The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

by:  Fannie Flagg
published by:  Random House
publish date:  November 5, 2013

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.

Confession time:  This is the first Fannie Flagg book I've read.  I've seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, but I've never read the book.  This book was very good.  It was touching but it was also very funny.  
Sookie has lived her entire life under the thumb of her overbearing Southern mother.  Lenore Simmons comes from a long line of Simmons and she can tell you each and every one of them.  Sookie has put up with her larger than life mother for 60 years until she finds out that she isn't even her mother.  She was adopted and never knew about it.  Now, Sookie calls her entire life into question and begins to wonder who she is?  She starts to research her family and learns what a remarkable family she comes from.

I really loved this book.  Firstly, it was a really good story.  I love quirky little southern stories with all their weird characters.  Secondly, this book had some great little nuggets of history in it.  I learned some really fascinating bits of historical trivia like nurses traveling the country inspecting bathrooms and the first female pilots.  I will definitely be looking for Fannie Flagg!