I will admit, I was sad to say goodbye to the characters from Elmwood Springs. Fannie Flagg has painted a beautiful story of community, family and love - complete with humor and over-the-top (yet extremely genuine) characters. In Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, Flagg's central character "Elner" goes on the trip of a lifetime.
Interestingly, the story is not about her "NDE" (the term used for "near death experience", in the book) so much as it is about family and friends and how we spend the time we've got. Sure, there are sketchy characters who want to avoid a lawsuit from Elner, (something she would never consider) and there is even a hint of a story of something awful happening in the past and coming to light at the end.
There were moments where the story almost contained too much, as if Flagg were trying too hard to really make the story worthwhile. It truly is worthwhile, though. I felt strongest about the first half of the novel, enjoying it even more than the later half. On the whole, this was an excellent, feel-good read that made me proud to know people just like Aunt Elner...and hope that someday I would be someone just like her...well, sort of...
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