All Girl Filling Stations Last Reunion

Oh, it's a happy day when there is a new Fannie Flagg novel! There is something so comforting and soothing about diving into her version of small-town Alabama. Here she follows two families; the Simmonses of Point Clear, Alabama, in 2005 and the Jurdabralinskis of Pulaski, Wisconsin, during WWII. Flagg deftly weaves the stories of her families closer together as the novel progresses, but the real fun in a Flagg novel is not necessarily the plot yielding its secrets, but much more so the journey. The characters and the tiny Alabama town will completely charm you; how lovely it is to feed the birds in the morning, to know all of your neighbors, to sleep with the doors unlocked, and to hear that screen door banging shut. Even if, like me, you've never lived in a small town, you will instantly recognize and long for Flagg's version of "home." As an added bonus, this novel is completely hilarious! Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The one and only Fannie Flagg, beloved author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, and I Still Dream About You, is at her hilarious and superb best in this new comic mystery novel about two women who are forced to reimagine who they are.

Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, has just married off the last of her daughters and is looking forward to relaxing and perhaps traveling with her husband, Earle. The only thing left to contend with is her mother, the formidable Lenore Simmons Krackenberry. Lenore may be a lot of fun for other people, but is, for the most part, an overbearing presence for her daughter. Then one day, quite by accident, Sookie discovers a secret about her mother’s past that knocks her for a loop and suddenly calls into question everything she ever thought she knew about herself, her family, and her future.

Sookie begins a search for answers that takes her to California, the Midwest, and back in time, to the 1940s, when an irrepressible woman named Fritzi takes on the job of running her family’s filling station. Soon truck drivers are changing their routes to fill up at the All-Girl Filling Station. Then, Fritzi sees an opportunity for an even more groundbreaking adventure. As Sookie learns about the adventures of the girls at the All-Girl Filling Station, she finds herself with new inspiration for her own life.

Fabulous, fun-filled, spanning decades and generations, and centered on a little-known aspect of America’s twentieth-century story, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion is another irresistible novel by the remarkable Fannie Flagg.

"The kind of story that keeps readers turning pages in a fever...There are plot twists, adventure, heartbreak, and familial love in spades." Publishers Weekly

"Fannie flies high, and her fans will enjoy the ride....A charming story written with wit and empathy....just the right blend of history and fiction" Kirkus Reviews

"Flagg's storytelling talent is on full display. Her trademark quirky characters are warm and realistic, and the narrative switches easily between the present and the past. Flagg’s fans won’t be disappointed in this one, and there's a lot to be said for giving tribute to the real-life WASPs....Great possibilities for nonfiction pairings abound for book clubs." Booklist

"Yet again, Flagg delivers a book full of heartwarming charm that is sure to provoke lighthearted laughter. A complex story told simply and honestly...another treat for Flagg fans." Library Journal

"Fannie Flagg is a fantastic storyteller. She surprises the reader in every chapter with unexpected twists and turns. The only problem I had with this fascinating story is that it ended too soon. I can't wait for her next book." Carol Burnett

Fannie Flagg's career started in the fifth grade when she wrote, directed, and starred in her first play, titled The Whoopee Girls, and she has not stopped since. At age nineteen she began writing and producing television specials, and later wrote for and appeared on Candid Camera. She then went on to distinguish herself as an actress and a writer in television, films, and the theater. She is the bestselling author of Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man; Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe; Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!; Standing in the Rainbow; A Redbird Christmas; Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven; I Still Dream About You; and The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion. Flagg’s script for the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was nominated for an Academy Award and the Writers Guild of America Award and won the highly regarded Scripter Award for best screenplay of the year. Flagg is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize. Flagg lives happily in California and Alabama.