Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

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.”

From Sonoma to Manhattan, Katherine, Laura, Rebecca, Jill, 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 they whoop it up across the country, attracting interest wherever they go, they share their deepest secrets–tales of broken hearts and second chances, missed opportunities and new beginnings. And 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....

Customer Reviews:

Memorable... Interesting concept...

By Ruth A. Caldwell "Highland Princess Mum" - February 9, 2006

Kris Radish wrote a great story. There were so many phrases that just jumped out at my heart, that I'd like to share a couple... "...I've had a world of loss dropped into my hands... but we're women and we deal with it and we do it in a way that somehow becomes a gift... Isn't it something that we can take something that is so painful that it makes you drop to the floor and turn it into a lesson that actually makes you glad it happened? That's what women do. We get on with it." AND "... women understand schedules. They understand sacrifice. They know what it feels like to never sleep, to always get up first... and they know that they all have many more miles to go, more hands to hold, more, so much more yet to give. And to receive."

You can read the professional reviews to determine the gist of this novel. I can only say, the message was thought provoking and comforting. I thought of my dearest friends and am grateful.

I would have given it five stars, however a... read more

Traveling Funeral a little too long

By Patricia Kramer - May 8, 2006

After reading the first third of this book, I recommended it to a friend, but by the time I finished the book I was more than ready for Annie's journey to be over. The premise of the book is great and the life lessons important, but they are repeated so many times, the reader feels like she has to duck.

The first half of the book is fun to read and a grand adventure, but I think I need to call my friend and modify my recommendtion.

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

By M.A. Bell "retired teacher" - September 24, 2006

I received this book from a sorority sister who's husband had recently died.
The book has been read, commented on, and passed around a group of us who
have been friends since college.
I did not read it from any "literary critic's standards" point of view.
I simply enjoyed the story, with both laughter and tears, and vowed to work
harder to keep those college friendships important in my life. There is no
doubt that my funeral will be very different from Annie's, but I hope my
friends and family who are still alive when I'm gone will remember me with
the love and fondness that Annie's friends had for her.

I also read two other books by K.Radish, and while I did enjoy the reading,
I did not like them nearly as much as "Annie..." I'm glad I read it before the others,
as I might not have been willing to put in the time reading it had I read
her other books first.

Every reader brings her (or his) own set of... read more