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What happens to you when you die? That's the big question Fannie Flagg tackles in her latest novel, and she uses the kind-hearted inhabitants of Elmwood Springs to address this debate. After 80-something Elner Shimfissle falls off her ladder, she's brought to the hospital where she finds herself floating down hallways and into elevators that go in every direction, including sideways, thus embarking on her journey to Heaven. And in keeping with her personality, she has a lot of questions for her maker. At the same time, Elner's worrywart niece Norma and Norma's loving and loyal husband Macky are at her side. The news of her accident spreads through the town like wildfire, and each resident reflects on Elner and how she touched their lives. Elner was a mother and grandmother all rolled into one for Luther Griggs, who has no parents to speak of.
Like good neighbors, the women of Elmwood Springs waste no time descending on the scene of the accident at Elner's house. Tot Whooten, of Tot's Tell it Like it Is Beauty Salon, and Ruby Robinson rush over to make sure someone feeds her cat and that things are in order, so poor Norma won't have to return to a mess. Ruby is shocked by the discovery she makes in the bedroom. Why would a woman like Elner keep a gun in her dirty laundry basket?
At the same time, Elner's journey to Heaven continues. Was that just Ginger Rogers who passed her in the hallway? She sees her sister Ida (Norma's mother), deceased for many years now, who will act as her initial escort on her heavenly journey. Ida takes no time reprimanding Elner for not honoring her dead sister's wish and letting that Tot Whooten do her hair for her funeral, even though she specifically asked for someone else. Even in the afterlife, you still have to listen to someone gripe. But as her sister explains, each one of us is ushered into Heaven by someone special to us. Each person gets a slightly different experience; it's tailor-made for the individual.
Elner Shimfissle, a minor character in the other Elmwood Springs novels, moves to the forefront here with her infectious curiosity and good cheer. She allows the author to discuss topics such as death and the afterlife, with a breezy, upbeat tone. Her characters and situations might seem corny or sentimental in anyone else's hands, but Flagg effortlessly transports you to a world of old --- a place where your front porch was the place to go, where neighbors looked out for each other, and a cool glass of iced tea cured all the world's ills.
The mystery aspect of the story feels a bit tacked on, but the musings on Heaven and life are charming and comforting. And no story about kindly neighbors and small towns would be complete without a few good recipes like "Neighbor Dorothy's Heavenly Caramel Cake" and "Mrs. McWilliams' Corn Bread" --- recipes as sweet and wholesome as the story itself.
--- Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller
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