started reading the book she recommended, I quickly realized that it wasn't to my liking at all. The writing style was dull, the plot was predictable, and the characters lacked depth. I tried to give it a fair chance, but after a few chapters, I just couldn't bring myself to continue. It's strange how our tastes can be so different, even within the same family. Maybe this was a good reminder that everyone has their own unique preferences when it comes to reading.

This is part of a trilogy about the citizens of Elmwood Springs, Missouri.

I've unabashedly adored all three of them. When I finish reading, I'm filled with sadness as I wish I could live there and know these people.

My love is not blind. "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" was about as silly a book as you'll ever come across, but I don't care. Elner Shinfissle, a name that would enrage me in a book I didn't like, is a sweet, elderly midwestern lady. She has basically touched the lives of everyone she's ever met. She appreciates all the beauty and kindness in the world and makes others see it too. With no children of her own, she is the beloved Aunt Elner to the whole of Elmwood Springs. She is a friend, teacher, baker, advisor, and volunteer, depending on what each person or group needs.

Aunt Elner steadfastly refuses to move from her farm closer to town, which worries everyone as she is really too old to be out there by herself. This same stubbornness leads to her falling out of a fig tree one day. She is rushed to the hospital and declared dead.

The reaction of the whole wonderful cast of characters to the news of Elner's untimely death is both touching and funny. Meanwhile, Elner is wandering around in heaven, marveling at the decor and making the acquaintance of all kinds of people she's always wanted to meet, including God and Thomas Edison (she is a huge fan of his invention, electricity).

If you read this plot summary and roll your eyes and yawn, I understand. But if you are ever in the mood for a lovely, feel-good break from real life, I encourage you to give this (or one of the other two in the series) a chance.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention, if you can possibly get your hands on the audio book, and have Fannie Flagg read this to you with her lovely southern-belle drawl, it makes it that much better.

A friend who was truly in love with this book very kindly loaned it to me. At the beginning, specifically the first half of the book, I found it a bit too saccharine for my taste. It seemed overly sweet and perhaps a bit cloying. However, as I continued reading, something wonderful happened. The story started to take on a different tone. It became both funny and whimsical, filled with charming and unexpected moments.

These qualities really engaged me and made me eager to see what would happen next. Before I knew it, I had finished the book quickly. It was one of those reads that, despite the initial hurdle, ended up being quite enjoyable and satisfying. I'm glad my friend recommended it to me, as it introduced me to a world of humor and imagination that I might not have otherwise discovered.

Overall, while the first half may not have been to my liking, the second half more than made up for it, and I would definitely recommend this book to others who are looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read.

Oh okay read.

It was for book group or I wouldn't have read it. I have such a long list of books that I'm currently working on.

If you have an abundance of time and would relish a few laughs, this book does indeed have them.

There is mild language, and God/Harvey doesn't judge his children. There is no final judgement, and heaven is depicted as how we envision it to be. They simply desire for us to be happy.

Flagg wrote this book to remind us that there are still numerous good people in the world and that the best is yet to come. On that aspect, I would not disagree.

One thing that I truly like about all of Fannie Flagg's books is that she includes a recipe section at the back, featuring the foods mentioned in the book.

It's great fun to see and attempt these recipes. I'm planning on making the Heavenly Carmel Cake.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out and if it tastes as delicious as it sounds in the book.

Overall, while the book may not be a literary masterpiece, it does have its charm and offers some light entertainment.

I'm glad I read it for the book group, and it has given me something to look forward to in the kitchen.

This book initially gave me a rather uncertain impression.

When the premise that the main character dies, goes to heaven, and then comes back to life became clear, I was a bit skeptical.

Unlike some other recently popular heavenly tour books that claim to be "true" stories, this one didn't have that same authenticity.

However, what really made it a great read for me were the characters and their relationships.

The author managed to infuse a healthy dose of humor into the story, which added a light and enjoyable touch.

The interactions between the characters were engaging and realistic, making it easy for me to become invested in their lives.

Despite my initial doubts, the book ended up being a worthwhile read due to these aspects.

I would recommend it to others who are looking for a story that combines elements of the supernatural with relatable characters and a good sense of humor.

When I first embarked on this book, I was truly pondering why I was delving into it.

It appeared to be a book targeted at elderly women. Nevertheless, I persisted with it, and ultimately found myself relishing it.

It was a good story, a "feel good" and easily readable book.

I took a liking to the way the author narrated the story, which was somewhat similar to Janet Evanovich's style.

I'm fairly certain that my friend Toni pointed out this resemblance to me.

Although I'm not entirely sure if I'll pick up another book by this author, I'm not ruling it out either.

Perhaps there could be another gem waiting for me to discover within the pages of this author's works.

Only time will tell if I'll take that leap and explore further.

For now, I'm content with having had this enjoyable reading experience.

This book truly deserves 5 stars plus 5 little hearts for the tenderness and entertainment it has evoked in me. It is a novel belonging to that strand of a somewhat "cozy" magical realism, as only the American southern province knows how to recreate. And the protagonist, Elner Shimfissle, is such a treasure, so beloved by her neighbors and friends, that she doesn't even feel that special for having been a miracle, for having had the opportunity to visit heaven and be able to come back and tell what is beyond.

Of course, by now we are at home in Elmwood Springs, so it is no surprise to us to see the reactions of all the inhabitants to the news of Elner's death, which is disproven a few hours later (and thank goodness her niece Norma didn't have an autopsy done on her and waited a moment before cremating her!), with the relative sighs of relief and apoplectic fits of those who received the first news but not the second, and then find her alive and well in front of them.

At the end of the novel, there is an appendix with the recipes mentioned in the book, first and foremost the title's caramel cake, which for once, I really want to try!

"Remember to everyone that life is as each one builds it, and to smile, that out there there is the sun, and it all depends on them."

My mom obtained this from the State library Talking Books.

Immediately, I looked up the reviews and thought it was something she would adore.

However, imagine my astonishment when she declared on Monday that she didn't like this book at all and wanted to return it.

She said it was too difficult to understand.

Huh???

I inserted the cartridge into the digital reader, and, sure enough, it was extremely hard to understand as the reader sounded like a chipmunk.

I slowed it down to "normal" and then went one notch lower.

To my surprise, this book really hooked me.

EDITED TO ADD: This is the very first time I have read a Fannie Flagg book.

Yes, read.

Because I promptly rushed to the library and picked up a hardbound copy of it.

After all, I had missed the initial part of the book.

We should have rewound it, but we didn't.

I could follow the reader and really enjoyed listening to her read it.

It was a highly satisfying read.

I adored the little mysteries interwoven within the story and how they were resolved.

I read somewhere to "prepare to laugh out loud, cry and fall in love with the characters."

And indeed, I did.

There is only one adjective to describe this book: hilarious!!! Return "Aunt Elner", the protagonist of the two previous volumes of Flagg set in Elmwood Springs: the grandmother or the aunt that everyone would like to have.

Her truly entertaining adventures are made even more hilarious by her philosophy of life. While reading it, I couldn't stop laughing, but at the same time, I was reflecting on the sensible teachings of Aunt Elner, often contained in a cutting remark.

This book confirms Flagg's extraordinary ability to depict the colorful American countryside and create memorable characters.

Highly recommended to those who want to have a good laugh!

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If you remember well in the review of Miss Alabama and the House of Dreams, I had said that Flagg's stories always smell good to me. How could I not feel the same with this book, with its perfectly fitting title, the smell of cake baking in the oven? I know, it's 30°C outside, we're in the middle of summer and yet... Nothing. For me, Flagg smells of home, of sheets hung out to dry, of fat and lazy cats sleeping in the shade, of quiet streets and flower beds. Her stories are a myth, a chimera, the ideal of a life that perhaps will never belong to me but that I always enjoy peeking at between the pages of her books.



This time we meet Elner, an elderly lady from Elmwood Springs. Elner is a nice old woman, widowed too soon, who has the special characteristic of being friends with everyone and loved by everyone. All those we meet in the story have a gesture of recognition for this nice lady who does nothing but feed the little birds, watch the sunsets with her friends and prepare fig jams. This is where the story begins, at the foot of the fig tree that Elner has in her garden and on which she has climbed to pick the precious fruits. Stung by a swarm of wasps, the lady falls and does not recover, she is given for dead and the consternation at her departure is general. Because Elmer may be of a certain age (exactly how old we don't know, because her mother's Bible is missing) but no one thought she could die like this, from one day to the next. And yet... it's not that Elner is really dead dead...



As always, Flagg has the great ability to build these small and special communities, in which there are still those touches of kindness and good neighbourliness that unfortunately have disappeared elsewhere. In Elwood Springs everyone knows each other and when Elner dies the news spreads like wildfire and everyone is sincerely sorry. But above all, everyone has an episode for which they are grateful to the old lady: someone has had a loan to study, someone a safe haven to land on, someone a friendly voice to listen to a problem. This is Elner for the small community: a friend, a psychologist, a teacher, a mother and a grandmother. The writer's touch can be seen everywhere but especially when she paints this small world of its own in which the doors of the houses are still left open and the neighbours leave you condolence/congratulatory notes on the door.



The story is funny and particular, but for once I have to say that something was missing for me. I missed that special touch of mystery that I instead found in the previous readings, a touch that if we want is almost an extra thing, it's not fundamental in the story, but it still makes the whole thing more fragmented. Here it's not there, even if we find an almost paranormal idea that made me laugh a lot. Well done, dear Flagg, who always and anyway has the ability to surprise us even when telling a story that has the taste of times gone by.



The undisputed protagonist is dear Elner. Fannie Flagg stages stories with many characters, family intersections, friends of friends, friends of relatives, so many people move in these sleepy towns, each with their own role and their own voice. There is no confusion, no one seems one too many. However, there is always a true protagonist, a voice stronger than the others, someone who gives the true meaning to the story. Well, here it is precisely Elner, the splendid and special Elner, who never seems to stop, curious and sharp. Elner is the grandmother that everyone would like, who prepares the jam and watches the Discovery Channel, who loves all the creatures that surround her but who does not back down when there is someone to defend. She is a positive, cheerful character, never taken for granted, with a few screws loose but absolutely wonderful.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

These days, I almost regard all the works set in Elmwood Springs as part of one big book.

Every time I read one of them, it makes me want to go back and re-read at least a portion of another.

The stories in Elmwood Springs are so interconnected and engaging that they draw me in and keep me coming back for more.

I love the way the author weaves the characters and their lives together, creating a rich and detailed world that feels both familiar and new.

Each book adds another layer to the overall narrative, and I can't get enough of it.

Whether it's the charming small-town setting, the relatable characters, or the heartwarming stories, there's something about the Elmwood Springs series that keeps me hooked.

I highly recommend these books to anyone who loves a good read.