The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion
Fannie Flagg
Random House, Nov 2013
369 pages, ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook, audio CD
Women’s Lit, Historical Adventure
✮✮✮✮✮
The cover is bright, eye-catching and definitely relates to the story. In fact, the picture was probably created to depict a certain scene in the book when the two sisters attended cars at the station wearing cute outfits and roller skates!
The story is complex, historical, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. I got so caught up in it at times, I wasn’t sure whether I should cry or laugh. Fannie Flagg is an awesome author who pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until she’s totally through with you after the final line.
The characters are wonderfully real and just as complex as the storyline. Sookie is searching for answers to who she really is after getting a piece of paper from her past. Her husband Earle is a calm, supportive background for her and wonderful throughout. Lenore is well-meant, forceful, short-sighted and self-centered. Fritzie is big-hearted, honest, protective, and loving. The pace is brisk enough to keep you on the edge, but not so wound up that you miss any of the little details, and there are many of those tucked in here. The tension is amazing throughout. You just keep wanting more, more, more and then see what happens after that!
And here begins a little reveal…
Sookie just wants to feed her songbirds. But she’s having a hard time with that. She creates a unique type of bird feeder and has a neighbor make it up. Eventually, she ends up with a successful little business of her own. Earle was so supportive and calm throughout, and then when he retires he comes home with a Great Dane puppy, Rufus. Something for himself at the end. I loved it! Fritzie was bold and adventurous. She was courageous. She lived bigger than life itself. Loving, caring and loyal to the end. Using their letters to tell the history was a really good tool. A letter can say a lot with few words and you get feelings as well as events. It was a great job making past and present dovetail into a wonderful and highly recommended book.
Highly recommended.
a thoughtful reveal 