Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg

 I start again to tell a big thank you to Penguin Random House for being invited to read thanks to NetGalley the latest book by Fannie Flagg.

"Something to Look Forward To"

opens with the Special Agent William Frawley, an U.F.O. sent  on Earth by the Chief Galactic Observer of Planet 8626. 

Of course the name and shape of that U.F.O. is not similar to the one of a human being so it was necessary a transformation.

Apart the story of William, our U.F.O. who once arrived on Earth will make good friendship, what I absolutely find great is the story of Darla Womble for example. 

Darla once discovered that her body and face was  not as fresh as in the past, but she wanted to hook up with a guy: so she booked several plastic surgeries in a clinic in Mexico, telling this just to a good friend. Once disappeared, a lot of relatives thinking that she was dead started to depredate the house, the garden: just a niece started some researches without to pretend anything, but seriously worried for her aunt.

When people will discover that their beloved relative was alive, panic!!!

Darla would have then understood who would have deserved her things, once gone.

The Honey Bee Café will tell us something else: how precious can be places and what people can do for not lose them.

But it's Welma that permitted me to rediscover the warm of the South of the USA, letting me show also, thanks to these chapters, the profound differences existing in the USA.

We all know that the South of the USA is conservative: life goes on with calm. Welma's problems were some animals, that  sometimes entered in her kitchen. She had her own habits and she lived a satisfying existence.

She had a niece in Hollywood, Cathy. Cathy was modern as the rest of people of her age are. She ate only vegan, she taught yoga, living in an environment in which perfection was normality. So Welma didn't understand the profusion of modernity she told her, like speaking by FaceTime for example.

The biggest problems experienced with Cathy? 

When Cathy wanted to afford to Kansas after that COVID had kept everyone distant by her family. Her daughter joined a movement in which the nana had to call her Gandalf, not anymore Julie-Ann. 

The opinion of Cathy regarding her granny was that she hadn't never had the possibility to change her existence, and that she was absolutely alone, when Welma was conducting not just a beautiful life, but satisfying, with a lot of people caring her her, supporting her, loving her...forever.

So powerful, shocking, absolutely stunning! a gem, a masterpiece, the story of Helen, devoted wife of a doctor. She sacrificed her career for following him. They had had two daughters and life sounded good enough. Then the crisis of middle-age, the doc. fell in love for a 20 and something girl new secretary. Helen started to following them, to be present, although they were separated, with affection: too much affection. I thought that this woman was wonderful in doing this...I cannot spoil too much. Oh, read it, it's simply enchanting! One of the best stories of this book. I think, the best one!

What I found in particularly fascinating in the latest book by Fannie Flagg?

It kept me calm, it let me re-enter in connection with the South of the USA, their traditions, their customs, their way of thinking and believing, their food: it relaxed me. This book, in particular in this moment so difficult for the world can be good to understand that life can be simply different, can be...normal, and that, after all, it's just a story of...perspectives.

A book that will tell you discover that there is a lot of goodness in this world! And that we can be part of it.

Reading Fannie Flag''s books, in fact, will permit to readers to understand how to live a satisfying and honest existence in little and big places, as well observing the differences and concepts existing if you live in a big and modern city or in a rural center somewhere in the profound South of the USA.

Fannie is a person in grade to paint every situation with goodness and wonderful knowledge of the human soul, teaching us integrity, honesty, good feelings.

Highly recommended book! To everyone.

Many thanks Penguin Ramdom House and Netgalley!

Anna Maria Polidori