Book Reviews of Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral is an emotional ride. Be prepared to be flipped inside out and shed a few tears. A heart warming story.

I did not like this book. The dialogue was stilted and false, the relationships contrived, and it dragged on and on. Too pop psych navel gazing for me.

This book is now on my all time favorite list. Kris Radish writes for women about women. She has a way of making me relate to each and every character on many different levels. The story, about several women and their relationship to a deceased friend, can be sad and bittersweet, but at the same time, joyful, funny and exhilarating. Don't miss this one. I can't wait to read more from Radish.

I really enjoyed this book. One of the best I've read in a while. A times a bit too sappy but it was very heartfelt, well written and thought provoking.

i laughed and cried out loud during this book... the dialogue this author writes is EXCELLENT...

Not totally realistic but a wonderful story of women and their ability to love and care for each other emotionally. I laughed and cried, then I laughed and cried some more.

I really wanted to love this book. But, the author keeps going overboard with the sentimentality, to the point of nausea. She is waxing rhapsodic all through the book, to the point where you can't love or relate to the characters, because they seem so much more feeling and deep and not-real than yourself.

This is a terrific read. I started it on one day and didn't put it down until I was finished. I wish I had an Annie Freeman in my life!!!

As I approach middle age ( who am I kidding? I'm there ),death is claiming more of my friends. People are beginning to "personalize" their funerals. I recently lost a friend who donated her body to science and instructed her husband to take what they would have spent on a traditional funeral and throw a huge cocktail party at her local golf & country club. It was a great appropriate sendoff. If that idea appeals to you, this book is a must. I almost didn't want to let it go, but decided to share it with my PBS family.

I'll be buying several copies of this for friends. You'll wish you had a great group of girlfriends like Annie did.

i found the book to be a bit of a slow read. so often i just felt like screaming at teh book "get on with it". otherwise and enjoyable, insprational read. made me want to do something spontaneous and live a little!

I LOVED this book! In fact I gave it as gifts to two of my closest friends last year, and told them that this was one of my favorite reads of the year.

The story is about loss, love, the power of women's friendships and living each moment we have here on earth. It's about making the sometimes tough choices that allow you to live an authentic life. It does it without getting to sweet, or too sad -- although there are sweet and SAD moments, they don't bog down the book.

Annie Freeman has died from cancer, but before she died -- she planned her own traveling funeral. She's gathered together some of the people that meant the most to her in life for one last celebration. The book chronicles that final journey, and the discoveries the participants make along the way about Annie, and themselves.

This book introduced me to Kris Radish. I've since read all of her books. I really enjoyed them all, but this is my all-time favorite of hers, so far....

Moving story about four women who don't really know each other, but all know the title's Annie Freeman. Annie posthumously sends them on a trip to scatter her ashes in spots across the U.S. that were important to her in her life. As they travel they become friends and share their secrets, fears, and love as well as re-examine their life choices. Sometimes the plot was contrived and occasionally the characters were a bit one-dimensional, but this was a great ride! You'll cry and want to buy your own pair of red tennis shoes! My only complaint is that I wish she had chosen fewer women so we could have become more familar with the characters.

I am a big fan of Radish and have enjoyed all of her books. She is great at character development - as individuals, women, and friendships. This isn't my favorite book of hers, but it was still a very enjoyable read.

Loved this book!

This is a great story about the friendship of women. Five women, who have never met, yet "know" each other through Annie, follow directions she left for them before she died. Annie takes them on a trip across America where they find tales of broken hearts, deep secrets, missed opportunities, second chances, and new beginnings.

This is definitely a "feel-good" book and gives a whole new and deeper meaning to the friendships in our lives.

When I picked the book up, I thought it would be comical, not even close. The characters were well developed, but I didn't think it was such a fabulous trip......

While the idea of getting a group of your girlfriends together with your ashes for the ultimate funereal road trip initially sounds intriguing and might get you to pick up this book, Kris Radish's treatment of the subject matter is disappointingly overblown, repetitive, and self-indulgent.

If you want a good cry, watch "Beaches" or "Terms of Endearment" instead. This book feels a little forced, like the author is trying to suck your tears into that hanky instead of relying on basic human emotion to let it happen.

Loved, loved, loved this book. Beautifully written. A wonderful story of friendship between women. I am buying red sneakers. This made me appreciate my female friends, and the bonds we share, even more. READ IT.

This book is chick lit to the extreme, as in feminist. If you can get over the estrogen overload (and noticeable lack of prominent male characters) then the story is creative and the friendship enjoyed by the members of the traveling funeral is admirable.

Annie Freeman's death sets more than one spirit free, as she arranges for her own "traveling" funeral to be held by her best friends, and they go through a life-changing series of experiences, arranged by their beloved Annie. Bonding and true friendship is only one of the interwoven themes in this truly heartwarming novel of the rites of womanhood. If you've ever lost or gained a friend, this one is for you.

I found the first 20 or so pages to be dragging on, but after those pages, it is a fun, quirky look at women accompanying ashes to different destinations, forcing them to look back on the life of their friend, and also of themselves. Would your friends do this for you? I really enjoyed this book.

AWESOME love this author one of the best I've read in a long time

This was a terrifically heart-warming book. It made you laugh, cry, and laugh again (and cry again and laugh again). Definitely a highly-recommended book. It's one I'll be thinking about for years to come.

friendship and spontenaity--funny but very meaningful!

When a dynamic feminist professor dies young, she leaves a letter urging several friends to take her ashes to several places, getting to know more about her life and about each other.

Heartwarming....like YA YA Sisterhood.

This is a fun book with a great lesson behind it.

Good Read
Funny & Heart Warming

This was a fun and interesting book that I really enjoyed.

Fun and easy reading. What a fun way to remember and honor a beloved friend!!!

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. However it is not a funny book....sometimes a bit humerous but very thoughtful book.

Unfortunately I didn't finish it. Too depressing.

Terrific story!

Delightful, Divas on a road trip. A dear friend, Annie passes away, and leaves her ashes for her friends to distrubute in different places along the USA. It was another look into women and the friendships that they make along life's way. Find yourself some red sneakers!

Unremarkable......no phrases worth highlighting.........

Although I had not read this author before I found it to be a good read, partly I think because I believe that ones life should be celebrated in some way and got quite a giggle in the many ways these gals remembered thier friend.

I found this book very interesting...it was about a funeral but much more about living.

The beloved author of Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn returns with the story of five women who had nothing in common but one extraordianry friend...For Katherin Givens and the four women about to become her best friends, the adventure begins with a UPS package. Inside is a pair of red sneakers filled with ashes and a note that will forever change their lives. Katherine's oldest and dearest friend, the irrepressible Annie Freeman, left one final request-a traveling funeral-and she wants the most important women in her life as "pallbearers". Be prepared to laugh and cry throughout this book. Keep the Puffs handy.

This is a must read!! Katherine Givens and four women about to become her best friends, the adventure begins with a UPS package,inside is a pair of red sneakers filled with ashes and a note that will forever change their lives. Katherine's oldest and dearest friend,the irrepressible Annie Freeman,left one final request-a traveling funeral-and she want the most important women in her life as pallbearers......
From Sonoma to Manhattan,Katherine, Laura Rebecca,Jull and Marie will carry Annie's ashes to the special places in her life. At every stop there's a surprise encounter and a small miracle waiting,and as whoop it up across the country,attracting interest wherever they go,thy share their deepest secrets-tales of broken hears and second chances,missed opportunities and new beginnings. As they grieve over what they've lost,they discover how much is still possible if only they can unravel the secret Annie left them.....

I truly enjoyed this book. It is probably not the best book to read if you or someone you know is currently going through something life threatening because it really hits home. It is a great story of life and survival!!!

I've read all of Kris Radish's books and this is probably my favorite. All of her books revolve around women's relationship and the empowerment of women, but this one has something for just about everyone. Likeable characters, a good dose of humor, and a message for all of us. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

This is a quick and fun read for a weekend. Lots of fun and tears and truth

Great Book About Woman and their Friendships.

The unusual funeral instructions left by a free spirited woman bring her friends together in a cross-country odyssey of discovery, farewell, and healing.

I loved this book. The first few images of the book were so hilariously real to (my) life. It had me hooked from the start. Very life affirming. I sent this book round robin to several of my girlfriends and to my mother. A woman's must read, in my opinion.

Wow! This book was so moving. I could not put it down. Must read for all women!!!!! All I can say is WOW!!

What a fun read!

A great fun read!

Friends provide Annie with a traveling funeral to celebrate her life and learn much about themselves.

A great read!

Was pretty good. Dragged a little at the end.

Good book that kept me reading, but not the best I've ever read. It didn't make me want to call my best friends, but it was entertaining.

An interesting view of women and the power of friendship.

Good concept though I wish the characters had been developed a bit more. If well-cast, it would probably make for a good movie.

For Katherine Givens and the four women about to become her best friends, the adventure begins with a UPS package. Inside is a pair of red sneakers filled with ashes and a note that will forever change their lives. Katherine's oldest and dearest friend, the irrepressible Annie Freeman, left one final request...a traveling funeral....and she wants the most important women in her life as "pallbearers"

What a great idea for a funeral.....makes you want to plan your own funeral, but not in the near future.

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. It will NOT be posted! Five women, then more, and even an entire airport of stranded passengers are drawn into the traveling funeral. After all, funerals are about life, not death, right?

friendship to the max!

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